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“Please, don’t make me repeat myself. It’s embarrassing enough to be my age and have no experience.”

“It surprises me, considering paranormals don’t care about that type of thing, but also, it doesn’t surprise me at all. You’ve been spending your life pushing yourself away from the entire population of Earth.”

“That’s dramatic.”

“That’s correct; that’s what that is,” he deadpans with a tilt of his head.

Fuck him.

He’s right.

“What are you nervous about?”

I groan, tilting my head back. “Come on. Don’t make me spell it out.”

“Alaska, it isn’t often I get to help you. At all. You never allow me to get too close, and I get it. This? I can help with this. Try to count on me.”

Fuck.

He’s right again.

“Everything,” I blow out on a breath. “I’m so nervous about everything. Would I kiss him the same way? How do I suck a cock? How do I⁠—”

“—Stop. God, you can be blunt.”

“You asked.”

“I did.” He gives me a kind smile, the one that screams how supportive and helpful he is. “It’s okay to be nervous. Nervous is good. Nervous means you care. That’s a great thing, and I’m so happy I have been around long enough to see the day.”

I clear my throat, rubbing it with my hand as an odd weight chokes me.

His eyes soften even more if that’s possible. “Be nervous. Be scared of not knowing what to do because I bet he feels the same. I’m assuming he is just as surprised as you are about this.”

“He is. He doesn’t know I’m his mate, but he did admit to never being with a guy.”

“So you’re both new to it. I think that’s really great. You get to learn together. You get to experience this together. There’s no one else on this planet that can give you what he will give you, Al. You’ve been aimlessly wandering through all your years.

“So be nervous. Listen to yourself. Feel the connection between the two of you. Listen to it. Let it lead you all on its own. Don’t overthink it. Don’t overthink something so…beautiful and wonderful or you’ll miss all the good things that are meant to be.”

I’m stunned after hearing him speak. I didn’t know he felt that way about fated mates. “Thank you, Soren. That’s actually—” I chuckle thinking back to Lorcan’s final words about Soren knowing what to say. “That’s perfect advice.”

“You’ll be okay.” He stands first, yawning and stretching.

It doesn’t feel like it. I’m going to do my best to do as he says. I just don’t want to be bad for him. I want Leo to feel good too.

I could watch porn.

I almost cough from my own internal monologue. I haven’t watched that in ages. I can’t. I don’t need to.

“I forgot to say that I only have six days for him to fall in love with me, so we don’t die. Apparently, that’s how long mates have to complete the bond. And I might not even have that much time…considering.”

He’s surprised for a second, then frowns. “That’s all we get?”

“That’s it. How can he love me when he doesn’t even know me?”

“Maybe allow him to know you, Alaska. Maybe then, he’ll love you.” He gives my back a firm pat. “I’m going to bed. You should too.”

“Yeah.” I sound like I just smoked a pack. “I will.”