Coyote Wolf

26 | YOU'RE MINE

NAYLAN

After sitting in the guest room alone, I got up and put on a T-shirt. I sighed as I opened the door, walking into the hallway and giving myself a pep talk as I made a beeline for Mavis. He had said a lot, and it had been mostly anger and stress bubbling up to the top. I didn't need to ask anyone where Mavis was — I could smell him — sense him. I walked downstairs, headed for the kitchen, and found him sitting at the dining table alone.

I leaned against the door frame when I saw him, licking my lips and farrowing my brows as I thought of what to say. "Mavis..."

He didn't respond to his name. He kept staring down at his hands on the dining table, refusing to look at me.

"Mavis."

"What do you want?"

I left the door, walking over to the dining table before sitting across from him. "What do you mean what do I want? You just left, and you were angry at me—"

"I'm not angry at you."

I cocked my head to the side, finding that hard to believe. "Really?"

He nodded. "I'm mad at myself... and at the situation. I just... I don't think I have the biology to be okay with all of this. I tried to protect you from getting hurt, and you shut me down in favor of everyone else. It hurts."

"You know why I—"

"Naylan," Mavis said, looking up at me for the first time. "I know why you did what you did. It doesn't stop me from feeling anxious or irritated. Coyotes... we live in groups, but very small ones. Often just immediate family. Our mates are our everything. I don't think you really understand that you're mine."

The way he said the last word made me shiver. I reached out for one of his hands, squeezing it as I looked at him. "I know that. You're mine too."

He shook his head. "No, no, you don't."

"Mating for life is also a wolf thing, Mavis. Being possessive and territorial is also a wolf thing," I continued. "I don't know what you're trying to tell me, but I do love you, and I do know we belong to each other."

"You what?"

"I do—" I paused, realizing what I had said. "I—I mean, I do..." I rambled, feeling my face heat up. I looked at him, searching his eyes to see if he was unnerved by what I had said — if that was maybe too much for now. The blood rushing to his cheeks was more evident in his lighter brown skin tone. His frown was completely gone, and the look in his eyes had grown softer.

"Then why did you do that?" Mavis asked. "You didn't care if putting yourself in danger hurt me as long as you could help your mentor's pack."

Mavis looked down at our entwined hands. "All you care about are the packs you're connected to."

"My pack and pack connections are important to me, yes. I'm not going to tell you they're not," I said, "but you're my mate, and you're more important to me than anything else. I said yes because I'm the most qualified to be in that position, and I'll be fine. In the beginning, when we met, you talked a lot about not wanting a mate because it could take you away from your family. I can't help that my pack is my family."

Mavis' jaw grew tight as he listened to my words. "I understand. It's just... it's so many people."

I nodded, raising his hand to my lips and kissing it. "I know it's a lot. I get it, but I'm still hoping that you'll open yourself up to getting to know at least those closest to me."

Mavis nodded, "I know. Wolves, just make me nervous." He pulled his hand away before turning to stare at the door that led to the restaurant. Most people were asleep now — probably also Georgiou and Leigh as well. I guess that's why he was stuck sitting here instead of snuggled up in a different guest room.