AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t like cities. They’re a nightmare with supernatural hearing. Most supernaturals stay far away from largely populated areas. I just wonder how he was able to shift.” Parker scoots closer to me. “It’s hard for a wolf to be away from his pack. And I can’t imaginelivingin a city. It’s bad enough just visiting one.”
“I don’t like the city either. Though, probably for a different reason than you. High school in a small town is hard enough.” I turn, angling my body toward him. “I was lonely before I came here. I didn’t have any friends. My dad encouraged me to make friends, but it wasn’t possible. Even just one person’s thoughts are overwhelming. When I talk to somebody, they usually think about me and the conversation that we’re having. It gets so loud. I can’t stand it.”
Parker’s hand grazes my arm. “I am glad you can’t read my thoughts then.”
“Me too.” I look up at him through my lashes. “I know that I’m not a wolf shifter, but I love being around the pack. It’s so peaceful and quiet.”
He chuckles. “I never thought I’d hear anybody call the pack quiet.”
It’s true that the pack is loud. They enjoy each other’s company. When I was at the bonfire, there were so many conversations happening. But I can handle that kind of noise. I just can’t handle the noise in my head.
Parker scoots a little bit closer until our legs are touching. “You know, when mates complete their mate bond, they can read each other’s thoughts.”
My eyes widen. “Really?”
He nods. “You can learn to block your thoughts. You can also feel their emotions. There are no secrets between mates. Ever.”
“That sounds kind of nice,” I admit.
“I can share thoughts with my family. I can’t read their minds, not like you. But we can talk to one another, no matter how far away we are from each other. I can also talk with Will and Blaine—I think it’s because we’ve been friends for so long,” Parker explains. “But nobody else.”
Thatis what he meant when he said he had enough people in his head.
“Tell me more about soulmates.” I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear. “You said something about completing a mate bond. What is that about?”
His cheeks turn red and he looks away. “Uh, that’s what happens after the couple gets married.”
“Oh.” I lower my head.
He looks up. “But I hear that when you meet your mate, there is nothing better. It’s like everything else melts away. Your whole world completely shifts and your mate becomes your entire focus.”
I already feel that way about Parker, but I don’t dare say that out loud.
“What happens if mates never meet each other?” I ask.
“They always do. Even if your mate lives on the other side of the world, you’ll meet. It’s inevitable.” Parker frowns.
“What are you thinking?” I ask.
He sighs. “Just about your mate. Is it bad that I don’t want you to meet him?”
“Only if it’s bad for me to feel the same way about you,” I admit. “Because I’ve been thinking a lot about it ever since Blaine told me about mate bonds. And Will keeps reminding me. It hurts to think about it. But if they’re right, I’ll meet some other guy, most likely a stranger, and he will make me forget anything I ever felt for you. I don’t want that.”
“Me either.” Parker’s blue eyes meet mine. “I think about it a lot, too. Before I met you, I hadn’t given it a lot of thought. I just knew that I’d meet my mate when I was older. But now, I find myself dreading it. I wish I had a choice.”
“If you had a choice, what would you choose?”
“To be with you. I’d give up having a soulmate to be with you. Because I can’t imagine anything in the world could compare to what is between us.”
My breath catches in my throat at his admission.
“I feel guilty for thinking that way, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the truth,” Parker says. “I adore you.Everythingabout you is perfect—your eyes that are the exact same shade of green as a conifer tree. I could stare into them all day. I love the way you bite your lip when you’re nervous and even the fact that you spend your spare time knitting. You made me socks. Who does that?”
I can’t help but smile at his words. I chew on my bottom lip to stop the smile.
Parker’s eyes zero in on my lips. “I want to kiss you.”
I let go of my lip. “I want that too.”
