Mate (Bride, #2)

by Ali Hazelwood

“Can I tell you something?” I force myself to say before I lose the courage. “And it’s not…I’m not asking for anything. I just want you to know, because…I just think that maybe you’d enjoy knowing?” His chin bumps against the crown of my head. A nod. “I was wrong. When I said that you weren’t my mate, even if I was yours. And I know what you’re thinking: ‘No, you idiot, you just fell in love with me like any regular person would, that’s what happens when two people who like each other spend time together,’ but this is…more. I liked you from the very start, in a way that had never happened to me, and all these feelings…I don’t think I have the words to explain, but I…” His chest bounces under my ear. I pull back to find that he’s laughing silently. “What?” “Nothing.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m just glad you figured it out.” “You mean, you knew?” “Not for sure. But there were signs.” “Oh.” I blink. “Really?” “Serena, our first meeting sent you into Heat.” I flush. “Well, we don’t know that. It could have been a coincidence.” He looks doubtful. “Seriously. Maybe Alex the IT guy sent me into Heat.” “Yeah. Except, you couldn’t bear to be touched by anyone but me.” A smile plays at the corners of his eyes. “People without mates are much less discerning when they’re in that situation, believe me.” “Oh.” I stare into the distance, then back at him. “So…you are my mate?” “We might never know, since your biology is different from a full Were’s. I don’t care very m...