“What happened? Was it me? You didn’t want a warlock as your mate?” asked Remy, trying to hide a growing fear.
“No! Trust me…I don’t believe wolf shifters are better than any other paranormals. I know some do, but not me…never,” Carson said.
“Then…?”
“It’s embarrassing,” Carson muttered, setting down his coffee. More than that, he was ashamed of his show of weakness. Throughout his life, he went to extreme lengths to keep anyone from discovering his secret—now, the one person he never wanted to find out about it, wanted to know.
“Carson,” Remy said, softly, reaching over to take his mate’s hand. “It’s okay…you don’t have to tell me.”
Hearing the concern in his mate’s voice did something to Carson’s heart—he was touched at how Remy cared for him after the attack occurred. Finding the strength, he said, “I was very shy when I was young and, by that, I mean, if I saw strangers, I lost the ability to speak. I eventually overcame it.”
“So, this was a…relapse?” asked Remy.
“Yeah…I guess you could call it that,” Carson muttered.
“Does it happen often?” Remy asked, kindly.
Shaking his head, Carson replied, “No…not really.” Then looking up at his mate, he continued, “My brother found a therapist who helped me develop ways of coping with my condition…but, when I saw you…I don’t know…it was so unexpected…I don’t…I didn’t…I couldn’t…I forgot everything she taught me...”
Remy smiled. “I’m going to take that as a compliment. It’s not every day I render someone speechless.”
Snorting, Carson said, “Well you did. I couldn’t believe the Fates would give me someone like you.”
Frowning slightly, Remy asked, “What do you mean…someone like me? Because I’m a low-level magic user?”
His eyes widening at his mate’s words, realizing he screwed up again, Carson quickly said, “No…not at all…I don’t care what you are…I mean I care but not who you are…I mean I care who you are…oh fuck…I meant because I never thought I’d ever have a mate as gorgeous as you…not that I wouldn’t want you even if you weren’t gorgeo…”
As he listened to his mate, Remy’s lips curved into a slight smile, then morphed into a wide grin, before he began to laugh. “Please stop,” he choked out, holding up his hand. After he got himself under control, he said, “Thank you. I think you’re pretty good looking yourself.”
“Reeemmmeee!” Galen screamed, slamming the back door behind him as he bolted toward his brother.
Startled, Carson turned his head, just in time to see a three-and-a-half-foot tall rocket launch itself into his mate’s arms.
“Hey,” Remy murmured, tucking his brother against his chest. “What’s the matter?”
“I wuz scared,” Galen whined, “I lost Miz B. You don’t think she died, do ya?”
Tightly hugging his brother close to him and rocking slowly, Remy crooned, “No, sweetie, she didn’t die.”
“Where...hic…is…hic…her?” Galen asked, rubbing the tears from his face.
“What were you doing?” asked Remy.
“We wuz playing hide-n-seek. I found this hole in the ground and I wuz hidin’ a long time but she never found me,” Galen blurted out, his voice filled with anxiety.
“That’s because you’re so great at hiding,” Remy said.
“Galen? Where are you?”
“In here, Mrs. B,” Remy called.
Turning, Carson saw a kindly-looking woman carrying a baby in one arm while the other led a small child trailing behind her.
“Look, Galen,” Remy said, pointing to her. “There’s Mrs. Beasley.”
“Thank goodness, he’s here,” Mrs. Beasley said, stopping next to Carson, giving him a quick glance. “Remy, I’m sorry for interrupting your meeting,” she said before turning to Galen. “Honey, let’s go to the kitchen and you can pick out which cookie you want.”
“Uh-huh,” Galen said, burrowing down against Remy’s chest.
