Craved Mate (Cybermates #6) - Candace Ayers Page 0,42

Nathan Hill went off without a hitch. Or maybe I should say with a hitch since they got hitched.

They were dancing and eating and celebrating their sacred union of ‘til death do them part, and reveling in the merriment along with family, friends, and well-wishers.

I stood before a microphone trying to control my pout reflex as I witnessed yet another wedding reception. Another loving couple was fawning over one another while I stood with a gaping wound where my heart used to be.

Nathan couldn’t take his eyes off his new bride, and while I sang Christina Perri’s A Thousand Years, Brandi and Nathan danced their first dance as Mr. and Mrs.

They were a beautiful couple.

I forced my eyes closed so I could make it through the song. It was getting harder and harder to pretend I wasn’t dying inside during our wedding gigs. Time should’ve eased the pain. Instead, I felt as though the pain grew roots and was taking permanent hold over me.

The song came to an end, and as I opened my eyes to watch the last moment of the dance, movement in the crowd caught my eye. For a brief moment, I thought I saw Mac. My heart leapt then sank when my brain reminded me it wasn’t him. There was no way it could be Mac.

As soon as the song ended, I turned to Pierce and motioned for him to sing. The father-daughter dance was next and he could handle singing their song choice without a problem. I needed a break. Pierce didn’t look concerned, which was weird for him. Instead, he just smiled and nodded.

Stepping off the stage and out of the ballroom, I made my way outside and sucked in fresh air. Hands on my hips, I bent over and tried to slow my breathing. How crazy—panting, practically having a panic attack, all because I imagined for a moment I saw Mac.

What had I even thought was going to happen? My hopeful brain was foolishly imagining a scenario where Mac showed up at a random wedding because he came for me. Like that would ever happen.

The door opened behind me and I straightened up. I didn’t want anyone else to know how much of a wreck I was. With my back turned to the door, the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up and a warm sensation washed down my spine. I somehow knew before turning around that I hadn’t been imagining anything.

Oh no. My blood sugar. I was hallucinating. Although I didn’t feel light headed or dizzy. No nausea…

“Hello, Mel.”

I jerked around and there he was. Mac. The man who’d stolen every conscious thought I’d had for the last couple weeks. I’d gone through this moment a thousand times in my head. Lying in bed at night, I’d planned whole conversations of what I would say if he showed up. None of them came to mind now that it was finally happening. I was tongue tied.

Mac’s eyes moved over my face and down my body. They settled somewhere in the middle and he frowned. “You’ve lost weight.”

I hugged my middle shrinking into myself.

“You’re still incredibly beautiful.”

“Why are you here?”

He stepped closer and tried to touch me, but I stepped back. With a sigh, he rubbed his hand over his head. His hair had grown a little longer, and looked more unkempt than it had been. “There’s a few things I need to say to you.”

I steeled myself. “I’m listening.”

“There’s something very important—can we go somewhere and talk?”

“Um…we can talk here, can’t we?”

He grunted. “Fine.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and backed up a few steps. I was fighting my body’s instinct to throw myself into his arms and beg him to give us another chance.

“I miss you. I think you miss me too, and if so, I owe you an apology and an explanation. ”

My heart leapt into my throat. He stared down at me with such intensity, under his gaze I felt like chocolate melting in the hot sun. “What are you talking about?”

“You know what I am. Well, there’s something that comes along with being a shifter.” He looked uncomfortable. “We have mates. Like…soulmates. One person on the face of this planet meant solely for us. It’s a very special bond, one that grows stronger with time. Many shifters look forward to finding their mates, even go looking for them. It’s finding your best friend and the person you’re most sexually attracted to all in one. There’s