The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,46

aren’t really. Usually that happens when packs want to make alliances. But true matings? It’s something completely different than just falling in love or choosing to marry someone. For one, you don’t choose, your animal side does. Though I’ve heard they don’t actually choose either, they just recognize their mate before the human side does.”

“So… magic?” Robson grunted, annoyed with how often that was the answer to things.

“Well, yeah.” Patrick tipped his head to look at Robson more fully. “I know you don’t feel it the same way we do, but trust me, once you accept him as your mate, you’ll be a lot happier.”

Robson’s stomach dropped out of his body, and he stood so fast he hit his knee on the coffee table. Wincing, he ignored the pain and stared into Patrick’s worried eyes as he sat up. “What?”

“Oh, fuck me. I’m so dead.”

“Patrick! What did you mean? Is…” He couldn’t even say it. How could he be Marcus’s… He suddenly felt warmth in his chest as his body remembered the feeling of peace and calm that had enveloped him when wolf-Marcus had lain on him, offering him comfort. He cleared his throat. “Am I Marcus’s mate?”

Patrick stood slowly, nodding and hands out in front of him. “Listen, can you please not tell him I told you? Fuck, I messed up. I just… the way you were asking about him and the fact that he told you so much about us… Oh my god.”

“Calm down, man. I won’t tell him.” Robson could barely focus on what Patrick was saying, his mind spinning at what the revelation meant. He raced through his memories, back to the very first one, and clearly recalled how Marcus had stared at him even as Robson had yelled at the chief of police. “Did he know as soon as he met me?”

Patrick’s face was buried in his hands, and he muttered something, but Robson couldn’t make it out.

“Seriously, will you calm yourself? Marcus isn’t going to kill you, for god’s sake.”

Dropping his hands, Patrick glared at Robson. “You don’t know that. You don’t mess with another shifter’s mating, Robson. That’s not just a suggestion—it’s literally part of Kincaid Pack law. If he wanted to, Marcus could exile me from the pack for interfering.”

Robson rolled his eyes. “Stop being so dramatic. For one thing, I’d never let that happen, okay? For another, I already told you I wouldn’t say anything.”

“You don’t have to, remember? He’ll be able to sniff out the truth in two seconds.” Patrick collapsed back into the recliner and rubbed at his forehead. “Tell him I’m very sorry and I’ll accept any punishment—”

“Oh my god, shut up,” Robson growled.

Patrick’s mouth snapped shut, his eyes wide as he stared at Robson.

“I know I’ve been an ass to you, but will you just trust me?”

Nodding, Patrick said, “Yeah, okay. Sorry. Kind of spiraled there for a second. Heightened instincts, remember?”

Robson grumbled under his breath as he headed for the door.

“Where are you going?” Patrick trailed after him.

“I’ve been formally invited to Kincaid Manor or whatever.”

“Whoa, really?”

He paused, hand on the doorknob. “Yeah. Is that not common? Wasn’t Reesa invited at some point?”

Patrick shook his head. “No. I mean, I’ve been there, once. I had to go and formally request permission to tell her about me and the pack, but that’s it, and I’ve been a member for nearly three years.”

“Huh.” That made it sound like the place was a fortress to keep the pack separate from Kincaid and the others. “Did you feel unwelcome when you were there?”

“Oh no! The opposite. Rick was much nicer than I was expecting, but he’s super busy at the same time. He made it clear he and the Enforcers would always be there if Teresa or I needed something though. Which… that’s more than a lot of alphas do.”

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. My old alpha was pretty high-and-mighty and you better not bother him unless you were dying. My family didn’t like that I moved away, but they at least kept in touch. Well, until I mated Teresa.” He shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but Robson could hear the pain in his voice clear as day.

Remembering something else he’d seen Marcus do, he gently placed a hand on the top of Patrick’s shoulder where it met his neck. Patrick’s eyes widened, but he didn’t pull away. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more welcoming when I met you, but you’re part of the Medina family now. If you need something, you