BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 196
"Understood. She's going to be thrilled with the idea, but I understand."
"Out of respect, we should run it by the council too, Kyle," Cole suggested
Kyle cringed. "I already did. They voted unanimously 'yes.' You weren't invited because of a conflict of interest."
Cole frowned. "Will I be asked to step down from the council?"
"No. We all agreed there's benefit to having one of my betas in a more administrative role and part of the council."
He smiled, like he was relieved to hear it.
"Okay, well, any questions or concerns?" Kyle asked.
"No," I said, "and thanks for the offer, Kyle. I really appreciate it. I'll give you my answer after I discuss it with Elise."
"The pack meeting is Sunday, but the pack run is tomorrow. Do you think you could have an answer by then?" Cole asked me
before addressing Kyle. "I think it may be best to introduce him fully and make both announcements then before the run."
"That's a good idea, Cole. What do you think, Patrick?"
"Yeah, look it. I think we could have a decision by then. I'll let you know as soon as I talk to her."
"Those females have you all whipped. Just glad it's not me. I'll be happy if I never find my one true mate," Cole joked.
"Yeah sure, we'll be there to remind you of that when the time comes."
"Never going to happen."
Kyle adjourned the meeting and I headed for the kitchen to tell Mary I'd have to take a rain check, I had a lot I needed to discuss
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"Perfect timing. They'll need about five minutes to cool, but come on, here," she said, shoving a pair of pot holders at me. I
quickly removed the cookies from the oven. "Wonderful." She linked her arm through mine and led me to the table. I felt trapped.
I wanted to go see my mate and figure things out, but the woman was bloody hard to say no to.
"Tell me, dear, how are things going with Elise?"
I smiled. Couldn't help it. "We're good." It was the truth, and we were finding our groove together as the days passed.
"Do you love her?"
Wow, this woman didn't hold anything back. "Very much," I assured her.
She scrutinized me closely, then smiled like she was satisfied with my answer. "Let me tell you a bit about my Elise."
She leaned in and placed her hand on my arm as she talked. It was an odd sensation to me. I had never much been around a
mother before. My own had died in childbirth to my youngest brother. I had often wondered if the pain of it had been too much for
my da and that was why he was so adamantly against his sons taking true mates. He and Ma had not been true mates, only
compatible mates, but I was old enough to remember the change in him after her death. He never seemed to realize that had
they been true mates and properly bonded, he never would have felt that pain, as he would have followed her into death
peacefully. "My little girl must love you too," she continued. "Most shifters are so thrilled to find a true mate that the pull of the
mating call is enough, but not our girl. She needs love, and lots of it. She could never have mated you if she didn't truly love you.
Never forget that, Patrick."
"Have you told her how you really feel?"
"Yes," and it hurt that she wouldn't or couldn't say it back, though I didn't admit as much.
Mary seemed to ponder it thoughtfully. "She'll come around to saying it. The more important thing is, does she show it?"
I thought about that for a minute. When we were together we were completely together. I felt like she gave herself to me. There
were little things too, like how she snuggled into me on the couch watching TV, or the sly smiles she gave me when others were
around and I knew she wanted to be alone. Mostly I just felt loved in her presence, so I supposed she did show lowo oun :£1
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actually used the words.
"Yeah, I think she does, at least."
"You just keep loving my girl. That's all she truly needs. There're a few other things you might want to know about her." I settled
in, suddenly curious as to what other gems of knowledge she would bestow on me. "Elise likes things organized. She loves to
read, and sometimes just needs her alone time. When she first started shutting herself away, no one thought anything of it. A lot
had been going on and she just needed time to decompress. That's how she reacts to high stress situations.
You'll do well to remember that."
"Thanks, I will."
"Now tell me. What are your plans long-term? I won't lie and say I'm ready to lose my baby, but I'm not going to try and guilt you
into sticking around here either. I was blessed to find my mate within
my pack, and I always knew my boys would likely never leave, but it's heartbreaking for a mother to watch her daughters grow.
My hope is Lily doesn't find her mate for a very long time."
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Chapter 197