Free His Imperfect Mate 26 by Lynn Hagen

life his father had told him what a disappointment he was. How Magnum wished D was more like him or Raven. In his heart D knew that a parent shouldn’t tell a child such things, but after hearing the criticism for so long, D started to believe those words.
    And today, he had proven them.
    “He’s fine, D. Chauncey took Sloane upstairs, and your mate is resting.”
    D glanced over at Chance, seeing the smear stains from the soot of the smoke all over the man’s face, blackest at his nose. “You should shift and heal as well. Your voice sounds like shit.”
    Chance smiled. “I’ll be fine.”
    D rolled back over, staring at the brick wall that needed a good paint job. His eyes focused in on the small cracks running up the wall and disappearing into the floor beams overhead. The only thing he wanted at this second was Sloane. His mate was everything a man should be and more. He made D feel safe, and good. The day had slipped by, and D was no closer to finding out if his mate was fully healed or not, even though everyone kept reassuring him that his mate was fine.
    They both turned their heads when someone opened the basement door and began to walk down the steps. D had heard the firemen leave early this morning, so it had to be Chauncey.
    “You two okay?”
    His heart felt as though it had grown too large for his chest when he saw Sloane appear in the doorway, looking as though he hadn’t collapsed right in front of him from smoke inhalation. D had never been so scared in his life when his mate crumpled to the ground, and he never wanted to see something like that again. The man stood there tall, proud, with a black T-shirt on that stretched across his chest and a pair of black stonewashed jeans hugging his thick thighs.
    A whimper left his lips as tears began to roll down his face.
    Sloane was okay. He was unhurt from inhaling so much smoke. Even his voice was normal, steady, telling D that his mate had survived. He brushed away the tears, knowing his face was going to be stained red, but he didn’t care, not when he had a chance to drink the man in.
    “We’re fine,” Chance said as he got to his feet, dusting the dirt from the floor off of his ass. “But your mate needs therapy.”
    D glared at Chance as the bear exited the room.
    “What was that about?” Sloane asked as he stared down at D, his eyes flickering over D’s face. He knew his mate was looking for signs of the blistering, but D was healed, thanks to the bears feeding him.
    “Nothing,” he said softly, averting his eyes. D couldn’t even look Sloane in his face after what he had done. How could he? He had nearly killed the man.
    “You ready to go upstairs?”
    “How?” D asked as his eyes shot back up. “There’s still some daylight left.”
    “I have a blanket with me.” Sloane jerked his head toward the door. “It’s on the steps. I fixed the curtain that fell in the bedroom, so you’ll be safe.”
    How the hell could the guy not be yelling at D right now? He had damn near burnt the man’s house down, and Sloane stood there talking calmly like D had just been hiding in here, nothing more. He cocked his head, taking a really good look at the wolf’s eyes, seeing nothing but concern swimming in their emerald-green depths. “Aren’t you mad at me?”
    “For trying to bake me a cake? No. Although I think I’m cool on the cake thing now.” His mate chuckled softly as the corner of his lip lifted.
    Before he knew what was happening, a smile broke out on D’s face as a small laugh fell from his lips. Somehow Sloane had made him laugh. It was something he didn’t think possible at this point. “It was chocolate.”
    “It’s about that color. Maybe a little too crunchy for me, though.”
    D chuckled as he stood, smiling at the one man in the world that didn’t make him feel like an all-around disappointment. Magnum would have had D reduced to tears by now, wishing he was never born, but not Sloane. The man simply amazed him.