hours. Whenever she got the urge to turn back around and go to Royce, Billie ruthlessly pushed it away. In the end, she found herself at a city park that was a couple of blocks away from Royce's house. She sat in her car and watched a Little League baseball game that was taking place at the baseball diamond.
Billie knew it was only a matter of time before she sought Royce out. As he had said, they were connected now. She knew there was no going back even if she wanted to. Strangely enough, she was finding herself more accepting of the whole mate business, which was better than she had expected. She had never been in love before. At one time, she had thought it was something she would never find, much less wanted. Too many years of having to watch her father be alone, all because he couldn't stop loving the woman who had walked out on him, had been enough to make her leery of the whole thing. But now that she had time to think, to accept what was between her and Royce, Billie knew she had finally found it. The big question was whether Royce could ever love her in return. Even though he had claimed her as his mate, Billie didn't think being in love had much to do with it. Being mated sounded as if it was more a physical need rather than an emotional one.
Then there was the spell that could change her into a werewolf, if she were willing to try it. It was not something she could easily reject out of hand. If there was even the slightest chance it would work, and if Royce could come to love her, it wouldn't be fair to the both of them if she chose to stay a mortal. She really didn't relish the idea of growing old and feeble while Royce stayed forever young. He may say that it would make no difference to him, but it would for her. It also was something she knew she wasn't ready yet to try. She had her father and her brothers to think about as well. They were all so close that Billie knew she couldn't keep something like her being turned into a werewolf from them. The whole not aging thing would be kind of hard for them not to notice.
With a groan, Billie laid her head back onto the headrest of the car's seat. Her thoughts were still swirling around inside her head, but at least she now had put some order to them. And out of them all, one thing never changed - she still wanted Royce. His telling her what he truly was hadn't changed that fact.
Sitting up straight, Billie started her car. It only took her a minute to reach Royce's house. She pulled into his driveway and parked her car. Before she reached the front door, Royce opened it and stood waiting for her in the doorway. The way he was holding himself so stiffly with no emotion on his face, Billie knew he was holding himself back, waiting to see what her reaction would be.
With her face as free of emotion as his, Billie came to stand in front of him. She lifted her head until she could look Royce in the face. "I'm done thinking. I don't care that you're a werewolf. I still want you."
Royce growled with pure need as he swept her up into his arms and took her lips in a searing kiss. He carried her inside the house and slammed the door closed behind them. Moving faster than any mortal man ever could, Royce had them upstairs and in his bedroom in a matter of seconds. He didn't stop kissing her until he had her on his bed with him stretched out on top of her.
He lifted his head and looked down at her. "Are you sure you're okay with this, Billie? I did try to save you from this, but in the end I couldn't resist you."
Billie swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in her throat. She had known Royce hadn't wanted a mate, but it still hurt to actually hear him say it. "Yes. I've come to accept the fact that you never wanted this in the first place. It didn't help that I forced myself on you. But what is done is done."
Royce scowled down at her. "Is that what you think? That I didn't want you?" At Billie's