Chapter 113

Shawna POV

"So what happened that you were held back last night?" I asked Michael as we lay in my bed. It was early morning and the sun was just rising. We'd slept only about four hours, but just being wrapped in his arms was enough for me. Michael was holding me tight against his chest, my cheek pressed over his heart. I traced the ridges of his abdomen with my hand, mesmerized by the muscles that seemed carved out.

Michael sighed and kissed the top of my head. "I wish I could tell you, but it was official, and I’m sworn to secrecy." I could tell that he wasn't happy about keeping it secret though and it made me feel a little bit better about it. "What I can tell you is that we aren't leaving today as previously anticipated. We have to stay another day. The council will be arriving today to go over some of the evidence found in the dungeons."

His words instantly had me wide awake, my palms suddenly sweaty. "What does that mean exactly Michael? Why do we need to stay for that?"

"Alpha James has to stay, and by default, so do I," he explained. "If you want to return to the pack, you can. Natalie can go back with you."

"Absolutely not," I said, sitting up in bed to look him in the eyes. "If you think I'm leaving you here when we just found out we are mates, you're crazy. As for Natalie, I don't think she's going back to Idaho."

Michael looked confused for a moment before responding, "Of course she's going back. Why wouldn't she?"

"She met her mate here, and it was confirmed last night. I saw it for myself," I told him. "Although some crazy girl from this pack tried to interfere."

"She what?" Michael seemed confused, and it dawned on me that he probably had no idea that Natalie was going to find her mate or even that she thought it might be Carl. It was amazing that it actually was Carl.

"She met her mate. I'm surprised you don't know or that you didn't at least realize it earlier," I told him. When his eyebrows knit together in confusion, I felt compelled to just spit it all out and tell him. "It's Carl, the lead warrior here."

"Really?" Michael asked. I nodded and smiled. "That's really great, he seems like a good guy. It would make sense for her to be with someone so strong." He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them he looked sad. "I'm going to miss her, but I understand that Carl can't leave his pack, so she will have to be the one leaving."

"I don't think she's sad about it," I told him. "She had already told me that she thought he might be her mate, or at least that she wanted to explore the possibility of it. I even mentioned to her that she would have to leave Idaho Falls, and she said she couldn't care less, aside from leaving you behind."

Michael laughed, "she better say that." I snuggled back into his chest and drew in his scent. It was so familiar to me, but now it was different from before. It was the scent of my mate and it made everything in my world feel right.

"What do you suppose is going to happen when the council arrives?" I asked him.

"I can't be sure, and it's not a decision I'm entitled to make anyway. I'm glad for that." Michael great quieter and then whispered softly, "Honestly Shawna, I'm just counting down until my obligation as a protector is complete. Not much longer. Did I ever tell you where I'm really from?" he suddenly asked.

"I assumed you were from Idaho Falls, since your sister is also there," I told him truthfully. We hadn't really delved into his family much, except I knew his parents weren't in Idaho, and I'd never bothered to ask why. I didn't live in the same pack as mine either, so it was a non-issue for me.

"No. I'm from a small pack in Georgia. I'm the third youngest son, my father was the Alpha, now my oldest brother is," he stated.

"What? You're an Alpha?" I asked, though I wasn't surprised, considering Michael was huge and strong. You had to be if you were going to be a protector.

"Yes, I am. Most Protectors are, though it's not common knowledge among the normal pack members. Only one can lead a pack, and when there are multiple sons, typically the others will be lead warriors, or they will go off to become Protectors. Because my pack is so small, I decided I wanted to be more than just a warrior in my pack, and so my father sent me away to be a Protector of a council member. It was fine until recently. Now I'm done with it. I hate secrets and the lying. I especially don't want to lie to my mate," he said this as he ran his fingers through my hair as if to comb it.

"I appreciate that Michael, but if you are with holding information, then it's not lying. I'm fine, I know it's your job." I assured him of this and placed a soft kiss on his lips.

"It's good you are understanding, but I think Alpha James isn't being honest about some stuff and I don't really want to be part of it. If what is believed to be the truth with regard to the dungeons, I can't continue to be his protector. Even if I have to go home shamed by not fulfilling what is expected of me, I think I might have to," he admitted.

"No Michael," I whispered. "You're too good of a man to allow that to happen to you. I'm sure whatever it is, there's another way out of it," I told him.

"I hope you're right," he whispered. "I really do."