Technical Threat (Westin Force #4) - Julie Trettel Page 0,56
frowned. “I wish you’d stop talking like that. You make me sound like a barbarian.”
“I don’t mean it like that. Really. You’ve been so great since the first moment we met that I’m just confused. It’s not like I’d imagined it could be.”
“You mean if you believed in true mates and fairytales?”
“Yeah, that.”
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.
“We’ll figure it out. Together. Worst case scenario right now, is that I fly back with Nonna and ask for some extended time off. They won’t begrudge me that. The wolves are very supportive of true mates.”
“Wolves. I still can’t believe you live with wolves.”
“They aren’t all wolves. Baine’s a bear, and Silas and Painter are gorillas.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. “Gorillas!”
“They’re not so bad. A little gruff at times but they’re cool.”
“Tarron, it sounds dangerous. Are you certain it would even be safe for me and Sage to be in wolf territory?”
“We wouldn’t even be discussing it as a possibility if I had any doubts whatsoever.”
“Sage gets off of school in an hour. I should be there when she gets home. And I’d like to talk to Sapphire first.”
His arm tightened around me. “Do you want me to come with you?”
It felt like such a simple question, but I sensed it wasn’t easy for him to ask. It dawned on me that just maybe Tarron wasn’t quite as certain of us as he let on.
“Yes,” I said. There was no reason to deny him that. The outcomes of these conversations would inevitably impact him as well. How could they not when the thought of a future without him left an ache in my heart.
I could feel him relax. I knew he was relieved that I had said yes. It was surreal how that power made me feel, and the confidence it now gave me. I’d never truly felt like I had anyone in my court. I gladly took care of everyone else, but no one ever watched my back.
With the decision made, we drove back over to the house. We could use the money from the sale of the café to pay off the remaining mortgage if Sapphire chose to stay there. If not, the options would be left up to Shay or the council currently overseeing her since it was only in her name anyway. She could let it fall into disrepair and be foreclosed on, or she could sell it.
I went back to the house while Tarron walked over to the restaurant to get my sister.
Standing in my living room and looking around, I was surprised to find I felt nothing. This didn’t feel like home to me anymore, where it had just the previous day, before everything changed so quickly. I was certain to be suffering from whiplash.
Sapphire and Tarron walked in, he came to stand behind me and the atmosphere in the room changed instantly.
Home, a soft thought popped into my head.
I shivered. I’d known him only two days and already he felt like home. I suddenly realized it didn’t matter if we stayed or left. Anywhere would feel like home with this man by my side. It shook me to my very core and rattled every logical thought I could muster.
I sat down and he joined me on the couch. His arm wrapped around me for support like it was the most natural thing in the world, because it was. I couldn’t explain it and it hurt my head if I tried to overthink it or tried to deny it. It simply was. Accepting that brought me a great deal of peace.
I smiled and leaned towards him.
“I already know you took him as a mate,” Sapphire said. “When are you leaving me?”
“We haven’t decided that, yet,” Tarron said.
“What? It’s not like she has a choice in the matter. We all know that.”
Tarron growled and then shook his head and laughed. “You guys have some really screwed up theories about mating. I won’t pretend to be an expert here, but I’ve at least been there to watch my brothers drop like flies to the mercy of their mates and I’m pretty certain things don’t work the way you believe they do.”
Sapphire looked at him like he was insane but took a seat on the chair across from us.
“Where’s mom? I was surprised you asked me to meet you here,” she said.
“Mom’s gone Sapphire. Hopefully, she won’t be coming back anytime soon.”