My mind churned with unanswered questions. The rogue had something planned tonight; I could feel it in my bones. But why hadn't he made a move? What was he waiting for?
As we reached the house, Elle slowed her pace and glanced over at me. "Hey, can you come to my room for a sec?"
I hesitated, but Nathan nodded slightly. This was new territory. "Of course," I said faintly.
Nathan arched a brow at his daughter but didn't push. "Don't stay up too late," he muttered, heading for the kitchen, probably in search of a stiff drink. I couldn't blame him.
Elle led me upstairs and inside her room, shutting the door behind us with a soft click. I took in her room, a collage of childhood and adolescence. Stuffed animals mingled with band posters, the scent of vanilla and teenage rebellion lingering in the air.
She perched on the edge of her bed, fingers fidgeting with her hoodie strings. I settled into the desk chair across from her, leaning forward slightly. Waiting.
"I was kind of a brat to you when you first got here," Elle blurted out, staring at her lap.
A surprised laugh bubbled up my throat. "Yeah, a little." I kept my tone light, teasing. No need to pour salt in the wound. “But you already apologized for it, and I completely forgave you. You don’t have to apologize again.”
Elle gnawed on her bottom lip, brows knitted together. "I didn't want to believe it but could feel it." She looked up then, brown eyes swirling with emotion. "You're my dad's mate."
The words hung between us, heavy and unavoidable. I swallowed past the tightness in my chest, forcing myself to stay quiet. To let her say her piece.
"My mom was his first mate. His true mate," Elle continued, voice wavering just slightly. "Then you showed up, and it felt... wrong."
I inhaled slowly, choosing my next words with care. "Second fated mates are rare, but they do happen. And when they do, it's considered a blessing."
Elle picked at a loose thread on her hoodie. "It didn't feel like a blessing at first."
"I get that." I kept my voice soft, soothing. "I don't want to take your mom's place, Elle. No one could ever replace her."
She glanced up, hesitation flickering across her face. "I know that now. But it's been hard."
The ache in my chest grew. I couldn't even begin to imagine the emotional turmoil she'd been through. Losing a mother so young, watching her father grieve, and then having a stranger show up? Talk about a gut punch.
But we’d barely spoken out loud about being fated mates. I hadn’t even fully accepted it yet. “How did you know that your father and I, well, that we’re meant to be together? Did he tell you?”
Elle took a shaky breath, seeming to steel herself for what came next as she shook her head. "I can tell things about people when I'm near them. I always knew when my friends were lying. Sometimes I can even feel what they're feeling."
My eyebrows shot up, surprise overriding the heaviness of the moment. "Empathy. That's a pretty special gift."
She swallowed hard, her fingers clenching into fists. "But the biggest thing? I always know when someone has a fated mate. And who they belong to."
The weight of her words settled over me like a heavy blanket. She knew. She'd known from the start. No wonder she'd been so hostile, so resistant to my presence. It wasn't just about losing her mom; it was about knowing, deep down, that I was meant to be with her dad.
I leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees. "Oh, Elle, I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine how hard this must be for you."
She shrugged, but I could see the shimmer of tears in her eyes. "It's just... It's a lot, you know? Knowing that my dad has another mate out there. But, I mean, if he has to have one, I’m glad it's you."
I reached out, tentatively placing a hand on her knee. When she didn't pull away, I squeezed gently. "Let me say again, I’m not here to replace your mom, Elle. I would never try to do that. But I do care about your dad. And I care about you, too. I’d like to be your friend. Maybe sort of like an aunt?"
A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. She brushed it away quickly, sniffling. "I know. I can feel it."
We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of our conversation hanging in the air. I wanted to hug her and tell her that everything would be okay. But she needed time to process, to come to terms with this new reality.
The revelation of Elle's abilities hung between us, the silence stretching on as I processed her words. "Empathy, that’s rare, you know? Really rare." I exhaled slowly. "Your mom must've been incredibly special."
At the mention of her mother, Elle's face crumpled, tears brimming in her eyes. "I barely remember her. And my dad never talks about her." Her voice wavered, the pain evident in every word.
Oh, sweet girl. I ached for her. I shifted closer and moved to sit on the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Then let's change that. Let's find out more about her together."
Elle looked up at me, surprise flickering across her face. "You'd do that? With me?"
