“I’m trying.” He blew out that breath and winced. “Jocelyn…”
Every single sense went on high alert, checking to make sure she was safe and happy. “What about her?” I barked, plunking the beer down beside the carrots. “What’s wrong?”
Korrad was eyeing me, and finally shrugged. “She’s your Mate. I know you don’t believe in that shit,” he hurried to add, “but you don’t have to believe it to make it true. Iknowyou, and I can see how messed up you’ve been these last few weeks—hells, even before then. She’s the one, isn’t she? It’s like your world revolves around her, you can’t stopfeelingher, even when she’s not there?—”
“Shut up,” I managed to rasp, my palm going to the table to keep me upright, my gaze locked unseeing on the woods in the back behind the boys’ planned fort. “Just shut up.”
“Me shutting up won’t make it any less true, Brak.”
Mate.
Mate?
Fuck me, was my brother right? Wouldthatexplain these feelings, this fucking feral obsession?
But Mating was bullshit, it was just a way to explain biological urges.
Right?
Mate.
Up until now, all I needed from a female was a night in her bed—hunt, catch, fuck. But the longer I spent with Jocelyn, the more I knew—knew—that wouldn’t be enough. I needed more. I neededher.
Mate.
Fuck me, Korrad wasright?
My brother made a noise which might’ve been a laugh. “I’m going to go get more beer, and check if I can start grilling. You keep an eye on the boys?”
I might have agreed. I might have brayed like afaarnakbird, I dunno. I wasn’t even sure I was breathing anymore. When I felt the pain of my claws digging into my chest, I realized I’d been trying to dig into my heart. Or possibly to silence myKteer.
Because the damn thing was howling with glee at the thought of Jocelyn being my Mate.
That tiny insidious voice whisperedJocelyn is your Mateand with a sinking feeling in my stomach, I realized it was right.
I’d spent my life certain this shit wasn’t real, and now I was faced with the truth: Jocelyn was my Mate.
Now what was I going to do about it?
Chapter Twelve
Brakkor
I’m notsure how I made it through the rest of the evening. When Jocelyn carried out the burgers for the grill, it was like myKteersnapped to attention like a hunting hound. If my cock andKteerwere a compass, then she was True North.
Honestly, I think I ate and drank in complete silence, just staring at her like a creep. Milo even asked about it, when Jocelyn began to get uncomfortable, and Korrad—bless him—distracted everyone with a story of Jay’s childhood.
When it was time to say goodbye, Jocelyn clung to her friend for a long time. “Thank you for a lovely evening.”
Kesha smiled as she stepped back. “We’re all planning on being at your big meeting on Friday. We’re excited to see your plan to convince the town council.”
I’m not even sure if Jocelyn answered.
She climbed into my truck without speaking, using the step I’d installed for her, and her knuckles were white on the door handle. I noticed—of course I noticed. She was feeling awkward, and part of me suspected I was the cause, while the rest didn’t give a fuck.
I was too shaken.
Mates were real, and I’d found mine?
