“Your plane leaves in two hours. How soon do you want me to call a car?”

Our mating had turning into sleeping had turned into rushing around getting ready for his trip. He tried to convince his brother to come, but finals didn’t give a shit about family emergencies and, honestly, I think Killian was a little relieved.

I couldn’t believe I was mated. It still felt almost dream like. I was mated to Killian.

“Probably in another fifteen minutes in case of traffic. How much was the ticket? I can write you a check so you can pay it off right away.”

I was hoping this would wait until he got back. There was no way I could or would want to hide the money from him now that we were mates, but that conversation would be longer than the time we had.

“Don’t worry about it. Just worry about being with your mama while she gets well.”

“I don’t think she is getting well.”

I hugged him, willing away all of his hurt and fear.

“You saw the way the doctors looked at me, the pity.”

I wanted to comfort him; he wasn’t imagining things. It wasn’t looking good for his mom, and if it weren’t for the pets, I’d be there with him, but I knew the stress of worrying about them would have dwarfed the comfort I could give him. They were our babies.

“Killian Daye,” I scolded, wagging my finger at him. “You will not think that way. Your mama is a strong alpha and she will get through this.” He gave a subtle nod. “Let me hear you say it.”

“My mama will get through this.” It was barely a rumble.

“Like you mean it.”

“My mama will get through this.” At least this time his voice was solid. Not strong, but better.

“That’s better.”

“How much?” He was pulling out his wallet, making my heart beat loudly in my chest. “I don’t want you getting low.”

He really was going to force the issue, wasn’t he? “About that…” I swallowed. Not now, not when he was about to leave the state, not when we had only been mated a nano second. I loved him and he me and I knew we would move past it, but I wanted to do it when we both had our heads on straight.

“About what?”

“About money. See, I have an inheritance. We are flush.” Billionaires. Close enough.

“Flush?”

“Yeah, we have money.”

“But you live in a shithole.” He wasn’t even trying to insult me. I got it; my apartment, while filled with little luxuries, had old appliances, a leaky bathroom sink, and a crack in the window, none of which shouted money. “Let me write a check.”

I hemmed and hawed, almost agreeing to the check, but it felt too much like a lie. I never once told him I was working for the money, or my boss didn’t pay enough or any of the other things that would lead him to think I had none. I just didn’t share that I did have money. I was splitting hairs, I knew that. But at the time, before I knew where this relationship was going, it had seemed important. Now? Now I wanted him to know all things.

“I live in a shithole because I don’t want people judging me based on my money.” It came out faster than I intended, but lightning didn’t strike, so I called it a win.

Killian eyed me for a moment, gauging how serious I was. “You really have money?”

“No. We have money. And before you get freaky weird, this is a good thing. It means your mama will get the best medical care available.” I was going to make sure of it.

“That explains the manties.” His head was tilted slightly, a perplexed glaze masking his face. He was piecing everything together and he came up with manties? God, I loved that man.

“What, do only rich people wear manties?”

“No.” His face snapped out of the glazed look and in its place was raw lust. If only we had more than five minutes. “Only sexy omegas do, but only rich sexy omegas wear shit that soft. It’s so soft I almost want a pair.”

“Done.” Please make that not a joke. I wanted to whip my phone out then and there and buy all the manties. I could so picture Killian with a tiny lacy accent. Yum.

“Almost,” he scoffed. Not that it was going to deter me. Operation Get My Mate in Panties had officially begun.

“Are you mad?”

“Mad?”

“For not telling you about the money.” That had been my biggest fear. That he would find out, feel emasculated or whatever bullshit alphas seem to go through when they were not the bread winner, and regret mating me.

“I’m not happy, but I get it.” He shrugged off almost a little too easily as he slung his carry-on over his shoulder. It was getting to be that time.

“While I’m all about over sharing…” Fuck it, go big or go home. “I also write romance novels.”

“What else are you hiding?” He was smirking. That was so not what I had been expecting. “I thought I scored the jackpot when you said yes to mating me, and now I find out you’re all smart and shit.”

“You already knew that.” I stepped into his open arms, his bag dropping to the floor, and kissed him deeply but briefly thanks to the alert on my app that the car was almost here. One minute fucking warning. Worst new feature ever.

Killian’s voice was husky as he said, “True, but it is always fun making you blush.”

It was a favorite pastime of his, to be sure. I secretly loved it, especially when it was followed by naked time.

“Your car’s almost here. Come back with your mama in tow and… well… I need to meet her now that we are family.” I kissed his cheek before backing away. Good-byes sucked monkey butt.

“Family. I love the sound of that.”

“And I love you. When you get to the house, our house, I have a surprise for you in the spare bedroom. I was hoping to show it to you tonight, but… well.”

“Yeah.”

He grabbed the back of my head and just as he was about to take my lips with his—the darn app signaled the car was arriving. Worst. Timing. Ever. “Hold onto that.”

“I gotta go.” He put his carry-on back on his shoulder and grabbed his suitcase, making it halfway to the door before turning back to me. “And Marcus?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t go spending the rest of your inheritance on me. Put it in a CD or something so you never feel trapped. I know with your past, that might creep up and… just promise.”

I nodded, unsure what else to do given that he was leaving for who knew how long that very second.

“Love you.”

“Love you,” I called after him as he made his way down to the waiting car.

Well, fuck a duck. He really wasn’t comprehending what I was trying to tell him. But clarification would have to wait just a little longer. It wasn’t going to change our circumstances, though it did leave me feeling uncomfortable with this misunderstanding between us, like the Princess and the Pea. It’s just a tiny thing in the grand scheme, I assured myself.

I felt lost and lonely as I called a car to take me to Killian’s house, sending a message to Coop that he should head over with the babies. I needed comfort right now, and furry warm bodies sounded like the perfect cure.