The Alpha Prince's Mate (Book 7 Of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 12

Ethan's eyebrows shot up at her words. "How do you know all of that?"

"My family owns the land next to the territory and has for many generations. We're well aware." Her gaze dropped.

Ethan studied her for a long moment, wondering how much she really did know if she suspected what he was. "William is no longer around."

Her eyes shot up to him, and her gaze flicked around the empty garden center again. "Did someone challenge him?"

Ethan crossed his arms over his chest. "I did."

Her eyes almost popped out of her head. "You?"

He watched her gaze sweep over him, and he frowned. "You don't think I could take him?"

She gave a half-laugh. "No, it's not that. I just didn't expect the male who finally took that guy down to be standing in front of me. So you're the.."

"For the time being," he confirmed, cutting her off.

"Not permanently?"

"No. I can't be," he said. She was asking way too many questions. Questions she didn't need to know the answers to. Though she may be his key to seeing Mila, especially if she knew what a mate was.

"Why not? I would think you'd want to be." She tipped her head sideways, eyeing him.

"I can't. It's...complicated." He'd leave it at that. He still couldn't believe he was having this conversation with a human. Even if she did seem to know more than he'd expected.

"I see. Well, not really but whatever. You don't know me, and you're not going to tell me anything, and that's fine. I can't blame you." She seemed to realize she was rambling and stopped.

"So where is Mila?" Ethan asked. She was the reason he was here, not to discuss secrets with a human female he didn't know.

"Well, that's sort of why I brought this conversation up, because I wanted to ask you something." She bit her lip and continued to study him.

Ethan wanted to reach across the counter, wrap his claws around her neck, and shake her. He wasn't in the mood to do this. He just wanted to know where Mila was.

"Is Mila your mate?" she asked.

That one startled him, and he scowled at her. "How do you know about that?"

"Certain members of my family have had mates, so I'm aware of it. Mila is a cousin of mine. She's not from around here, though, and I'm about ninety-nine percent sure she has no idea about any of this," she explained to him.

"What's your name?" He didn't know she was related to Mila. This could be a good thing, especially if she knew the significance of Mila being his mate.

"Riley."

Riley. Ethan studied her for a bit longer, debating about what to say. It was interesting that her family tended to have werewolf mates. It was a thing, he knew. If one member of a human family had a mate, a lot of times so would others. "Yes, she is."

"I knew it!" She smiled happily. "You two are way too into each other not to be. It's like no one else exists. She is really into you."

"Riley?"

"Yes?"

"You're trying my patience."

"Oh yeah. Sorry. The reason I wanted to know is because now I feel better about telling you about what happened." She stopped when the door of the garden center opened and some people walked inside and headed straight for the counter where he and Riley were currently standing.