Page 37 of Watch Me

Fin only smiled and led me to a small house boat just past the one Rowen and Cam lived in. Their houseboat was decked out with lights and a hot tub on the roof, but this one looked older and more worn down.

He helped me board before untying us from the dock. “Rowen’s fixing this one up to sell, but the engine and most of the inside is done.”

Taking a seat by the front window while Fin started the engine, he drove us out to the middle of the lake beforekilling the engine. We worked together easily to set the anchor as I chatted with him about how his tattoo was healing up. He led me back inside to the small table with a fixed bench by the kitchenette. Opening the mini-fridge, Fin pulled out sandwiches and a couple sodas.

“You brought a picnic?”

“Well, I figured since I can’t swim with the tattoo and I was going to trap you out here to talk, I might as well feed you,” Fin teased and sat beside me so that our shoulders and thighs touched.

Since I wasn’t super hungry yet, I turned towards him on the bench seat. “What are we talking about, Fin?”

He swallowed hard with his first bite and set his sandwich down. Moving to face me, Fin pulled my leg to rest over his thigh before looking me in the eyes. “I think you’re my mate.”

Spluttering on air, I blinked a few times but didn’t know how to respond. He had nothing but honest sincerity in his eyes, though I could just make out his rapid heart beat over the sound of water lapping at the boat. He meant what he said. Did I believe him?

My wolf howled at me from the inside, begging me to tilt my head and submit to the alpha next to me for his bite.Well, fuck.If my wolf thought Fin was our mate, who was I to deny him?

There was only one problem.

“Okay…But how? I’m a beta. We don’t have mates. We’re basically humans with extra senses and healing abilities.”

Fin reached up to run his fingers from my dark curls to cup my jaw. “Says who?”

“Well…” I trailed off, trying to remember where I learned about betas.

My dad’s voice surfaced to my consciousness about how I was worthless and good for nothing. I couldn’t lead, couldn’t mate to pass on his genes. That I wasn’t worthy of being a Junior.

“Your father was wrong about a lot of things, but how he treated you was one of the worst things he ever did,” Fin told me as if he could read my mind. Shit, mates could somewhat read each other's minds. He’d also known me my entire life.

Still, it was hard to shift my entire worldview on a dime. Even if my wolf and I yearned to believe him.

“Are you saying a beta and an alpha can be mates?”

“I confirmed it with Merle and Valeria. It used to be common among shifters,” Fin explained and moved his hand to wrap around neck, squeezing gently. “There’s also the fact that your eyes changed colors.”

My instant reaction was to rear back, but I couldn’t with how Fin held my head and leg. “What are you talking about? I looked in the mirror this morning. My eyes are still brown. If that’s your evidence…”

“No, baby. You’re wolf’s eyes,” Fin said gently, the endearment so surprising I almost missed what he said next. “They flashed green during sex yesterday. You reminded me they usually looked orange when you were tattooing me yesterday. I suspected it before, but after talking to the elders, that confirmed what my wolf has been telling me for a while now.”

“They were green like yours?” I whispered, still trying to take in what he was saying. “My wolf changed to match yours?”

“They did.” Fin’s own human eyes were looking at mine intently, waiting to see if I’d freak out. I was close, but I was also vibrating with happiness at the thought.

“We’re mates?”

“Yes, we are.” Fin nodded and gave me a small smile before adding, “And if it's not too much too fast, you should know I’ve also fallen in love with you.”

Blinking, I felt tears spring to my eyes and my throat clog. “Even though I'm a flirt and a brat and twenty years younger than you?”

“Especially because you’re a brat. You’re my brat, now,” Fin chuckled and took my face in both hands. He wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes with his thumbs. “If you’ll have me even though I’m a grumpy old alpha who’s never had a relationship?”

The smile he brought out couldn’t be helped and I desperately wanted to kiss him. “So long as you’re my grumpy old alpha? We can figure out the relationship thing together.”

“Together,” Fin agreed. “You’re never getting rid of me, brat.”

Lifting my face, he laid a sweet kiss on my lips and my wolf clawed at me to get closer. “I love you, too, Alpha,” I confessed between kisses. I finally got the man I always wanted. He was never getting away again.

Chapter twenty-four