Chapter 57: My Lover's Mate

Noel just stared at Jake, unsure of what to say or do. His presence explained the black bear in the woods yesterday, she realized. She knew this day would come eventually, no matter how hard she tried to shove it out of her mind and avoid it. She only hoped that it would be further down the road and not now, that this encounter would come under her control and not as a surprise.

“Your fiancé?” Wes looked at her, his face a mask of confusion and hurt, which twisted her heart. “You never said… Why didn’t you… What the hell, Noel? Now I know why you never wanted to be marked.”

“Marked?” Jake repeated. “You would really mate with another? You know what the mating call means. I explained the importance to you.”

With wide eyes, Wes turned his attention to Jake, and Noel wished she had told Wes more. “Mate? You’re a shifter?” Wes asked Jake, taking a couple of steps toward him.