“Yeah man, that’d be good.” I make us each a drink and wait for him to talk. I know he will when he’s ready.

“Remember the girl I was talking about yesterday, the one me and Mikey met at the beach?”

“Sure, you said you were in love, right?”

Nodding, he says, “Yeah, that’s her. She invited me over for lunch today. She said she had some questions. I told you how she said she hasn’t been around many shifters?”

“Okay, and that bothers you?”

“Nah man, not at all. I didn’t understand how it was possible just thought her family was a little over the top, ya know?” I can tell whatever he found out is not good.

“Shit, man, she’s had it rough. She never had a pack. Just her mom and dad.” Then, he looks me right in the eyes. “They died when she was fourteen with no pack and no family. She went into foster care, human foster care.”

Holy shit. Cass is shaking his head, staring into the scotch I just poured him. “Her first shift, she was alone, said she prepared best she could and just did it. Like it’s no biggie. My first shift it felt like I was dipped in acid for four hours!” His eyes are unfocused like he’s remembering, shuddering as he continues. “She didn’t talk about her time in foster care, but I got the feeling it was no walk in the park. All that’s bad enough, right? That’s not even the worst of it!” His face tells me how absolutely livid he is. “A few years ago, she met her Mate.”

I know there’s more and I’m almost afraid to ask, but I do. “And?”

“He left her, never claimed her, just walked away from this beautiful creature, probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. He just turned and walked away. Do you know what she asked me?” He seethes. “She asked me If I thought there was something wrong with her... with her!” He explodes from the chair, throwing his glass against the fireplace. His chest is lifting with heavy breaths. “It about ripped my fucking heart out, she was so quiet, so so quiet. I don’t think she even meant to say it out loud. It was just there, and she couldn’t take it back.”

None of this makes any sense. “Is she sure it was her Mate?” I ask calmly. Trying to soothe him.

“I asked the same thing, couldn’t believe it. Told her that doesn’t happen, right? She said she’s sure it’s not something you can doubt.”

I drop my hands between my spread knees. She’s right, there’s no doubting it. “Shit, man, I don’t know I’ve never heard anything like that. Who passes up their Mate?” I’m just as confused as he was when he came here. I can tell he’s thinking about everything she said, going over it in his head.

“She said he had a woman with him, a girlfriend by the way they acted.” He’s sitting again and tells me, “She cooked for me, big ass steak sandwiches, salad, and a cake, a fucking pineapple cake. All the shit she’s been through, and she’s still so sweet. I think if that shit would have happened to me I’d kill somebody.” We’re both quiet for a while just thinking.