Page 86 of Never His Mate

There’s just enough time for me to relax against the balcony door, as if I haven’t been waiting two days for him to make an appearance.

Me? Worried that Ryker was staying in Accalia?

Nah. Couldn't be.

Ryker’s head pops up from the hole in the fire escape, squeezing his broad shoulders through the gap as he suddenly takes up way more space than I thought he would. His dark gold eyes brighten when he locks on me, but he doesn’t say anything right away.

Instead, his nostrils flare as he takes in a deep breath. “Where’s the bloodsucker?”

Of course that’s the first thing he asks me. “His name is Aleks, you know.”

Ryker gives me a look.

I ignore it, taking a sip from my can.

For two days, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I would say to Ryker when I saw him again. I didn’t know when I would; considering everything he had to be dealing with as an Alpha, I expected it might take a while until he could come back to Muncie. Before the next full moon, definitely, but I thought I had a little more time than this.

I’m not ready.

I lift up my can. “Thirsty? I’ve got a couple of more cans inside. Just ginger ale, though.”

A dark look flashes across his face. “No Coke for you for a while, huh?”

“Got that right.”

Ryker shakes his head. “Don’t blame you. And I’m good. Thanks for offering, though.”

I shrug, going for careless. “It’s called being a good host.”

“It’s called providing for your mate,” he argues. “But we can put a pin in that for a minute. How are you?” You okay?”

“In one piece, so yeah, I’m okay. You?”

That dark look of his turns feral. “Be better if I didn’t have to deal with my Beta trying to claim my mate out from under my nose.”

The ginger ale can crinkles as my grip tightens. “That’s not my fault. None of that was my fault.”

He exhales roughly. “That’s not what I meant. I know it’s not your fault.”

“Damn right it’s not.” I wait a beat. “And I’m not your mate.”

“Yes. You are.”

Welp, I knew this was going to go down eventually. Between what happened the last night we were together in Muncie and the full moon, I knew I was going to have to try to explain myself.

But how?

I want him. I’d only be lying to both of us if I tried to deny it. I want him, and my feelings for Ryker Wolfson might’ve been buried this past year, but there isn’t a grave deep enough for me to try to get rid of them now. I love him—but does that mean I’m willing to tie myself to him for life without knowing how he feels?

I have no doubt that he wants me just as much as I want him. When it comes to sex, we’re a match. But, despite its name, a mating is so much more than the physical act. Shane was cold-blooded in his approach, but he got one thing right: a mating is a partnership.

And I need an equal. If I accept him as my mate because I love him, and he only accepted me because of my rank—if he’s as ruthless and cunning as Shane turned out to be—it really will kill me this time, no vampires necessary.

But he’s watching me closely, waiting for me to say something, so I do. “Okay. You want to do this? I’ve got a couple of hours ‘til work—”

Ryker’s laugh is hollow. “So kind of you to squeeze me in.”

“Do you have to be an asshole?”

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