Callie grabbed her coat, then bagged up two club sandwiches and two cups of chicken and dumpling soup, along with a couple of Cokes. Since Wyatt had left her such a nice tip, she didn’t mind springing for lunch.

“Have fun out there,” Ruby Jean called out.

“But not too much fun! If you decide to ride him like a monkey on a pogo stick, I’d suggest getting a room first.” Camryn added.

She shook her head at her friends’ comments and pushed her way through the backdoor. Wyatt had opted for the table farthest from the exit and that was fine with Callie. She didn’t exactly want Cam and Ruby Jean listening to whatever conversation she and Wyatt managed to have.

Wyatt stood and offered to carry the bag the few short steps to the table. “Thanks for grabbing all of this. How much do I owe you?”

“My treat, since you left such a nice tip.” Working hard to keep her voice neutral, she refused his offer for payment and began to unload the bag once he’d set it on the table.

“It smells wonderful, thank you.”

Callie sat down and opened her soup. She had no idea how to start the conversation or where to begin. She finally took the plunge. “So, how long do you plan on staying in town?” It was a perfect way to start the conversation, or so she’d thought.

“Long term. My brother, Ethan, is speaking to the Alpha today about our long-term housing options.”

Well, damn. Not what she’d expected or hoped to hear.

“That sounds like a commitment to the town and the pack.”

“And to you, my mate.”

Callie set her spoon on a napkin. “About that—you must be mistaken. I can’t possibly be your mate.”

“Why are you so against the idea of being my mate?”

“I don’t know you personally, but I dated a shifter before and let’s just say the whole situation left me less than impressed. My son will more than likely be two natured, as his father was, that’s the only reason I’ve remained here at Twisted Tail. I know that when he grows up, he’ll need the support of the community. But after the shit my ex put me through, well, let’s just say I’ll never date another shifter again.”

If that statement didn’t get her point through Wyatt’s thick skull, she didn’t know what would.

“Just so you know, there’s no such thing as two natured.”

“What do you mean?” Callie had thought she understood the world of wolves. Had she been wrong?

“If your son is a wolf, the wolf spirit will always be with him. He will be dual natured. Meaning together at all times. Not two as in two separate beings.”

“He’s just a baby. There’s no way he has a wolf living inside of him.”

“Wolves are born that way, with the wolf intact from birth. It won’t separate from him unless the wolf spirit dies. If that happens, your son’s life is also at risk.”

Callie didn’t know what to say. That’s not what she’d read online. She’d always assumed there was a possibility that Max would be human.

“What happened to your son’s father? Does he live close by?” Wyatt asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

“No, he died. Or that’s what I was told anyway.” She tried not to sound pleased… after all, Max would grow up without his father—a fact that should have made her sad, but it didn’t. Not one single bit. The man had been a monster. She and Max were much better off without him in the picture.

“Can I ask how he died?” Wyatt’s voice sounded unsure when he’d asked the question.

“How much do you know about the Twisted Tail Pack?” Everyone knew what happened to well over half of the males in the pack. Even out of towners had heard the tales.

“I have to admit, nothing. I’ve always tried to stay out of pack politics.”

“The last Alpha was a total prick. A real psycho. He pumped his men full of drugs and sent them off to battle a rival pack over a woman he wanted to torture and force to be his mate. Trevor was one of the ones who died that night.”

“What the fuck? What kind of pack is this?”

“Before Calder took over, it was horrible. People were half starved. Forced matings were a common occurrence. No one gave two shits that Trevor brought me here and beat the hell out of me throughout our entire relationship. I tried to escape a couple of times, but he caught me every time. Each time he dragged me back here, the public humiliation and punishments became more severe. Every single person lived in fear when Griffin Engle and his minions were in charge.”

Callie had to hand it to Wyatt, he looked outraged at the atrocities that had occurred at Twisted Tail.

“I am so sorry you had to experience any of that.”

“I’m not sure why you care.” It wasn’t like he could have stopped any of it or even prevented it.

“I care because you are my mate, woman. I’m outraged that some sick bastard not only took advantage of you but hurt you. None of it should have happened. I should have been there to protect you.”

Callie gasped as his eyes glowed with the intensity of his statement. Chills, and not the good kind, ran down her spine. Trevor’s eyes had done the same glowy-thing each time he hit her.

“Look, it’s done. It’s over with. I can’t change what happened, but I refuse to be the victim again.”

Wyatt’s head recoiled, almost as if she’d smacked him. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

“Maybe, maybe not. Either way, it’s not a chance I’m willing to take.”

 

***

 

“Well, this conversation is going nowhere fast,” Wyatt spoke silently in his mind to his wolf.

“You must find a way to woo her, to win her.”

“You know, there’s a chance that you could become one of us. You would no longer have to fear living among the wolves.”

Callie’s brilliant blue eyes met his. “What do you mean by that? How could I become a wolf?”

“Since the Fates chose a human for my mate, I could only hope for our gods to correct the error and grant you a wolf spirit upon our mating.”

This time it was Callie who looked as if she’d been slapped in the face.

“The way you said human—makes me wonder if you have a problem with people like me? You know—human?”

Wyatt realized his error a smidgen too late. He’d practically sneered the word human because every experience he’d had with humans had been shitty. That, and humans had killed his parents. But he couldn’t pull back now, all he could do was explain why he’d said it the way he had.

“I’m not a fan of humans. Other than meeting you, I can’t say that I’ve ever had a good experience with them.” It was an understatement as to how he’d felt for years. Since his parents’ death, he and his brother had steered clear of any and all humans.

“I like being a human and I’m sorry you can’t see that not all humans are bad.”

“Umm—you expect me to believe that not all humans are bad when you assume all wolves are bad, like your ex.”

“Why does it even matter? You know just as well as I do that we are not compatible. Besides, I told you already, I’m not dating another shifter.”

“Why would you want to stay a lowly scared human when there’s a chance you could be like us?”

Callie didn’t answer his question. She simply stood and looked back with regret. “Sorry, this lowly human has to get back to work.”