Chapter 20
When my hunger for food outweighs my hunger for my mate and my need for sleep, I creep out of the bedroom and downstairs in search of sustenance.
Don is in a deep sleep, and I can’t wait for him to wake up.
Also, he is sleeping so peacefully that I just don’t have the heart to wake him.
I, on the other hand, need to eat, and I need to now.
The sun is still low, so I know it isn’t too late in the day.
Thankfully, I know my way around Megan’s house, so if she isn’t around, I can fend for myself.
I’m almost hoping that Megan isn’t around.
I’m a little embarrassed about the way I behaved last night.
I know it’s apparently natural for me to have these needs but goodness, I certainly hadn’t planned on climbing Don like a tree and dry humping him in front of Megan.
I turn a corner and stop short. Welp, looks like I’m destined for embarrassment. Megan is standing in her kitchen, cup of coffee in hand. She’s looking out the window, but she must sense me approaching because she gives me a sidelong look over her shoulder.
“Well, you’re up earlier than I thought you would be. Is he dead?”
I snort and roll my eyes at her as I pour myself a cup of coffee. “No, not dead, just sleeping.”
Megan grins at me.
“Maybe I need to get myself a Clan boy. They sound like they are givers.”
I almost choke on my coffee, my face heating as a blush quickly spreads across my face. “You heard everything?”
Megan gives me a look that says, of course I did. “You were both anything but quiet. Is the furniture still intact?”
“Yes, the furniture is fine,” I grumble, as I gingerly sit down onto a kitchen chair.
Megan laughs at me, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “Bet you’re hungry, huh? Want me to make breakfast?”
“Yes, please, I’ll love you forever.”
“You already will, but I’ll still take pity on you and make you food. You think Don will be up…for breakfast?” She snorts at herself.
“You’re such a child.”
Don does indeed get up for breakfast. The tempting, mouthwatering smells of bacon and waffles infiltrated his sleep, and his stomach demanded food. As he walks into the kitchen, looking fresh and well-rested, I wonder how he managed that. Ugh, he looks perfect…
Walking straight to me, he places a kiss on my forehead.
“Good morning, baby.”
Ugh, who fucking cares. He’s mine…Shit, am I getting turned on? Dammit, I just want to eat….
I glare down at my lap.
Stop it, you hussy.
“You ok, Kinley?”
I shoot my eyes up at Don.
Hmmm, maybe he didn’t hear that .
“Yes. Just trying to talk myself down.”
He gives me a confused look, but when he inhales, he catches my scent and grins. “Eat first, baby.”
“Kill me now,” I mumble under my breath.
“You two better not stink up my kitchen with your pheromones.”
I groan and bang my head on the table. Don just laughs on his way to the coffee pot.
I don’t know if it’s because of my heightened senses, or if it’s because I’m one moment away from jumping onto Don’s lap, but the waffles and bacon taste amazing.
I’m halfway through my waffle when I notice Don and Megan staring at me.
Don looks like he wants to feast on me, and Megan has a horrified amused expression.
“What?” My question is muffled by a mouthful of waffle.
“You keep making those noises, Kinley, and I’m not going to be responsible for what I do next,” Donovan rumbles. Which gets my inner hussy all fired up.
Megan gags and points a finger at Don. “Please, don’t! And yeah, Kinley, it sounds like you’re having sex with your food.”
I swallow, and a mortified expression engulfs my beet-red face. “What the hell, I was not!”
“Yeah, you were. I know I’m a good cook, but seriously.”
“Ughhhh, what is wrong with me? It just tastes so good. Wait, did you do something to it? I’ve never reacted to your cooking like this before.”
“No, I didn’t do anything to the food.” She rolls her eyes. “Maybe it has to do with all your new magical abilities.”
Still embarrassed, but too hungry to not eat, I shrug and reluctantly pick my fork back up. Don rests his hand on my arm and strokes his thumb along my skin. I grumble, but start eating again, being extra mindful about not making any more noises.
“It’s ok, baby. Everything is new to you. Speaking of magical abilities though, I have a question for you, Megan.”
She looks up from her plate, and I eye them both as I keep eating.
God, I’m so fucking hungry.
“Sure, Don, ask away,” Megan replies openly.
“I’m sure Kinley told you everything that has been happening lately.”
Megan nods.
“I hadn’t mentioned this before now, but knowing now that you are a witch, I’m hoping you can shed some light on a ward that was in place at your lake house the night of the intruder. Aiden picked up the scent of it, but hadn’t noticed it previously. Was the ward your doing?”
“I do have some wards on the property, but they would have only activated if there was a serious threat. I find spells to be more reliable than security systems.”
She eyes me. “Kinley, did you feel anything while you were in the house?”
I shake my head, quickly swallowing my food before answering. “No, was I supposed to? Honestly I was so scared that I was more focused on getting myself and Beretta somewhere safe. I didn’t notice anything magical. Not that I would have known to look for something like that.”
Megan looks thoughtful before she continues. “My wards would have made it impossible for anyone to enter that had sinister intent. All entrances would be impenetrable, including the glass on the doors and windows. They aren’t specific to magical signatures, they just protect against intruders.”
Don seemed to be satisfied with that answer.
“You know, it would have been nice to know we were in a witch’s domain, Megan. I’m sure you knew we weren’t human.”
She rolls her eyes at him.
“Yes, I did know that you weren’t human.
But males of your species have subtle magical signatures unless you’re shifting, so I didn’t know exactly what you were.
Plus, I thought Kinley was mostly human.
I couldn’t just go parading around that I was a witch in front of her.
Though, I’m pretty sure Aiden knew what I was. ”
“Hmmmm, well, he has a much better nose for those things than I do.”
“So, Don, now that you are mated to my best friend, I expect you to protect her with everything, and I mean everything you have. I know you Clan boys have useful powers when it comes to defending your mates. So make sure you and whatever beast you have lurking within you, are vigilant when it comes to keeping her safe.”
He rumbles, like his beast is insulted that she even brings that up. “Megan, with my very life, my mate will be protected.”
She nods, her eyes boring into him as if she’s making sure he’s being one-hundred percent truthful.
“Don takes very good care of me. Everything is so new, but I know without any doubt that he would do anything for me.”
Don’s hand gives my thigh a gentle squeeze at my admission. His thumb strokes my inner thigh, as his deep voice fills my mind.
My mate, you are my life.
“You’re talking to her mentally, aren’t you?” Megan asks with a soft smile on her face.
Don nods. “My words were only for Kinley.”
I blush, as deep emotions stir within me.
Megan sighs wistfully. “I’m truly happy for you both. I know how rare matings are among all of our kinds. The fact that you found each other so randomly is really a blessing.”
That piques my interest.
“So you could have a mate too, Megan?”
She shrugs. “It’s even rarer for witches, so it’s not likely.”
That brings sadness to my heart for her. Just thinking of what I’m beginning to have with Don, the idea that my best friend may never get to experience something similar, breaks my heart. She deserves all the happiness in the world. She deserves to be loved and cherished.
At the thought of love, my brow furrows slightly.
Did I even know what love was? I mean I loved Megan like a sister, but did I know what love between partners felt like?
Don’s hand, still on my thigh, squeezes with a little more pressure until my eyes meet his.
Mate, you are capable of so much love. Your heart and soul sings with it. It’s what makes the threads of our bond so vibrant.
My eyes get misty at his heartfelt words.
Megan, ever the keen observer, reaches out and touches my hand.
I clear my throat, not wanting to get all wrapped up in emotions, at least not right this moment. I need to steer the conversation to something less emotional.
“Megan, I bet you can’t guess what Don’s beast is.”
Megan’s eyes twinkle with the challenge as Don snorts in amusement.
I know what you are doing, mate, and I’ll allow it. We can talk in private later.
Megan rubs her hands together in anticipation, as she loves a good bet.
“Ok, if I guess correctly, what do I get?”
“Hmmmm, what would you like?”
Megan taps her chin in contemplation. “A rain check of whatever I want.”
I snort. “Deal, because I seriously doubt you’re going to guess it correctly.”
Don chuckles, crossing his arms across his chest, as if he, too, doesn’t think she will guess correctly.
With a flick of her wrist, a burst of air sweeps right through Don. I sit up, alarmed, my beast perking up as well. An angry bellow from Don’s stallion bursts from his mouth, his eyes blazing from the sheer power of his Kelpie.
The table rattles as Don slams his hand down on it as he glares at Megan. She just smirks at him.
“Oh, that is a good one! Kelpie, right?”
Before Don can speak, I beat him to it. “What the fuck was that, Megan?” My voice deepens with the growl of my beast.
“Magic, duh. You didn’t say I couldn’t. He’s fine, I promise. Go on, tell her Don.”
He does not look amused, but he answers me quickly. “I’m fine, baby. Megan, you’re very lucky I have exceptional control over myself and my beast, or you would be getting an in-your-face look at a pissed off Kelpie.”
“See, all fine.” She cackles at us.
I shake my head at her. “Don’t do that again. I didn’t like it.”
She assesses me, noticing quickly that I’m being serious. “Of course, won’t happen again.”
Breakfast finishes without me making an even bigger fool of myself, or anymore theatrics.
I give myself a mental pat on the back for accomplishing that.
I’m still exhausted, and several days in a row of very little sleep is quickly catching up to me.
Don suggests that he take me back to our hotel room to rest, and then we will both come back over later.
Megan also thinks that is a good idea, and I sleepily agree.
I hug Megan while Don goes to warm up the truck.
“I know this is all scary, Kinley. You are handling it really well, though. I’ll do my best to help you in any way I can. Now, go get some rest…actual rest.”
I laugh quietly, getting one more squeeze in before I go outside. “Megan, I’m truly thankful for you. Being able to finally tell you everything has lifted a weight off my soul. It didn’t feel right keeping it from you.”
“I know exactly what you mean. How do you think it felt all these years to not be able to share a part of my life with you? At least I was able to help in small ways without you knowing it.”
I push back from her, my eyebrows raised in question. “You’re going to tell me everything, but after I go take a freaking nap. God, I’m so fucking tired.”
I end on a huge yawn, and Megan steers me out the door where Don quickly takes over, boosting me into the truck. I wave goodbye to Megan and snuggle into the heated seat.
“Well, that was really wild,” I murmur quietly.
Don hums in agreement. I turn to study him as he drives, taking in everything. “Can I ask you something?”
He glances at me sideways. “Of course you can.”
“I know we are mates, but what does that mean in the grand scheme of things? Are we as good as married? Is it normal to just know that we are mates? Is it supposed to happen this fast?”
He reaches out his hand for mine across the console, linking our fingers together before answering.
“True mates, when they first meet, almost always have an instant connection. It is two souls recognizing their counterpart. For my people, a true mate is beyond marriage, because a mating can’t be as easily broken.
It would take an act of a god for a mating bond to break, but a marriage can be severed with paperwork. Does that make sense?”
I nod, because it does. Our connection feels monumental; it feels like the planets aligned just so we could meet.
“When I call you my mate, I’m calling you that because you have claimed my very soul. Everything between us is profound.”
“I believe every word you are saying in my heart. My mind is still playing catch up. I wish I could instantly have your outlook on it and not question if what I’m feeling is real.”
“You are allowed to feel that way, Kinley. I never expected you to just fall in line and not have questions. You were living your life as a human until a week ago. I would find it odd if you didn’t question everything.”
I give his hand an affectionate squeeze.
Am I brave enough to take a deep look at my feelings?
As soon as we get up to our hotel room, I kick off my shoes and head straight for the bed.
Don laughs as I flail my arms at him in a “gimme” gesture.
He removes his clothes, but keeps on his boxer briefs, climbing in next to me and wrapping me up in his arms. I sigh as I bury my face in his neck, throwing a leg over his hip.
“Don,” I mumble, half asleep.
“Yes, baby?”
I am so warm and comfy, mmmm he makes me so happy..
“I do love you, Don,” I mumble into his neck before my breathing deepens, and I’m asleep without even realizing I said it out loud.
As Kinley lies wrapped in my arms, peacefully sleeping, I stare at her. How could I not stare at her? She is ridiculously beautiful. She’s my fucking mate, and she loves me. My beautiful mate loves me.
My soul feels like it’s singing. If she hadn’t been so tired and desperately needed the rest, I would have woken her up and let her know exactly how I feel, with words and my body.
I know she’s struggling with figuring out how she feels about our relationship.
I also deduced that her childhood wasn’t the best and emotions don’t come easy to her.
But her sleepy admission makes my heart leap. My beast roars in excitement; he also wants nothing more than to show our mate that we are worthy of her love. Later, we will show her. My beast knickers in agreement. Later .