The woman spoke. “Since you’re his ex-wife, you really should know.”
I raised my brow. “How did you know? And how did you guys get here so quickly?”
“Your mother called us the moment he stepped into your house. And we’ve been monitoring Blake for years; we knew who you were.”
Mom had been behind the counter in the kitchen. Blake never noticed. I hadn’t either.
“I’ll make it quick. The short story is that our old alpha Hagan was a misogynist with a superiority complex. His daughter had a true mate bond with a wolf from another pack, but he wantedto marry her off to one of his old geezer friends. So he locked her up. Wes, her mate, challenged him and won.
“Most of us welcomed the change,” the woman continued. “Hagan was old-school. Females weren’t allowed to vote on pack politics or work outside of the pack. It was ass-backwards. Blake was part of a plan to drown the new alpha’s mate in the lake and make it look like an accident to distract Wes so Hagan could win his leadership back.”
“Hagan’s own daughter?”
“That’s right. That was how little Hagan really cared about her. And in exchange for confessing and throwing his co-conspirators under the bus, Blake was to never step foot on pack territory again. Your family home is technically just outside of it.”
“And Darlington?” I asked, everything sliding into place.
“Just part of the suburbs. But the rest of the city is owned by Wes’s father, and Blake’s not welcome there either.”
“Jacklyn, you came! Thank you! Thank you!” Mom came barreling down the driveway, and the shifter went to greet her.
I turned in Axel’s arms and looked up into his mesmerizing silver-blue eyes. “You’re here.”
“I am,” he said, his arms tightening around me. “I followed you. I’m sorry. I couldn’t leave you. I tried.”
I leaned into his warmth. “Because I’m your mate?”
“Yes. You are. You are mine. And I’m yours. I know you’re not ready, but—”
I didn’t let him finish. I reached up, pulled him down, and kissed him.
Chapter 14
Axel
“Ichangedmymind,”she said, her eyes never leaving mine. “I am ready. I don’t think I’ve ever been more ready.”
“Really?” I could hardly believe my luck.
“Yes! And I know it’s only been a short time, but things feel so right. And I think…” Her face turned red.
I knew how she felt. I felt it too. And while she may find it hard to say so early in our relationship, I didn’t, because I knew she was my mate. “You are my mate. I’ve been searching for you my whole life. I don’t care how long or short it has been. I love you, Ella.”
Her lip trembled, and I wondered if I’d misread her intentions.
But then she was kissing me again.
“Hands off our sister.”
I turned to see a human male with sandy-blond hair standing with his arms crossed over his chest. Behind him was a shorter version of him who looked mildly friendlier.
“Oh boy.” Ella dragged her hand down her face.
“You came awfully fast. Are you stalking her?” asked the taller one.
“Kyle! Stop. He came with the wolves,” she lied. Only her mother had been there for my confession.
But now her father was there, still holding his shotgun. “So my daughter stayed at your place last night?”
