Page 50 of Colton’s Mate

Soft and shy, with big eyes and big paws and those incredible soft tufted ears.

Now, in his head, he saw her lynx watching him from a distance, looking small and lonely. He suddenly thought about what it would feel like for her—to sense her true mate, and to feel that she wasn’t wanted.

Wasn’t chosen.

Wasn’t enough.

The thought sent a cold wave of misery through him. That was her fate, if he didn’t want her. Her happiness was in his hands.

I’m going to fuck this up.

Probably, said his owl.

But Remy—Remy was a part of him too. He couldn’t imagine life without his brother.

Can you imagine it without your mate? said that other voice.

He couldn’t. He’d believed his mate was far in the future, but he’d always imagined he’d find her. Counted on it. The thought of losing that—throwing it away, even—was unthinkable.

He couldn’t believe he’d have to choose between the two. True mates were supposed to be destined to be together. And if that was the case, it couldn’t possibly mean he’d have to lose his brother.

Could it?

When he pulled in at the house, the first thing he saw was Remy sitting on the redneck porch sofa between Brandon and Kitty.

Relief surged through him, and he braked the truck to a stop and got out.

It was only then that he noticed how rough his brother looked—like he’d been up for three days straight doing something that wasn’t even fun.

And that Kitty and Brandon were sitting on either side of him, instead of next to each other the way they normally would.

Which meant Remy needed their touch—which meant his animals were still on the edge.

Sasquatch was sitting on the floor opposite the couch, leaning against the porch railing (which Brandon had made him and Jason fix after their last brawl). Even Squatch had one hairy bare leg barely touching Remy’s foot.

The whole crew was surrounding him with their presence.

Jason—the only one not officially bonded to the crew—was also the only one who wasn’t physically touching Remy, but even he was out on the porch with them, sitting in a lawn chair a little distance away.

Nobody seemed to be talking much.

When Colt came up the steps, Kitty got up and let him have her seat, going to the other end of the couch to sit on the arm of the sofa next to Brandon, leaning on his shoulder.

She began running her fingers gently through the hair at the back of Brandon’s neck. Which meant he was upset too, and Kitty felt like she needed to try to calm him down.

Colt sat down next to Remy, his shoulder and thigh touching his brother.

Immediately he felt the last of the tension relax out of his brother—and himself. Having Brandon and Kitty by his side had been good for him, but the twins needed each other.

Always had, always would.

After a little while Brandon got up and went to the porch fridge, handing around beers. He remained standing, and Kitty moved into his seat next to Remy, snuggling up next to him. There was a pile of snack cakes on the floor, and she picked up a Hostess cupcake and opened it up.

Uh-oh. They were about to get the what-the-fuck-were-you-thinking alpha talk.

Brandon turned and gazed at Colt and Remy.

The moment drew out.