feel threatened. In fact, he set his palms on the counter beside him and gripped so tightly his knuckles turned white.
She rubbed her forehead. “And this is what happened to Aunt Marge?” Her voice was calmer, though she had no idea why. She should turn around, run from the house, get in her rental car, and drive out of town. Selling this place wasn’t worth the trouble.
“Yes.”
A thought occurred to her. “Does this happen to all shifters? Is that why everyone was staring at us last night? The entire damn town knew that you’d marked us or something?”
He sighed. “Yes, this happens to all shifters. We don’t usually marry someone until we find our mate. Sometimes it takes longer than others. Sometimes it doesn’t happen at all. Sometimes shifters meet another shifter or even a human and enjoy a full life without actually scenting them out specifically. And yes, to answer your last question, everyone knows.”
She winced again. Great. Just great. “I can’t…” She backed up again, intent on leaving the room. “There is no way to process what you’re saying, Caleb.”
“I know, Elena. It’s a lot to absorb. I get that. I’ve heard all about it. I’m not the first shifter to go through trying to explain to his mate what we are to each other.”
“And Hunter is going to tell Layla the same thing?”
“I’m sure he’s making his case right now. It wouldn’t be fair to either of you to keep it to ourselves any longer.”
“You said I have free will.”
“You do.”
“So, I can walk out the door and leave town right now and never look back?”
He took a slow breath. “You can. It wouldn’t be pretty, but you could.”
“What would happen?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure. It’s never happened to me. I hear it’s painful. Not physically, but it leaves a mark deep inside. Some shifters never recover from the loss of their mates.”
“What about…me? Are you saying it would be difficult for me too?” she asked tentatively.
He lifted his shoulders. “I can’t know that at all.”
“Surely you know people who have not bought into this and left town.”
“Yes. It happens.” He tipped his head back. “It’s rather horrifying. It leaves a deep hole in a shifter’s soul when they’re disconnected from their mate. For any reason really.”
“Ah. Because people die too.”
“Yes. Of course regular humans experience loss of a spouse upon death also, but not with the same intensity. For a shifter, it can be life-altering. Granted, when someone’s mate dies, though, it hurts badly. It does sort of release the party left behind. Not that they would ever forget or that the pain is lessened, but they can move on, mate with someone else, or at least find a partner to spend their life with.”
“But it’s not the same,” she mused.
“No.” Caleb shoved off the counter, but only took one step forward. “Enough sadness. I came here to help you.”
“Help me?”
“Go through Marge’s belongings. Whatever you need.”
She frowned at him. “You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the only way I can convince you to give me a chance is to spend time with you.”
She swallowed. This was such a bad idea. “Caleb, I live in Chicago. I have a life there.”
“You said yourself it wasn’t going very well.” He winced.
She nodded. “Yeah, well, that doesn’t mean I’m going to stay here just because some guy I met last night at a bar says I’m his mate.”
He smiled. “Okay. Don’t think about it. Just spend time with me. Let me help you.”
“Let you hang around the house while I work, trying to lure me into your wolf den?” She couldn’t keep from giving him a small smile.
He laughed. “I don’t have a den. I promise. I own a regular house. I’m even pretty tidy. Any time you want me to, I’ll take you there and give you a tour.”
She backed up, almost laughing. “Oh hell no. If I let you get me alone, you’d probably mark me or something and never let me leave.”
He wiggled his brows. “That’s not a bad idea.”
She considered this plan for a minute. What harm could it do? If he left, she’d spend every hour thinking about him. Wondering. What if there was some merit to his claim? It was preposterous, but he was sexy as hell, kind, and he made her insides turn to mush. Not to mention what he was doing to her sex. Her panties had been wet since she opened the front door, and the tank top she was wearing felt too tight.
Finally,