She’s just so easy to talk to, but you shouldn’t talk to your fiancé’s mother about sex.
“How?” Betty tries to encourage me.
“How different we are anatomically speaking.” I try to downplay the interaction.
“How he can’t get a human pregnant.” Betty surmises. She looks me over and must see my red face because she says, “Well, there’s nothing to be ashamed about, dear. We all do it.”
“I just never, uhm.” I clear my throat. “Never really had someone to talk to about these things, and maybe I’m talking to the wrong person.”
She smiles, brushing her bangs out of her face. “You can come to me with anything. I’ve always told the boys I’m a place of knowledge, not of judgment. Though sometimes some judgment does happen when they do some really messed-up things.”
“Like marrying a woman without her knowledge to prevent her from being married to a mafioso in Italy?” I giggle.
“Precisely.” Betty seasons the food and keeps stirring. “Well, being a wolf has its positives, healing more quickly for one, and I would love more grandchildren. But there are dangers that come with it. What if we’re found out by humans?”
Silence passes between us for a few moments.Why is it that the idea of kids isn’t so scary with Royal?
“But that doesn’t have to be a discussion for now. Let’s get another college grad in the house and a married couple. Then we can talk about being happily mated and grand babies.” Betty is all smiles. It’s bright and lights up her eyes. Her happiness reminds me of how Royal looks when he’s happy.
“What does that mean, fated mates? I heard you say that to Royal, but I didn’t ask. We were a little busy.” I think back to just barely a week ago, when I found out I had a second, but more wanted, arranged marriage.
“Well, I should really let him explain it to you, but since he’s not here... We believe that there’s a person out there for everybody and that one person is fated to be with you. You’re a matched set, and nothing is stronger than that bond.” Betty offers me another tasting spoon.
I taste and nod. “That’s it.” Then I hand her back the spoon. “So is it common to find your person?”
“Usually mates are easily found, though sometimes people get impatient and settle before they find the one. Like Valor did with his first wife. They were head over heels in love, but not fated mates. But he most certainly is fated with Antonella.” Betty adds, “Ian and I are fated mates.”
“How did you know?”What if I’m not really his?
“It’s a feeling you get. Well, your wolf usually recognizes it first, and then you come to understand it. It’s an intense connection. And once it hits you, you don’t know if you’d be whole without it. I’ve heard it’s not as strong between humans and wolves, but you should still feel a really strong connection to Royal.” Betty tries to explain, but I imagine it’s like explaining astrophysics to a cat.
But what she says... I feel that. I do feel a connection to Royal. It’s why I couldn’t say goodbye when I was shipped off to Italy. It’s why I let him text me every day and didn’t block him. I didn’t want to be without him.
So that’s what this is. Fated mates.
56
ROYAL
YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT
I plop down on the ‘bed,’which is an old military-style cot that’s not exactly comfortable in the house’s tech room. The stacks of boxes filled with computers and technology that I’ve spent the last two days rummaging through and working on aren’t disappearing.
I started with the coding projects. Getting the computers ready to accept all the hardware and setting up a server to run it all through. It’s the bulk of the work that only I can do because any idiot can install cameras and sensors.
My phone rings, and the three daily calls from Steffano have me gritting my teeth, bracing myself to hear his next ridiculous request. But one glance at the screen and my shoulders relax. Leticia’s name glows, and the reminder of home soothes me.
“Hello, gorgeous,” I answer, bringing the phone to my ear. I wait for her reply while opening the clamshell case to get my earbuds out.
“Hey, handsome.” She sounds perfect, safe, and happy.
“Everything going okay at the house?” I switch from the phone against my head to earbuds before pushing up on the cot and moving to my personal laptop. I bring up the house feeds, and it takes me just a few seconds to find her in my — our — bedroom.
“Yeah, your mom and dad have been great. I think Betty really likes me. Class has been challenging with one arm, butmy teachers are all super understanding and accommodating.” Leticia wanders around my room, nearly pacing.
“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it.” I reach for my water bottle, left near the wrapper from the protein bar I had for dinner, and take a sip.
“Sooo.” Leticia pauses nervously. “At what point in a relationship do girls get dick pics from guys?”
