The Professor's Second Chance Mate

Chapter 24

I swear my heart stopped for a few long seconds.

Logically, in hindsight, I knew I should have mind-linked or called Kelton the second I got that first text. Logic often fails in moments of shock or fear.

In that frozen moment, when my heart refused to beat and my lungs refused to draw breath, my logic failed me.

Besides, something held me back from the get-go. Something I couldn’t explain. Maybe I just didn’t want to worry Kelton. He was already on edge about that whole shadow attack business. Nor did I want to look like the pathetic needy kid that needed him, especially not while his friends were in town. I'd pull up my metaphorical big girl panties and suck it up. If I called him he’d insist I come over. Nor did I want to interrupt their meeting. I would not be the burden my mother had always told me I was.

No, this text nonsense is just a prank. That’s what I tried to convince myself. Slowly my breathing resumed its normal pace, albeit shallow and rapid. This had to be one of Kelton’s many admirers trying to frighten me away. We’d been seen in that obnoxious sports car, no doubt.

Or maybe just some crazy frat or sorority pledge prank or something. That happens. Perhaps my brother got bored with no one to t*****e at home and decided to have some fun at my expense. Scaring me and threatening me had long been his favorite pastime. Either way. This wasn’t real.

Yet I couldn’t silence the annoying thought in me, but what if it was?

What if this mysterious creeper knew something about me? That was the implication I inferred from this nonsense. Stupid as it was, I badly wanted to know what this person knew about me, or my mother, that I didn’t. Perhaps I was part witch and that’s why weird things happen around me too often.

“What’s wrong?” Kelton's worried voice sounded in my head.

Damn it all! He must have felt a portion of my anxiety through the bond. I was trying to temper it until I’d decided what to do about all this. Some tiny independent streak insisted I deal with this as I had every other problem in my life, on my own.

“Hey Kelton, is your meeting over?” I linked back, probably a little too bubbly sounding.

“Mostly. Though, I’m sure we’ll be discussing it on and off all night. Why don’t you come over? And meet everyone properly. You can tell me what’s bothering you.”

He could already read me so well.

“I’d like that, actually.” Relief flooded me. The safety and comfort of his embrace called to me. Maybe I could avoid mentioning this text incident. Just knowing I’d be with my mate soon relaxed the fears that were swarming within me moments before. Besides, who needs to prove their independence and bravery by sitting around obsessively worrying about things they can't control.

“I’ll be there in a minute.”

“It’s only a short walk. You don’t need to walk me over.” I don’t know what made me refuse his offer. Stupid pride maybe?

Speak for yourself. Why haven’t you told him yet? Maya finally spoke up. I could sense her stretching out in my mind, as if she’d just woken from a nap. Exasperation flared. Now she speaks up?!

I don’t want to worry him. And where was your helpful moral support when I needed it ten minutes ago?

Before Maya could respond, Kelton did.

“I would feel better if you weren’t walking around campus at night on your own, especially after what happened last time.”

I know he meant well, but I suddenly felt pathetic and chastised. Helpless, like a burden. I hated it. It was the exact feeling I wanted to leave behind when I left my pack.

I breathed deep before I replied, forcing the bitterness out of my tone. I had to remind myself not to take my insecurities out on him. He really was perfect. The stress was getting to me. That’s all this was. Stress.

“OK, I’ll see you soon.”

Not two seconds later, a sharp, rapid knocking sounded on the door.

Damn, that man is quick. Maya practically rolled on her back in my head.

He must have already been on his way, I replied.

Though when I opened the door it wasn’t Kelton on the other side.

“Oh my goddess, you're gorgeous!” A strange, very pretty woman exclaimed as she strode into my apartment without waiting for an invitation.

“Uummm...”

“No roommate. Big space. Nice setup. This is lit.”

The strange human tornado of enthusiastic positivity waltzed around my room, glancing at everything while happily chatting away as if we’d known each other for years. Though I was certain I’d never met her before.

My brain, still fried from my scare, was back to its non-functioning state. I missed some of her yammering while I raked my memories for snippets of her. Though I was sure if I’d met her before, I would remember it. She was beautiful and confident. After my recent scare, I should have panicked at this intrusion, yet she wasn’t giving off any threatening vibes at all.

“Umm. I think you have the wrong room.” I finally managed to mumble out as I lamely pointed to the room number on my still wide open door..

At that she stilled and swung her widened golden eyes on me. “Right. Of course, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even introduce myself. I’m just so excited to finally meet you. You’re Lara right!”

“Umm. Maybe. Who’s asking?” I narrowed my eyes. I couldn’t help but be suspicious. The only time anyone had been nice to me in the past was to get information on how best to hurt me or to set me up for some cruel prank.

“I’m Kilani, your mate’s daughter. You’re my new step mom.” Grinning, she launched herself at me, collecting me in the biggest hug I’ve ever received. I stiffened and gasped and she python-embraced me.

“Are you a hugger?” She asked after she pulled away, looking a little concerned.

No, I wasn’t really a hugger. Until Kelton, I’d received very little tactile or physical affection. Yet, I felt safe in her arms. Loved. Safe. So weird. Maybe I was a hugger and I’d just never received any.

“Sorry. I should really have asked that first. I’m a Taurus, we're touchy-feely people according to the zodiac. Plus most wolves are fairly tactile. And we’re family now.” She said the last bit seriously as she pinned her amber eyes on me, as if daring me to challenge that. It was then that I spotted the resemblance. She had her father’s whiskey eyes, but where his hair was chocolate brown, hers was a light, buttery blonde. She was a little taller than me, but not by much, yet she seemed to possess the kind of confidence and charm that naturally commanded a room's attention.

“Did your father send you?” I asked, wondering why he hadn’t mentioned it when we mind-linked only moments ago. I mean, how hard would it be to say, hey I’m sending my kid over to ambush you.

“Oh, Gods, no. He specifically forbade me from visiting until you were ready. I’m sorry, I really wanted to give you all the space you need, and really I tried. But I was so desperate to meet you. And frankly, patience is overrated. Why wait for the universe to align when you can just shove the stars into place yourself?"”

“Ok.” My short, awkward response didn’t seem to put her off at all.

“I’ve never seen my dad so happy. Thank you.”

I wanted to thank her for not being disgusted that I was younger than her. I wanted to thank her for accepting me so easily. That man is the best thing that has ever happened to me. My mate, my perfect fated mate, is twenty years older than me. His children are both older than me. One of my biggest worries was meeting his family. Would they think I’m a gold digger? Would they hate me on principle? I can imagine being weirded out if something happened to my mom and my father took up with a girl my age.

Instead, her genuine joyfulness left me with this totally lame response.

“He’s wonderful.”

I also wanted to tell her all the positive effects he’s had on me.

“So Keith, Sam, and Max are here visiting dad about my i***t brother, so I figured he’d be distracted, and you’d need a friend.”

“Actually, that sounds great.” I replied without thinking. And I instantly wanted to take it back. Someone or something was after me. It wasn’t fair to risk her in my mess just to make me feel better. But she looked utterly thrilled at the prospect of spending time with me and I did want to get to know her. She seemed like the kind of person who jumped into life with both feet. That was the kind of person I wanted to be, but I had always been too afraid. Though perhaps with a different upbringing, that would be different.

“Kilani! What are you doing here?”

My mate’s voice sounded behind us. It was only then that I realized I hadn’t even closed the door after Kilani waltzed in. What on earth was wrong with me? Today it seemed like all sense had abandoned me.

“Well, that didn’t last long. You’re supposed to be in a meeting.” She sounded both amused and accusatory.

“Oh, I see. And you thought you’d take advantage of my distraction to come and harass my mate?” He donned an impassive dad/stern teacher look and raised one brow. But his look seemed to have no effect on her.

“I sensed that she needed me.”

I like her. I’m keeping her. I laughed out loud. Partly at Maya’s words and partly at the utter ridiculousness of my entire situation.

Kelton turned his questioning gaze on me.

“Maya likes her and wants to keep her.” I explained, tipping my head toward Kilani.

“Excellent. I always wanted a stepmother. Can I be your flower girl at the wedding?” Kilani grinned again.

“Never call me that again,” I groaned. Though Kilani was poking fun at our age disparity, I didn’t sense any jealousy or resentment from her. Quite the opposite, I somehow knew she made these jokes because she had a close relationship with her father, as if she needed to get them out of her system now.

And just like that, all my earlier fears faded away. The odd texts felt like a distant memory I could simply ignore. I’d been ignoring my problems most of my life. Why stop now?

What could go wrong… famous last words, Maya sang.