Mai's pov
I took a personal excuse from Miss Elara to see my mate. I couldn't wait for formal approval or the Alpha's nod, something in my chest kept pushing me, until I was already halfway to the village.
To see my mate.
By the time I reached the cottage, Pa Jethro was outside, seated on his usual stump whittling a piece of wood.
He looked at me with his cloudy eyes. "You're here to see Jake, right?"
I smiled, my pace slowing as I smoothed down my clothe. "Yes, Pa."
The old man stopped his whittling and fixed me with a heavy look. "When would you both stop waiting and finally perform the blood binding?"
I felt the heat climb to my cheeks. "We are waiting for the right time, Pa Jethro. We want things to be perfect."
"There's never a right time, girl," he sighed. "Look at me. I thought the same thing once. Thought I'd take my mate to the Peaks when things were better, then the sickness took her, and just like that time ran out. I have regretted it every single day since."
