Caution crept into Katie’s eyes, but she continued to stroke my back. The soothing gesture kept us connected. I had dumped a lot on her, and it surprised me she wasn’t running for the door.
“Your mom sounds like a special lady.”
I let my gaze blur as the memory of her washed over me. “She was. I never had a mother before her. My birth mother was a human, not my father’s mate. My father had skipped town after he got her pregnant. She tracked him down a few years later and told him she wanted nothing to do with me. I was just a reminder of the con my father pulled on her. Not a child she could love and care for.”
“Some people don’t have the capacity to look past hurt and pain and see the child in front of them.” Katie sighed. A sad, knowing expression covered her face. “I’ve seen it time and time again.”
“Mom was the first one to get through to me and teach me what it was to love someone. I think it was easier with her than with Dad, because I didn’t have memories of my birth mother to clash with. With Dad, I thought I knew what a father was already.”
The heat of her palm penetrated my shirt as she rubbed calming circles on my back. “Losing them must have been hard.”
“I didn’t get nearly enough time with them.” My breath was shaky as I sucked it in. “But I have my brothers, and that’s the next best thing.”
“You all seem very close.”
“I don’t know what I would do without them.” A faint grin rose on my lips. “Even when Austin and Ethan play pranks on the rest of us. Or Declan lectures everyone.”
“I don’t have any siblings. I always wanted a sister, but my parents had me late in life. I was a surprise baby.”
“Are you close to them?” I wanted to know everything about her. What made her the way she was. She was like spring. Sweet and full of hope.
“Not really.” She shrugged one shoulder. “They never wanted kids, and they mostly live their lives like they don’t have one. And they don’t understand my career choice. You don’t get into social work for the money.”
“Why social work?”
Her eyes softened. “I didn’t have a terrible childhood. I was fed, clothed, and educated, but my parents expected me to be mature at a very young age. As a result, I never felt like I belonged anywhere. With my job, I get to help kids find a place where they can be themselves and enjoy their childhood.”
“Eli must present a challenge for you. He’s caught between two worlds. He always thought he was human, but now he needs to learn to be a shifter.” I wondered if she was still looking for where she belonged. I hoped the ranch, with me, could be that place.
“Finding the right situation with him will be difficult, but I always knew it would be.” She leaned her head against my shoulder. “He was abandoned as a baby, but adoption never worked out. Frazzled couples would return him, saying theycouldn’t handle him. And as he grew, it just got worse.” She sighed. “I don’t understand why he wasn’t left with shifters, though.”
“His mother was probably human.” I wrapped my arm around her. “She may not have known he was part shifter.”
“Maybe.” She relaxed in my hold. “I’m still working on where he’ll go once we’re done here. Nothing I’ve considered so far feels right.”
“You’ll figure it out.” I squeezed her shoulder. “And if you need information about shifters to decide, just ask.”
“I’m sure I’ll take you up on that.”
We sat in silence for several minutes, but it was a comfortable silence. I breathed her in, the sweet, floral scent filling my senses. The smell was intense but delicate, and I’d always remember her when I saw lilac or honeysuckle.
Eventually she pulled away, and I reluctantly let her go. I wanted to keep her in my arms, learn the feel of her, but I also knew I couldn’t push her. She was human, and she had to process everything I’d told her. A pit opened in my stomach at the thought that she might not choose me. Now that I’d decided to claim her, it was like my happiness depended on her agreeing.
“I should go. The barn needs repairs.” I stood and shoved my hands in my pockets so I wouldn’t reach for her again. “Find me if you or Eli need anything.”
“I will.” Her fingers twisted together, making me wonder if she, too, were trying to keep from touching me.
I backed out of the room slowly before turning away from her. Now that I’d surrendered to the bond, leaving her side was near impossible. But I didn’t want to overwhelm her more than I already had.
I pulled the supplies I needed out of the storage shed. We’d had a windstorm recently, and some shingles needed replacing. I usually handled the handyman chores around the ranch. Dadand I had bonded over his teaching me to make repairs. Later, he’d passed on his love of woodworking.
I leaned the ladder against the eaves. Thanks to my shifter strength, I got all the supplies I needed onto the roof with only two trips up the ladder. My position on the barn gave me a great view of the ranch, and I paused to enjoy it.
My gaze wandered over to the cabins, and I watched as Katie made her way toward the main yard. I followed her path, unwilling to take my eyes off of her. She finally disappeared from sight when she entered Gabriel and Sierra’s art gallery.
I focused on the work in front of me. It wouldn’t take me long to repair the roof. Then I could see Katie again. I chuckled under my breath, finally understanding what my brothers went through when they found their mates.
Katie
