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I love waking up next to her.
True mates are a dream for most shifters. Some spend their whole lives looking.
We were lucky Rachel was sent to us when she was. She sealed the cracks that were starting to form in our pack. She brought us together and made us whole again. We wouldn’t have survived without her, just as she wouldn’t have survived without us.
It was perfect. We couldn’t have gotten any luckier.
I step up into the porch and stand in front of the door. I try the handle. It’s locked.
Oh well. I’ll just have to wake our grumpy-ass Alpha up, then.
I press the bell, keeping my finger on it.
I’d rather give one prolonged shrill ring. That way I’m only guilty of ringing it once.
I let it go after a few seconds, hoping it’s been enough to wake Adrian.
The door opens a couple of minutes later, so Adrian clearly wasn’t sleeping. He’s fully dressed, and he doesn’t look that well rested. He frowns at me as he lets me inside.
“You could have knocked,” he tells me.
“Is Rachel awake?” I ask.
He shakes his head, frowning. “Where’s Silas?”
“Silas is out back. Ghost business. I’ll be in bed next to Rachel if you need … What?”
“Let Rachel rest, Carter. You could use some sleep too.”
“I can sleep next to her,” I tell him. “I promise I won’t wake her.”
“Promise you’ll sleep in your own bed.”
“Spoilsport,” I mutter, heading up the stairs.
The door to their room is closed. I don’t even attempt to open it a crack to peek in on her. Adrian’s probably listening for that kind of behavior. I can hear him locking the front door and putting the chain-bolt back on. He’s hanging around down there for a reason.
Damn it.I take in a lungful of Rachel’s scent before I walk past and go into my own room like I was ordered. The bed feels empty when she’s not in it with me, but I guess sleeping alone is better than being awake in bed alone. I put my half-finished book on the nightstand and push Rachel’s panties under my pillow. Stripping off, I stretch a little before I get under the covers and pass out.
The sooner I catch up on my sleep, the sooner I can spend real quality time with my mate.
Chapter Nineteen
Silas
Sarashowsuplikeshe’s been waiting around, ready to pounce. I don’t know how to feel when I look at her. She tore my life up with her little, innocent-sounding request, and she’s still hanging around as if I owe her something. I can’t bring her back from the dead. I don’t know what the hell she wants from me. Maybe she doesn’t know either, best case scenario.
“You need to leave,” I tell her.
“I know it’s a shock,” she starts, “but he’s not a terrible person.”
“He’s just a terrible father?”
She pulls a face. “I know it’s hard to understand …”
“It’s impossible to understand, so I’m not going to do this.”
I start walking to the house. Carter must have woken Adrian up by now. The back door will be open soon enough. I can escape this torture and forget last night ever happened.
