Billionaire Alpha's 99 Deadly Games

"Understood. She's going to be thrilled with the idea, but I understand."

"Out of respect, we should run it by the council too, Kyle," Cole suggested

Kyle cringed. "I already did. They voted unanimously 'yes.' You weren't invited because of a conflict of interest."

Cole frowned. "Will I be asked to step down from the council?"

"No. We all agreed there's benefit to having one of my betas in a more administrative role and part of the council."

He smiled, like he was relieved to hear it.

"Okay, well, any questions or concerns?" Kyle asked.

"No," I said, "and thanks for the offer, Kyle. I really appreciate it. I'll give you my answer after I discuss it with Elise."

"The pack meeting is Sunday, but the pack run is tomorrow. Do you think you could have an answer by then?" Cole asked me before addressing Kyle. "I think it may be best to introduce him fully and make both announcements then before the run."

"That's a good idea, Cole. What do you think, Patrick?"

decision by then. I'll let you

glad it's not me. I'll

to remind you of that when the

"Never going to happen."

I headed for the kitchen to tell Mary I'd have to take

Chapter 196

removed the cookies from the oven. "Wonderful." She linked her arm through mine and led me to the table. I felt trapped. I wanted to go see my mate and figure things out, but the

how are things going

good." It was the truth, and we were finding our groove together as

"Do you love her?"

anything back. "Very much," I

scrutinized me closely, then smiled like she was satisfied with my

my arm as she talked. It was an odd sensation to me. I had never much been around a mother before. My own had died in childbirth to my youngest brother. I had often wondered if the pain of it had been too much for my da and that was why he was so adamantly against his sons taking true mates. He and Ma had not been true mates, only compatible mates, but I was old enough to remember the change in him after her death. He never seemed to realize that had they been true mates and properly bonded, he never would have felt that pain, as he would have followed her into death peacefully. "My little girl must love you too," she continued. "Most shifters are so thrilled to find a true mate that the

hasn't said it

you told her how you really

that she wouldn't or couldn't say it back, though I didn't

come around to saying it. The more important thing is, does

we were completely together. I felt like she gave herself to me. There were little things too, like how she snuggled into me on the couch watching TV, or the sly smiles she gave me when others were around and I knew she wanted to be alone. Mostly I just felt loved in her presence, so I