“You proposed?” Becky asked, eyes wide. “I’m surprised you told her about being a shifter.”
I closed my eyes for a second then opened them. “No, I didn’t propose, but she’s human, and that’s where her mind goes. Shitty parents who have a shitty relationship have made her wary.”
“Well, I can understand that,” Audrey said. She was Marina’s sister and our local OB/GYN who’d mated Rob’s other brother, Boyd. “It’s certainly hard for us to understand the whole mating thing when we don’t have the same recognition of mates that you do.”
“That’s just it. I didn’t tell her what I was. She already knew. She knows about the entire pack.”
It was almost comical the way their eyes widened in unison, so I filled them in on how she’d seen me shift all those years ago and what her uncle had shared.
“Wow,” Becky said. “That… that changes some things since she doesn’t need time to come to terms with the whole wolf thing. But I guess that makes more sense then, too. Let me guess, you went all P’s on her.”
I frowned. She ticked off her fingers as she answered. “Possessive and protective and pushy.”
“Of course,” I replied, almost offended I wouldn’t behave like that with my mate.
“That’s all wolf, Rand. Or mostly,” Charlie shared. She was the newest mate, having been claimed by Levi earlier in the summer.
“You have to give her time to fall in love with you. And to believe that your feelings, while biologically driven, are real,” Becky advised.
I took off my hat and rubbed my forehead. “Right. Okay. So dates? That kind of thing?”
Marina shrugged. “Whatever comes naturally. Just time. Spending time together.”
“I don’t have time,” I growled. The four human women drew back at the wolf-growl in my voice, and Willow stepped forward, the alpha female in her ready to give it right back to me. “Sorry.” I held my hands up. “I’m sorry. I’m just going fucking nuts. I’m crazy possessive of her. All of the P’s. And jealous as hell that she’s working down at Cody’s, with all those men eyeballing her. I can’t stand it.”
“You or your wolf?” Marina asked, cocking her head to the side.
I scrubbed a hand over my face, trying to rub out some of the misery. An idea struck me. “Maybe it would help if you all talked to her. If she met you? You know, to get some perspective on what it’s like to mate a shifter?”
“You want us to do your work for you.” Becky laughed.
“I’d do anything in the world for you if you could deliver my mate to me right now,” I admitted with a wry smile. My wolf and my dick both liked that idea.
The women looked at each other. “Sure, we can talk to her. If she wants to talk,” Willow said.
“She could join us for our next ladies’ night,” Marina suggested.
I groaned. “Can’t you see her sooner?” The thought of a whole week going by without me doing everything in my power to get my mate to agree to mating me was killing me.
Marina shook her head. “You can’t rush this. You’re going to scare her off if you act crazy.”
I hung my head. “Yeah. She’s pretty much told me that already.”
“Well, it’s time to listen!” Becky countered.
“I hear you.” I exhaled. “How much time do you think she needs?”
Becky snorted. “However much it takes. Definitely more than a week.”
“More than a week?” Fates, I wasn’t going to survive this. How long could a possessive wolf like me last without claiming his mate? Well, at least next week, she could be with these women instead of… ugh. “She probably couldn’t come to your ladies’ night, anyway,” I realized aloud. “She works evenings at Cody’s and wouldn’t want to give up the shifts.”
“Well, maybe we can go there,” Audrey said with a shrug. “We can try to make it seem casual. Not an ambush. Becky and I can stop by after work sometime. The hospital’s not far from the bar.”
“Not an ambush, right,” I replied. “Thank you. Thank you ladies so much. It really means a lot to me.” I pushed off from the rail and backed down the stairs. It was time to get to Cody’s. It wasn’t even near closing time, but I’d just tell her I was in the area. Whatever.
“You still have to do the work!” Marina called to me.
“Yes, ma’am,” I agreed, offering all of them a wave. “I will. Just as soon as I figure out what that means.”
The females’ laughter followed me to the truck.
I ground my teeth and gears as I shifted into reverse. I was no closer to claiming my mate. But I did feel marginally better.
I just needed to give Natalie my time and prove my love for her. So as long as I didn’t push too hard and make her run or shove me away, I could do this.