Best Friends (New Species #15)(59)

“Given. Justice and I discussed that, too, when we were talking. Your mate is going to want to stay close to her friend. The task force will be informed you won’t be joining them as originally planned. Another Species will fill that spot.”

“Thank you.” Snow watched Mel. “She has enough changes to deal with right now. I don’t want to uproot her to Homeland until I’m certain she’s ready to spend time there.”

“It’s more relaxing here.” Torrent motioned to the woods. “We’ve got better scenery. Why do you think I live here full time now? Homeland is great but I don’t miss being that close to large cities and all the humans that come with them.”

“Wild Zone residents live here,” Brass reminded him. “They can be difficult and unpredictable.”

“I’ll take them and their issues any day over being mobbed by humans every time we drive outside the gates of Homeland. We can extensively expand the property we own here, and have. There, we can only purchase a small plot with a home, if we’re lucky, to put more of a cushion between our walls and the humans who want to harass whoever’s patrolling at any given time.”

Snow silently agreed with Torrent. He preferred Reservation, too. He’d never have met Mel if he hadn’t decided to spend time there and eat at the diner. New Species never went to human eating establishments near Homeland. The few times they’d attempted it without major prior planning, it had turned into a security nightmare.

Mel hugged Mary, and the other female walked toward her car. Snow opened the door and slid out but he stayed next to the SUV to avoid frightening Mary. The female made it to her car and climbed in, starting the engine. She turned around on the narrow street and drove off. He rushed to Mel’s side as she waved goodbye until the car was out of sight.

“How did it go?”

Mel grinned up at him. “Great. She said she’d come to our wedding. We even picked out her dress and mine. I know she’s scared, and I totally used a guilt trip, but whatever works.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I’m glad. I know it’s important to you.”

“We just have to make sure everything goes right. You know, bring her in a back gate, hide as many New Species from her as possible, and keep everyone a little distance from her.”

He chuckled. “We’ll do whatever it takes. Mary is safe with us.”

“I know that. You know that. But it’s Mary. She’s trying really hard though. I’m proud of her.”

He watched as dozens of New Species stepped out from the forest around them, where they’d been stationed to stay out of sight, protecting the area, and grinned. “She only guessed a few were hiding, correct?”

Mel glanced around too. “Yes. She’d have flipped out if she knew the truth.”

He kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go home. We still have a wedding to plan.” He scooped her into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “And we have to celebrate signing those mate papers.”

He couldn’t wait.





Chapter Fifteen



“There are things I need to tell you.”

Mel reached up and cupped Snow’s face. “Later.” She kissed him, tugging at his shirt.

He broke the kiss, growling at her. “Mel, it’s important.”

“So is consummating our mate papers. I figure it’s like a wedding, right? We have to do the naked deed to make it legally binding.”

He chuckled and gripped her wrists, gently forcing her to let him go as he stepped back, bumping against the bed. “We were legal the moment we signed the papers. I’d like your permission to throw away the condoms. I don’t want anything between us ever again.”

That cooled her libido a bit. “You want to see if we can make a baby together?”

“I told you it’s possible. There is more, though. I wasn’t allowed to share this with you until after we were official mates, and you became one of us…there have already been Species children born to human females. If we are lucky enough to conceive a child, it will be born male and have my traits.”

Mel gaped at him.

“It’s something to do with our genetics. All the babies born have been male and resemble their fathers. The pregnancy length is also much shorter. Twenty weeks.”

It was difficult for her to imagine any of that.

“Say something, Mel.”

“We just signed those papers a few hours ago.”

“This is too fast.” She couldn’t miss his disappointed expression. “I understand.” He released her and walked to the nightstand, removing the box from the drawer, and walked back to her with the condoms. “I won’t bring it up again until you’re ready to think about trying to start a family with me.”

She stared into his blue eyes. They were so beautiful. She tried to imagine a baby with those same eyes and miniature canine features.

Their son would be adorable.

A deep longing hit her. They were basically married. She’d always pictured having kids when she found someone she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

That person was standing in front of her.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, Mel. I’m sorry. You mated me. That’s all that matters.”