Page 25 of Opposites Attract
“Sorry. They’re moving my papa into his own cottage and he’s looking for a hammer.”
“It’s okay. I should–”
“Nope. You’re not going anywhere until we talk this out,” Aspen said.
“I can literally just hang up the phone.”
“But you won’t because, despite your tough exterior, you aren’t a complete asshole.”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say to that.
“Listen, I know you and Ranger had a shit life. And we’re wolves. We’re used to fighting for what we get. But it’s different when it comes to you and your mate–especially one who is the Alpha. He’s going to protect you. It’s in his nature. You don’t have to fight every battle alone anymore.”
“But–”
“No buts. It’s biology, girl. Your wolf could only be tamed by the male strong enough to be an equal, but being equal doesn’t mean you do the same type of work all the time. He’s supposed to protect you in his way. You’re supposed to protect him in yours. He’ll take care of you when you’re sick and when you can’t do something. Just like you’ll do the same when he falls short. You don’t have to prove your worth anymore. If you did, then he wouldn’t be your perfect mate.”
“What if fate got it wrong and he’s not perfect?” I swallowed down the lump of emotion in my throat. Freaking Aspen. She was starting to make mefeelthings.
“I didn’t say he was going to be without flaws. Just that he’s the perfect mate for you.” She laughed into the phone. “Fate doesn’t control the outcome. She just gives you the initial push. It’s our job to not screw things up.”
“Isn’t it strange that we all thought fated mates were so rare and yet we both found ours this season?” I rubbed the aching spot in my chest.
“Not strange at all,” Aspen said, full of confidence. “It’s like someone or something wanted this to happen for a reason. Speaking of fate, your brother just walked in. Want to say hi?”
My wolf’s ears perked up. Her tail wagged a bit. It’d been almost a month which was the longest we’d ever gone without talking to her littermate.
“Sure. I’ll say hi.”
Ranger took the phone. “Hey, mutt. How’s John treating you?”
I thought about telling him my petty problems and then stopped. He’d suffered enough for us all. Besides, even though I wanted to stay mad, I knew Aspen was right. My mate was a big, goofy idiot.
But he’s still our mate.
“John’s great,” I said. “How’s the pack doing?”
“Same old bullshit, different day. But what’s this I hear about a fight?”
I stilled, thinking through all I’d said to Aspen and wondering what else she’d told him this quickly.
“John told me,” Ranger said. “I talked to him about an hour ago.”
“You did?” This was crossing the line. If John reached out to my brother with our business, I was going to give that dumb mate of mine a piece of my–
“Calm down. I called him to talk about some rumors with the Detroit pack and he was grumbling more than normal, so I pried the information out.”
“Am I that predictable?” My chest deflated like a balloon and my wolf whined at hearing John was distressed.
“A little.” Ranger laughed. “It’s good to hear you aren’t changing on me though.”
I smiled even though my brother couldn’t see it. “What rumors?”
“His boon was to force Alpha Williams’ son Chase to stop running business into O’Neil territory.”
I nodded along as he spoke. “And?”
“Darrell Williams is dead.”