My Surprise Mate

Chapter 7 

I lay on the bed and let the tears run freely.This was all too much.I feel like I’m losing my mind.I just can’t seem to wrap my brain around the fact that werewolves are real...or so l’m told.I cried until I had no more tears to cry than the guilt of how I had been acting toward Dane set in.I had been an ungrateful, hateful b***h.

That’s not who I am.I glanced at the bedside clock and saw it was 4:45 in the morning.

Slowly I stood and headed back to the living room, unsure if Dane was still there or not.

All the lights were off except one and I noticed Dane asleep on the couch.He barely fit and I was honestly surprised to find him still there.

I wonder why he didn’t go to sleep in one of the other rooms since he had decided to stay.

He looked peaceful and I didn’t want to wake him.

"I’m awake." I heard him say gruffly as I tried to tiptoe back to the bedroom.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you," I whispered.

He sat up, stretching his arms above his head.

My eyes scanned down his amazingly toned body as I started fantasizing about being tangled in those arms.

Dane cleared his throat, dragging me out of my thoughts.I felt the heat rush to my face face, "Did you need something?"

He stood, folding the small throw blanket he had been covering with, and laid it neatly on the end of the couch.

"I just wanted to apologize to you.I have acted like such an ungrateful b***h since you met me, and I swear I’m not usually like this." I felt so ashamed of my behavior I struggled to make eye contact with him.

He walked around the couch and pulled me into a hug.

And cue the tingles spreading over my body.I wrapped my arms around his waist, returning the embrace and letting his scent wrap around me like a blanket.I let out a deep breath as my mind and body started to relax.

"You don’t need to apologize but thank you for doing it anyway." Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

"I have some things I need to do before breakfast, will you be okay until then?" I nodded missing the warmth of his embrace as soon as he pulled away.

He didn’t bother grabbing his shirt before he walked out the door, locking it behind him.I felt exhaustion taking over as I laid down on the couch Dane had just been sleeping on.

His scent still lingered there and I fell into a much-needed deep sleep.I woke to the smell of bacon cooking.

As I sat up, I saw a stove.

No one was talking, Dane just seemed to be watching his mother cook.I rubbed my eyes as I stood up, "Good morning,"

I greeted both of them.

Dane spun around, "More like good afternoon."

He grinned.

"What! What time is it?"

His mother just laughed, "Don’t listen to Dane dear, it’s only noon."

I couldn’t believe I had slept that long.

Not as late as Dane made me think it was, but later than I usually slept.

Most nights I can’t even stay asleep all night.

"If you'll excuse me, I’m going to get dressed really fast."

They both nodded in my direction, and I quickly scurried back to the bedroom.

I didn’t bring many clothes, so it was tights and a t-shirt today.I threw my hair into a messy bun and washed my face and brushed my teeth, before packing my belongings back into my bag.

Dane was setting the table as I walked back in, dropping my back near the front door.

He glanced at my bag at my feet, then back up to me with a pained look on his face.

"Is there anything I can help with?" I asked, standing next to him.

He just shook his head, "No, it’s all done."

His mother came walking to the table with a huge platter of food.It smelled delicious.

Dane pulled a chair out for his mother, helping her get seated before coming around the table and doing the combined.

We all began eating in silence.

"So dear, Dane wouldn’t tell me anything about you, but he did ask that I help explain some things to you."

I looked at Dane in surprise.He had kept his promise not to tell anyone.He winked at me with a smile on his face, "How much do you know about werewolves?" his mother continued, not paying any attention to her son.

"Well ma’am, I just recently found out that werewolves are real and I’m pregnant by one.And I keep hearing the word mate a lot, it seems." I was honest with her, but I didn’t open up to her as I had with Dane.

"Please, call me Adria dear.Where have you heard the word mate from?" she asked me.

I laughed nervously, "The first time I heard it was from my ex—evidently, I’m not his mate so I can’t have his baby—and then Dane has told me a few times that I am his mate and I have nothing to worry about."

His mother smiled at her son with understanding on her face, "Well dear, a mate is our other half.It is someone who the Moon Goddess has made just for us.Kind of like how humans say they found their soul mate, except a mate truly is.Mates will make each other feel whole, and they will make them stronger.A werewolf knows a person is their mate have signs, but they won’t know right away.And that’s understandable, they usually have never heard of mates before."

She explained it to me.

"So, you knew I was your mate when you saw me in the diner?" I asked, looking at Dane.

He just nodded his head, "But I didn’t know you were human.You have the scent of a werewolf, though it is faint."

I looked down at my plate, trying to process what I had just learned.I had so many questions now.

"So, what are some of the signs humans have?" I asked curiously.

"Oh, there are many, but the most obvious ones are the tingles, or shocks when your mate touches you, and they have a way of calming you with just their presence." My eyes widened at her response.

"Do you have either of those with Alpha Dane?"

I looked at Dane who seemed a little nervous about my response.

"Yes, actually I do," I answered her never taking my eyes off Dane.

A huge smile spread across his face as his eyes bore into me.

Adria sighed, smiling, "I am so happy for y'all."

She stood from the table, "I have some things I need to get done, but dear Dane will answer the rest of your questions.If there is anything you would like to talk to me about, just tell him and he will call me.She made her way around the table and gave mates? “ I asked him again once I heard the front door shut.

Dane stood and reached out a hand to me to help me up, "Yes, we are mates."

He led us back to the couch and sat down.I sat next to him with my legs folded.He gently rested his hand on my knee as he watched me intently.

"Does that mean I can’t ever leave here?"Hurt flashed through his eyes, "No that’s not what it means.I will never force you to stay here or to be with me.You can reject me…” he trailed off, worry settling on his brows.

"What happens if I do that? I’m not saying that I’m rejecting you, I’m just trying to understand." I clarified.

"If it’s done before mating and marking, then the wolf will survive, though they tend to be a little...temperamental...and it does weaken the wolf.If it’s done after the pair has mated and marked each other, then the chances of surviving aren’t very likely.I just ask that you give me a fair chance before you decide if you want to reject me.Give me a chance to prove to you that I am worthy."

Dane looked at me pleadingly.

"It doesn’t bother you that I am pregnant by another man, another werewolf?"

He shook his head, "No, it doesn’t matter to me.I will raise it as my own—if you decide to stay that he already accepts my unborn child makes my heart swell.

"Dane, I know I already said this, but I really am sorry for the way I treated you." He reached over and pulled me to him.

I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes.I don’t know if I can ever get over how safe I feel when he is around me.