As for Braelyn’s stalker, after a phone call to Saskia explaining what had happened, Jager and Daylen had been sent over. Being an ex-cop, Daylen had put a call in to one of her friends at her old station. He’d come with another police officer who took the stalker away in handcuffs. Daylen’s friend then questioned Braelyn. Skylar didn’t know whether he wanted to shake her or hold her tight when he heard how many threatening letters she’d been sent and hadn’t gone to the police about.
Her statement given—minus the part where he’d shape-shifted into his wolf form—the police officer had left. Jager and Daylen followed shortly behind him. That was when Skylar decided he needed to get Braelyn alone to talk to her. She had to be having a hard time accepting what he was. Every time he caught her watching him, she quickly pulled her gaze away. At least she didn’t have fear in her eyes when she did it, but her reaction didn’t reassure him too much.
Skylar went to the kitchen where Braelyn and her mother sat at the table. That was where Braelyn had given the officer her statement. His head still hurt like a mother fucker from the blows he’d received, but he pushed the pain aside. He went to stand beside Braelyn’s chair and held out his hand. “Will you come and talk with me?”
She shook her head. “Whatever you have to say you can do so in front of my mom.”
Bev cleared her throat. “Braelyn, I think Skylar would be more comfortable if it was just you.”
“But I wouldn’t be, Mom. You know what he is. It’s no longer a secret.”
Skylar dropped his hand to his side and sat in the chair beside hers. “All right. We’ll do it your way. So now you know the truth. I’m a werewolf, and I’m over a thousand years old. And we are mated.”
Braelyn swallowed. “Roxie said that our being mated means a part of our souls joined, and that there’s no going back.”
“That’s true. And it’s true I knew you were the one meant for me when I first saw you crossing that street. When a male werewolf encounters the scent of his would-be mate, it jump-starts his mating urge. It’ll ride him until the mating bond is in place. And once it is, mated couples literally can’t be apart from each other unless they want to suffer separation anxiety. An hour away from your mate feels like months. Your mind will play tricks on you, making you believe something bad has happened to the other. All you’ll be able to think about is getting back to your mate.”
“That’s why you wanted me to come with you when you had to watch over Roxie,” Braelyn said softly.
“Yes.”
“If that’s the case, why didn’t Roxie go through it? She wasn’t with Beowulf for at least an hour and didn’t seem to suffer for it.”
“That’s because they’ve been mated for a little while. After a year or so, it isn’t as bad as it is for newly mated couples. Roxie and Beowulf can be away from each other for a couple hours before it starts to set in.”
“Roxie also said she’s the special someone you know who can use the spell to turn me.”
“It will be your choice to make. And Roxie is special. She is the foretold one and rules over all the werewolf packs. My family has trained for hundreds of years to be her Protectors.”
Braelyn’s mother, who had remained quiet, spoke up. “That is a big decision you’ve put on my daughter’s shoulders, Skylar. I know you said you knew she was your mate when you first saw her, but I have ask, do you love her?”
Skylar locked gazes with Braelyn. “I’ve already told her that I do, but I’ll say it again. I love her with every fiber in my being. I started to fall for her the instant I saw her. If that hadn’t been possible, my mating urge never would have kicked in. And I will continue to love her for the rest of my very long life. I’m utterly devoted to her and would do everything in my power to keep her happy.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” Bev pushed back her chair and stood. She kissed her daughter on top of her head. “Braelyn, hold onto this one and don’t ever let go. He’s a keeper.”
Braelyn looked up at her mom with a shocked expression on her face. “You have no problem with Skylar being a werewolf?”
“Honey, if it weren’t for him being a werewolf, you would more than likely be dead at the hands of that sick stalker. And the way he looks at you is the same way your father looks at me. He truly loves you. Also considering this mating bond he talked about is more permanent than a marriage license, you’ll never have to worry about him only being with you for your fame.”
“And what about me being turned into a werewolf? Can you accept that as well, Mom?”
“Yes, I can. To be honest, I’m all for it. What mother wouldn’t want their child to live for a few thousand years? Heck, if it were possible, I’d be getting in line right behind you for the spell. After I convinced your father to go through with it, of course.”
Skylar cleared his throat. “Ah, that could probably be arranged. My sister-in-arms, Saskia, her mate, Eli, was a mortal like you and comes from a big family. His twin and his sister, Billie, also took werewolves for their mates and decided to be turned. They have two older brothers and a father who have remained mortal, but Roxie offered to turn them to keep the family together. They’re all thinking about it.”
“You would do that, Mom?” Braelyn asked. “You’d become a werewolf if I decided to go through with it?”
“I’m not going to say I don’t find the long life aspect of it unappealing. Who wouldn’t like such a long life? We’d have to convince your father to do it, though. But that is something we can talk about later. Right now, I think it’s more important you and Skylar talk. Alone. I’m going to go clean up the mess in the living room.” Before she left them, she added, “And if you want to take him up to your bedroom to have more privacy, I won’t stop you.”
Skylar was tempted to follow Bev out to the living room and give her a big kiss. Agreeing to the turn would hopefully make it easier for his mate to make the same decision as well. After what had happened here today, the thought of Braelyn not being a werewolf scared him. If she’d been turned, she would have been faster and stronger than the sicko who had wanted to kill her.
He met Braelyn’s gaze. “Will you go upstairs with me? If you’re not comfortable with that, I can take you to my place.”
She shook her head. “That would just delay things. We’ll finish our talk in my room.”
Skylar followed her out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Inside her bedroom, Braelyn shut the door behind them. He made a point of not sitting on the bed. He stayed in the middle of the room and waited for her to make the next move. He ached to hold her, to make love to her, but since she’d made no move to touch him since the truth about what he was had come out, he wouldn’t push her until she was ready.
Braelyn shoved away from the back of the door she’d been leaning against and slowly walked toward him. She stopped when she stood in front of him. “So much has happened today—the stalker, you being a werewolf, and Roxie having her baby. I feel as though I should be sitting in a dark corner with my legs drawn to my chest while I rock myself, mumbling incoherently as tears run down my cheeks. But one thing is stopping me from doing it.”
“What would that be?”
“You. Any time I start to feel panic setting in, I look at you and remember how safe I feel in your arms. How protected. And that you’ll do anything to keep me that way. Knowing you’re a werewolf just adds to that feeling.” He went to reach for her, but Braelyn stopped him by holding up her hands. “Wait, I’m not finished yet. I know you love me, and that I love you, but I’m not exactly thrilled you mated us without telling me beforehand.”