“That’s bullshit.” He closed the door behind himself and looked around. The crease in his forehead deepened as he saw my living situation. It was crappy, but it was mine. That was all that mattered to me. “You never told me if the alpha touched you.”
“He didn’t.” Luckily. “What are you doing here?”
Bo didn’t respond right away.
His nostrils flared, and he crossed the kitchen, headed for the bathroom.
“Do you need to pee or something?” One of my hands went to my hip.
I was still feeling emotional, and I needed to get on the road fast, so the grizzly had to get going.
I couldn’t just kick him out after he saved my life, though. Could I?
Bo disappeared into the bathroom. He didn’t shut the door, and I didn’t hear him use the toilet.
He was scowling when he stepped back out. “You have black mold in the shower. That can seriously affect your health, Madi.”
“No, it can’t. I’m a shifter.”
I reached back to the ribbons on my dress again, trying to find the bow at the top with my fingers.
I started to shift my nails into claws, but Bo batted my hands away and tugged the ribbon undone. I swear, he found it exactly where I’d been looking.
“It hasn’t been studied,” Bo said.
“Most sicknesses can’t affect us.”
“This one could be the exception.”
“Stop changing the subject, Ambrose. What are you doing here?”
He finished pulling the dress’s ribbons free and tugged the fabric apart. Breathing got much easier when it loosened. “It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not.”
“It is.” He let out harsh breath. “I wasn’t lying.”
“About…”
“Claiming you.”
I blinked.
It took me a minute to realize what he was really saying.
He hadn’t lied about me being his mate.
“What?” My voice rose.
“The only way the guys know to figure out whether my bear has claimed you completely is to try kissing another woman. I couldn’t stomach the idea long enough to try it. There’s still a chance the bond isn’t permanent, but as far as my bear is concerned, there’s no question. You’re mine.”
You’re mine.
That statement made me feel too many things. Way too many things.
“Then you need to kiss someone else so we can figure that out before I leave,” I said. I was clutching my dress to my chest, and he hadn’t stepped out from behind me, but panic had flooded my veins.
I couldn’t be mated to Bo.
