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Abe and Julian head farther into the store.

I check out, load everything into my car, and drive back home.

Checking on Elsie, I find her still sleeping. My eyes lock onto my mate, curled up in my bed. She looks so peaceful and perfect that I stand there for a moment and simply watch her. I love seeing her here, love that my scent is all over her, and that, hopefully, she’ll also be wearing my mark soon.

I force myself to leave the bedroom, unload the car, put the groceries away, and place her new shoes next to mine by the front door. I put the toiletries in the bathroom, but leave her new clothes in their bags on the dresser.

Then I get started on making dinner.

I’m almost done when I hear Elsie’s light footsteps coming towards me. I smile as I turn to greet her, my hungry eyes taking in her messy hair and sleepy eyes. She looks adorable.

An image of a little girl with my green eyes and Elsie’s blonde hair hits me.

Fuck, I want that.

So mate her! my wolf growls. Breed her.

“Dinner is almost done,” I announce, pulling out a chair for her.

Her eyes widen in surprise, as if she’s not used to the gesture. I grind my teeth. I hate that she’s been mistreated her whole life. But now she’s here, I’m going to treat her like the treasure she is. I’ll love her and cherish her until my dying breath.

Good. Now tell her that, my wolf orders. The full moon is soon.

I know he’s right. I need to tell Elsie everything.

Now I just have to convince her I’m not completely insane when I tell her shifters are real, she’s my fated mate, and I want her to stay with me.

Forever.

6

Elsie

“Oh, I forgot to show you the things that I bought you,” Pyrce says the next morning as we’re cleaning up after breakfast.

I stop with a plate in my hand. “Bought me?”

“I know you needed a few things, so I picked some stuff up when I went into town yesterday,” he says like this is completely normal. “Don’t worry, we can get you more if I missed anything.”

I blink. “More?”

“Yeah.”

“Pyrce, you didn’t have to buy me anything.” Panic creeps into my chest, and my cheeks heat with embarrassment. “I don’t—I can’t afford to pay you back.”

His brow furrows. “Pay me back? Elsie, I wanted to buy those things for you. I’m not asking you to pay for anything, Angel.”

I stand there frozen as he leaves the kitchen, my thoughts racing almost as fast as my heart. He bought things for me. He noticed I needed them and took care of it. No one has ever done that for me before. I like it… and that terrifies me.

Pyrce and I aren’t forever. I’ll have to leave soon, find some other town. He’ll forget all about me, but I already know I’ll never forget him.

“Really, Pyrce. I can’t accept this. You’re already doing too much for me,” I call as I head down the hallway toward the bedroom where he disappeared.

“It’s nothing. Let me do this for you, Elsie. I want to,” he insists when I join him in the bedroom, holding two bags out to me.

I swallow hard, my hands trembling slightly as I take them from him.

“Thanks,” I whisper, peeking into one of the bags at the neatly folded clothes.