If I hadn’t seen his change with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe it. The Clement Shelton I knew growing up was a total self-centered asshole.
But Austin Shelton is entirely different. Well, maybe not completely. He’s still kind of an asshole. But he’s not the same kind of an unredeemable asshole.
“You shouldn’t have even been in that accident. That kid is a fucking moron. One for not paying attention while driving and two for even going up that mountain in those conditions.” Austin rumbled.
“I chose to be in that truck. I knew it was a bad idea, but I did it anyway.” I pointed out.
“Congrats, you’re stupider than your friends? Because it takes a real idiot to know something is a bad idea and still does it,” Austin rolled his eyes.
“Oh, because you smell your own? I can make a list as long as my arm of all the stupid shit you’ve done that I bet money you knew was a bad idea.” I countered.
“Doubtful.” Austin scoffed.
“Oh, let’s see. When I was five, I remember you deciding to take a baseball bat and hit a hornet nest in a tree at the edge of the woods near the playground. You screamed like a little girl as you and all the boys scattered for safety. Stephen had to grab me and protect me from getting stung.” I recalled.
I had him, and he knew it. I saw how his jaw ticked, and his eyes narrowed as I brought up one of the many highlights of stupid moments of his life.
“I was thirteen. A young dumb pup.” Austin grumbled.
“Uh-huh. What’s your excuse for the multiple counts of stupid moments when you were in Incubi?” I questioned.
I was armed and ready to list them all. His annoyed expression wasn’t going to deter me either.
“Don’t think Stephen and Amelia didn’t dish. I heard you grabbed Beta Zoe’s ass and spent time as a statue. I heard you insulted Alpha André not once but twice. Not to mention when you insulted Amelia, and Beta Zoe turned you to stone.” I listed them all off.
I’ve touched a nerve, given how tight his grip on the steering wheel had become.
“I’m aware of my mistakes. But I made them, and I own up to them. No one convinced me to do them. No one else is responsible. And the only person physically hurt by my actions, excluding the hornets, has been me.” Austin ground out.
“Your little boyfriend got you and four others hurt because of his stupidity.” He growled when he said, ‘boyfriend.’
“Back up that train of thought. Because Stan is not my boyfriend.” I explained.
‘You better make it very clear to our mate that the boy is absolutely nothing to you. Because I’ll make your life hell if you leave the impression that anything has happened with that gomer.’ Kayla threatened.
“He sure seems to think he is. Walking in today with his arm around you. And not wanting back off even after it was verbalized you’re my mate.” Austin glanced at me.
The expression on his face was still stern and filled with annoyance, but his eyes were different. He looked hurt by the very idea.
“Around my shoulders. That’s a friend thing, and when I walked in, I was still mateless.” I pointed out.
“And when Kayla scented you, I shrugged him away. Stan has never and would never have been my boyfriend. When I was a kid, I decided I wouldn’t date or do anything with a guy who wasn’t my mate.” I shook my head.
“But you like him?” Austin arched an eyebrow.
I rolled my eyes. Great unwarranted jealousy rears its ugly head.
“He’s cute. Lots of guys are cute.” I shrugged.
There goes that tick of his jaw. He doesn’t like the idea that I think Stan or anyone else is cute. He will need to keep that jealousy in check if this will work.
“But none of them are you.” I added, putting my hand on his forearm.
The sparks of the bond startled me at first. I closed my eyes, letting them surge through me before trying to convey calming energy to him through our bond. I smiled, opening my eyes to see he had relaxed. His lips had even turned into a small smile.
“Uh-huh. Good to know.” He nodded, trying to play it cool.
“So you’re telling me that you’ve never dated someone? Never even kissed someone?” He questioned, raising a blonde brow as he glanced at me.
I don’t know if he’s trying to mock me or bait me. I do know that I don’t like either of those options. It pisses me off because I know he didn’t save himself for me.
I’m well aware he had girlfriends even before he lost his leg. I don’t know how many he’s had since. Though that reminds me, I still want to question him about Denise.
“I just said I haven’t dated, didn’t I?” I sighed.
“Yes, but not dating doesn’t always mean abstaining from other activities.” Austin shrugged, glancing at me, still waiting for an answer.
I rolled my eyes cause he was going to make me say this. Cause that’s just what I want to admit to him.
“Fine. Suppose you want me to spell it out for you. I haven’t done anything with anyone. No sex, no touching, and no kissing.” I sighed as he parked his jeep in my family’s driveway.
“So you’re telling me that it would be your first if I kiss you right now?” Austin questioned.
I blinked, gulping as I looked at him and realized he was facing me. Just like earlier, when I came out of the changing room, we were practically sharing our breaths.
Kayla was all in when it came to Austin. His scent of fresh-cut grass, garden herbs, and wildflowers engulfed me, overriding my senses. Kayla was practically purring, trying to nudge me forward.
Just as his lips were about to touch mine, the house’s front door opened, the light from inside streaming out into the night. My head turned just in time, his lips pressing to my cheek instead as I looked at my father standing on the porch, arms folded and eyebrow raised.
“I… I better go. Um, we can meet tomorrow if you want. And talk some more. We didn’t discuss everything in one car ride.” I hurried to grab my things, rushing out of the jeep before he could answer.
I could feel his eyes on me as I rushed up the steps. I gave my dad a smile knowing my blush would probably rival the ripest cherry we’ve ever grown.
“Hi, daddy. Bye, daddy.” I waved, rushing past him.
I barely paused to take off my boots as I rushed upstairs to avoid questions. Of course, I wasn’t going to be so lucky. I heard footsteps following me, and the scent of my parents reached me, so I knew both had come to find out what was going on.
“Suzie?” Dad questioned, knocking at my bedroom door.
“What’s going on? Why did you rush up here so fast? Was training bad?” Mom questioned, apparently unaware of who drove me home.
“I think the better question is why Clement Shelton drove her home and looked like he was about to kiss her when I stepped outside.” Dad huffed.
I growled when he called Austin Clement and yanked my door open, glaring at my father. “HIS NAME IS AUSTIN!” I shouted as I corrected him.
“Well, it got her to open the door.” Dad smirked and glanced at mom.
I grumbled, folding my arms and kicking myself for falling for his stupid trick. He knows Clement had started going by Austin. He knows because Austin was my Physical Therapist.
“Dirty trick.” I muttered, walking back to sulk on my bed, pulling my pillow up to my chest as my parents followed me.
“Maybe, but it worked. Now want to explain what’s going on?” Dad sighed.
“You know that you can tell us anything. I like to think we are an open and honest family.” Mom sighed.
“He’s my mate.” I sighed.
“Wait, did you just… did you say Austin is your mate?” Dad furrowed his brow, digging his finger into his ear like checking for clogs.
“I didn’t stutter.” I rolled my eyes.
“He was one of the instructors for tonight. When I walked into the training center, Kayla went wild, picking up our mate’s scent. And well, it led me to Austin.” I admitted.
“I see. And what about Austin’s human girlfriend?” Mom questioned bluntly, charging forward and asking the burning question in her.
She knew about my crush on him when I was still attending physical therapy. She also knows that I returned that day upset because of what happened with Denise and her saying they were going on a date.
“He says they aren’t together. But I didn’t get to question him further to know what that means.” I shrugged.
“We talked on the drive home. But it was more about his past and the reasoning behind him changing his name and attitude. Did you know his grandfather was such a prick?” I huffed.
“Well yeah. Anyone who’s ever dealt with Dillon Shelton knows what kind of asshole he is.” Mom snorted.
“Yeah, well, I didn’t. At least not to that extent. But after talking with Austin tonight, I can understand why he used to act that way. It was how he was being raised. Thank Goddess, he got some sense knocked into him in that Incubi war.” I sighed.
“We’re glad he’s changed too. I don’t think we’d like you being with a jerk like Clement Shelton as a mate. You’re too willful for that, and it would crush us to see him take that away.” Dad sighed.
“So what are you two going to be doing then? Your father owes you an apology for interrupting your first kiss.” Mom questioned, elbowing dad in the ribs.
“It’s fine. I don’t think I was ready for it anyway. Austin is going to have to earn it. I’m not going to cave just because of the mate bond. So dad technically saved me. As for the rest. I guess we’ll talk more tomorrow.” I shrugged.
“Are you going to tell your brother and Amelia?” Dad questioned.
“Oh, Goddess, I hadn’t even thought about that. I mean, I’ll have to eventually. But right now, I want to wait. At least until after the baby is born. I don’t want to put any unnecessary duress on Amelia.” I sighed.
“Okay, sweetie. We’ll support whatever you decide. And you know your brother will support you.” Mom smiled.
“Even if he hates Austin for the man he was?” I arched an eyebrow.
“Even then. Stephen will have to learn the man he is now and let go of Clement and all the bad behavior and memories that go with him.” Mom smiled, kissing the top of my head.
“Now, why don’t you get some rest. It’s only been your second-day shifting. And I know that the first training session tends to be draining.” Dad suggested hugging me before they left me alone with my thoughts.
Falling asleep was not going to be easy tonight. I had so much to think about. I need to figure out how things will move forward with Austin and how to handle the bad blood between him and my brother. Talk about a lot to put on a sixteen-year-old’s shoulders.
At least her parents aren't giving her trouble about them being mates.
You have got to be kidding me! Thanks, Maxton, thanks a fucking lot. Cocking blocking, son of a bitch. Do all fathers have a cockblocker mode, or is it just him? Because fuck if he doesn’t. There is no way he could have just coincidentally timed walking out onto the porch like that. No way. He had to have sensed it like that robot in Spaceballs with her virgin alarm. I waited till she was inside, and Maxton had shut the door before backing out of the driveway. Don’t think I didn’t miss the way his eyebrow arched as he looked at me. Oh, he not only knows my jeep, but he saw me clear as day behind the wheel. I can just imagine what conversation is happening inside the Walterson house tonight. What will she tell them? Will she lie and say we ran into each, and I offered to drop her off? Will she tell the truth and say we’re mates? Or will she tell a white lie? Omitting that I’m her mate but say I was one of the instructors? So many possibilities, and I have no way of knowing
Today has been a whirlwind of changes. Hell, the last twenty-four hours have been a trip. Last night, I shifted for the first time, and now I’ve also found my mate. I still don’t know how I feel about my mate being Austin. ‘Why are humans so difficult?’ Kayla scoffed. ‘Excuse me?’ I arched my brow. ‘You heard me. Why are humans, or I guess just you, so difficult? This isn’t rocket science. It’s actually really simple. He’s our mate. Therefore, we should be with him.’ Kayla sighed. ‘It’s not that simple. You don’t know what Austin was like.’ I frowned. ‘WAS!’ Kayla shouted, making my head hurt. ‘What he WAS like! I don’t give a fuck what he WAS like. And I know exactly how he used to be. Remember, I can access all your memories from before I awakened.’ Kayla rolled her eyes. ‘People don’t just change personalities overnight.’ I countered. ‘It’s been YEARS! Our mate has focused on improving himself, of making himself a better man for YEARS!’ Kayla insisted. And I hate t
I wanted to get ahead of any possible issues with Suzie. After sleeping on it, I woke up knowing one thing for sure if Suzie finds out Denise was at my place from anyone else, I am dead. So I got up early and went to a local bakery to get a couple dozen donuts and a large carafe of fresh-brewed coffee. Don’t judge. Werewolves have a high metabolism. As a kid, Maxton would stop at Pearl’s Bakery if he was in charge of carpooling Stephen, me, and a couple of other kids to the pack middle school. So I’m sort of banking that he still has a soft spot for it. While getting the donuts and coffee, I kept a running conversation with Suzie in the pack link. And fuck, she’s adorable. I knew what she was doing, distracting me with that comment about still being in bed. Okay, so that probably wasn’t her initial plan when we mentioned it, but she didn’t discourage me from trying to guess what she wears to bed. I am about ninety percent sure my first guess was correct. There might be a nine p
I may have rushed through my shower and getting dressed. I know my mom, and honestly worried for Austin’s safety. She’s as sweet as sugar unless she feels her kids are threatened. Then you realize that sugar has sharp pieces of glass hidden inside. And I think I got downstairs just in time. From the sounds of things and the general vibe of the room, Austin’s asshole side was showing, and mom’s growly bitch side was coming out. Of course, dad wasn’t much use. I don’t blame him. He probably didn’t want to get in the middle and deal with mom later if he didn’t side with her. So I’ll do it. After I told them to get to their corners, mom glared at Austin, grabbed a glazed donut, and sat down with a huff. Austin didn’t look apologetic in the least. Hell, he simply shrugged and smiled at me. “So me spending a few minutes with your parents gets your ass moving, but giving you a ten-minute warning does nothing. Noted.” Austin chuckled. I rolled my eyes. What a dumbass. “Why are you
I’d put a lot of thought into how I would handle Denise and people in general. No one would bat an eyelash about us being together within the pack. But I work outside the pack with humans, so I needed a plan. I wasn’t sure how Suzanne would react to all of this, mainly the part about Denise. I’ll give her credit; I was expecting more yelling and not just threats of violence but to be punched. I didn’t just pull over and park because I didn’t want to talk while driving. No, I did it to be sure if Suzanne went She-Hulk on me, I’d not get us into an accident. She’s been in one accident. That’s more than enough, thank you. I sighed, running my hand over my hair as she questioned my plans of telling people I work with that we have an arranged marriage and are starting the engagement period. This was the tricky part, if I’m honest. We only found out yesterday we are mates, and given she was my client, people will question how things ended and the whole sleeping with Denise part if I
I haven’t been the talk of the school since Stephen became a Gamma in Madonie, but then that was about my brother. Today the gossip was directly about me. Now that I have Kayla, everyone’s whispers about Austin dropping me off and kissing my cheek weren’t going unheard. I can’t even count how many times I had to answer the question about if Austin is my mate. I also can’t count how many people I snarled at for calling him Clement or making a face about being his mate. I swear these people will put mine and Kayla’s tolerance to the limits. I’m lucky I made it through the day without knocking anyone through a wall. I was never so happy to hear the final bell and get out of there. I was hurrying to get my stuff in my locker when it closed on me. “Excuse fucking me, but I was putting shit in there.” I snarled, turning my attention to the offending individual. I frowned as I saw Stan, Paul, and a couple of she-wolves at the training last night, including Melody standing there. Just
Literally, one of the worst possible outcomes for tonight came true. I was praying to the Goddess after the shit show of Denise’s crazy showing that nothing else goes wrong. I didn’t think Denise would go off the deep end like that. It was a causal relationship. Until recently, she made no hints, I picked up on, of wanting something super serious. I’m fucking pissed she just made a huge scene in front of Suzie’s parents. And fuck trying to use that birthday present I got her as a symbol of my love? That woman needs help. The last thing I need is for Maxton and Edith, or much worse for Suzie, to question how serious I am about the mate bond. And it’s not just the mate bond that makes me want to be with her. I started liking and seeing Suzie as more than the annoying kid sister of Stephen while I was her physical therapist. I didn’t make a move because I don’t mess with she-wolves or patients. But all those things don’t matter now. Suzie’s not my patient, and we are mates. Th
The night we found out we were mates, I told myself he would have to earn my affection. I promised myself the mate bond wouldn’t control me into simply giving in. And I held firm. ‘Yeah, for all of twenty-four hours. And look who initiated the kiss.’ Kayla taunted as my lips met his. Sure it’s only been a day, but you know what it feels like years, probably because I’ve known him my whole life. But he did earn this. He stood up to Denise and his grandfather, all for me. And like the cherry on top, he just gave me a family heirloom, a ring that his mother wore. If that isn’t a reason to kiss a man, I don’t know what is. And while I’ve never kissed someone before, I am confident if I had, none would measure up to kissing Austin. I’d only intended for it to be a brief kiss, a thank you. I don’t know my intention, but that’s not how this kiss went. Austin’s arms wrapped around me, holding me closer. I moaned into the kiss, and the moment my lips parted, he deepened the kiss, his tongu