“I thought the same thing only a day ago.” I remembered telling Austin once that I would never have a mate. “Fate really does surprise us sometimes.”
A shadow flashed through his eyes, but it was too fleeting for me to interpret. He just shook his head. “I think fate is all out of surprises for me.”
I didn’t push him. But I suspected if his mate showed up at the ranch, it would be a tough road.
As for me, I worried there would be more bumps in my path with Katie. If my father was targeting her, who knew what he would do next? The cattle incident and the truck were so far outside his usual cons, I struggled to believe it was him. And if it wasn’t, that meant someone else had it out for my mate. Either way, I needed to keep her safe.
Katie
Back at the cabin, Eli was just waking up. I dismissed my plan of bath and then bed to spend time with him when I saw his worried gaze take in the gauze on my hands. I downplayed the injury, only saying that I’d fallen and scraped my palms.
My muscles were screaming as Eli and I walked to the farmhouse to get food. Our cabin only had a sink and a coffee bar, but Mae had said to visit the house whenever we were hungry.
The elderly shifter was good with Eli, I noted, easing my sore frame onto a chair as she talked to the teen. But I suppose she’d had plenty of practice with the six brothers.
A boy, around a year younger than Eli, tore into the kitchen, skidding to a stop when he saw us. A huge grin split his face. “The new people!” He joined Eli and Mae around the stove andshoved his hand toward Eli, who looked surprised at himself when he automatically took it. “I’m Jonah. Are you Eli?”
He barely waited for the nod before continuing, “Dad said you just found out you’re a shifter. That’s so cool. I wish I were a shifter. I’d want to be a bear, like my dad. But a wolf’s good too.”
Jonah side-eyed Mae as he reached for the cookies on the counter. Just as he was about to grab one, Mae turned, narrowing her eyes. “You’ll ruin your supper.”
“I’m okay with that.” Jonah grinned at her but shrugged when she shook her head. “Save some for me?”
“You know I will.” Mae hugged the boy to her side. “I’ll save some for both of you.”
A small smile flashed across Eli’s face.
Jonah plopped onto the closest chair. “I can show you the coolest spots on the ranch. And you can meet my horse, Tank. He’s the best.”
Eli tried to look disinterested, but I noticed the sparkle in his eye. I was glad there was another boy on the ranch, especially one so welcoming. It would be good for Eli.
I shifted on the chair, trying to stretch out my sore muscles as I let the boys’ chatter sweep over me. My thoughts drifted back, first to the kiss with Luke.
It hadn’t been wildly passionate, but it still consumed me. The gentle sweetness of him brushing his lips over my face and then pressing them softly to my mouth had been a side to Luke I hadn’t seen until then.
I wanted more but was also content. It was right. Enough to build the connection between us without overwhelming me.
Thoughts of our kiss then turned to why we’d found ourselves in that position. The truck, barreling toward me, and Luke pushing me out of the way.
I saw the driver swerve as I fell to the ground, suggesting he hadn’t meant to hit me, only scare me. But why target me?I didn’t have any enemies. Was it related to the sabotage Sierra mentioned? I still hadn’t asked Luke about it and whether the cattle were also related.
Staying at the ranch was probably a bad idea. I was responsible for Eli’s safety, and the ranch was already proving to be dangerous. If my boss knew what was happening, she’d pull him out in an instant. But he also wasn’t safe living among humans while his shifting was out of control.
A flicker in my stomach protested the thought of leaving Luke. Staying just because I wanted to be close to him wasn’t an option, but leaving before I had somewhere else to take Eli also wouldn’t work. Maybe when the Shifter Alley pack reached out, I could make other arrangements. Until then, I needed to talk to Luke about ensuring Eli’s safety.
Leaving didn’t have to mean I would never see Luke again. After I settled Eli with a new family, and the sabotage was dealt with, Luke and I could revisit being fated mates.
Laughter broke through the thoughts whirling in my head. Eli and Jonah were playing a fast-paced card game that involved slapping the table repeatedly.
The sight had me torn. The ranch was good for Eli. But if anything happened to him, I would never forgive myself.
Soon, the kitchen filled with people. It was just the family, Eli, and me. The ranch was a dude ranch, but they blocked out certain weeks just for family time. It was probably the only reason they had room for us.
I was quiet during supper, letting the conversation flow past me as I observed their interactions. Ethan attempted to start a food fight with the boys, but his mate, Hannah, put a stop to that while shaking her head and trying to hide the smile that lifted the corner of her mouth.
Eli looked overwhelmed but fascinated. Everyone was including him, and something about the brothers meshed wellwith the teen. It was as if the energy they put out matched his. Something Eli had likely never experienced before.
Knowing he was a shifter changed the way most people would interpret his file. Everyone’s notes had painted a picture of a troublemaker. A boy who was intentionally difficult. During our first meeting, I’d suspected that wasn’t the full story, but hadn’t had proof to back it up.
