Free Pack Secrets by Shannon Duane

would’ve known you were my mate sooner.”

Chapter 7
    Pulling into her driveway, Justin put the car in park and felt her hand tighten on his thigh. It wasn’t painful, but he’d been steadily growing more aroused the more her scent filled the car, and with every bump of the car her hand had tightened a fraction. His hands remained gripping the steering wheel and he took a few breaths to calm his nerves. Instead of calming him, her scent called to him and it caused his lust to shoot through the roof. She’d be able to scent it and it caused him a bit of shame because he didn’t want to pressure her into a mating.
    As he prepared to take control of the situation and lead them both into her house, her voice whispered across the car.
    “We should talk here. That way if you don’t want to complete the mating it won’t be awkward. You can just drive away and we’ll forget all about this…hormonal imbalance.”
    He couldn’t help but laugh outright. “I’m pretty sure being fated has something to do with hormones, but I wouldn’t call it an imbalance. I firmly believe that we’re meant to be together and nothing you can say will change that.”
    Without skipping a beat she announced in a monotone. “Tidus is Carter’s father. Well, he was until he died.”
    The car was silent after her announcement. What could he say? Carter had to be someone’s child, it obviously wasn’t his. Add that upon the fact that Carter displayed alpha tendencies and he should have put it together sooner. He honestly didn’t care. Well…he cared but not enough to shun her as his fated. He was silent, caught in his own thoughts, not realizing that with every second that passed she became more uncomfortable.
    “Huh, I guess I don’t have to worry about whether you still have a relationship with the father. He’s dead. What’s the problem?”
    She sputtered and he caught the distinct smell of irritation coming off of her. “What do you mean, what’s the problem? You know he was a bastard and evil. Not to mention, that he ruined so many lives trying to create his empire.”
    “Okay, but he’s dead now.”
    “Yes, he’s dead, but I have his child. I was stupid enough to think he was an honest man and he convinced me we were mates. I lived as his stupid ‘mate’ for a year before I realized who and what he was.”
    “I don’t want you to think that I’m a jerk or anything, but he’s dead. He fooled a great many people before he betrayed this pack and took over as alpha. You’re right about him being pure evil; however, he can’t hurt anyone ever again. I hate to keep beating a dead horse, but did I point out he’s dead. As in, never coming back, buried in a hole so deep no one will ever be able to find him-dead. Not to mention he didn’t mark you. You were never true mates.”
    He watched as her jaw dropped and she stared at him. “You don’t hate me?”
    Reaching over to stroke a finger down her cheek he responded, hoping she could scent his honesty, “I’ll never hate you. Like I said, people make mistakes. He’s the one to blame for being dishonest and fooling you. I admire you for toughening up and taking care of your son. It couldn’t have been easy, knowing you carried his child as he destroyed a pack. A pack you belonged to and would raise your child in.”
    “But I sent him away. I never told Tidus about him. I’m a horrible person.”
    Smiling gently at her, he stated, “I think I just fell a little more in love with you. You knew Tidus wasn’t great father material and you protected your child. I admire you. Normally, I think a man has a right to know he has a child, but I don’t think Tidus should have known because he would have tortured you and Carter for the rest of your lives. He was just that kind of sick.”
     
    Dee hadn’t heard anything he’d said after he told her he was falling in love with her. With her? No, that wasn’t possible. She was a stupid naive twit who allowed someone like