“But if their mate dies, they can sleep with whoever again, right?”
“I mean, it’s one thing to lose a mate before you’re bonded and another to lose them after the mating ceremony.” Remi leans against the counter, using her arm to prop up her head. “Most of the time, if a shifter loses their mate after they’ve been bonded, they’ll never look at another person romantically again.”
“Can wolf shifters have babies with humans?” I ask, thinking about Addison and Noah and what their relationship might have been if they had been able to be together.
“No, shifters can only have children with their mates, and only after they’ve completed the mating ceremony.”
“Okay, I guess that makes sense, and it matches what Ryker told me.” I nod my head a couple times before I snort. “I’m lying, it doesn’t make sense at all. But maybe when I’m sober, I’ll understand it better.”
“Best of luck, dude, because I grew up around this shit, and it still confuses me.” Remi shakes her head. “My mom always says I’ll understand mating and how intense it is once I’m actually mated.”
“Do you want a mate?” I ask her.
A small smile starts to form on her face. “When I listen to people talk about finding their soulmate, I can’t help but want that for myself. To know I’ve found the person I’m meant to be with, that I was made for, it would be so special.” She looks at me with a serious expression. “You don’t realize how lucky Ryker and you are. Most of us will never find our true mate, and you guys have been given this second chance. I know you’re apprehensive and confused, but you have no idea how amazing your life is going to be having your mate at your side.”
“My feelings for him are already so intense it scares me,” I confess. “It’s also scary how jealous I am over this whole Avery thing.”
“She got one night with him, Pru,” Remi says, “but you’re going to get a lifetime. You’re the one who gets to have the mating ceremony. You’re the one who’s going to bare his mark and maybe his children one day.”
“I’m not even sure what a mating ceremony is,” I tell her as I make eye contact with the bartender. I motion with my hand that we need another round. “Is it like a wedding?”
“No, shifters don’t typically have weddings. We view the ceremony as a wedding of sorts, but instead of it taking place in front of your family and closest friends, it’s a private thing between mates.”
“I can’t have a wedding?” I frown at this. I had always pictured myself wearing a white dress and exchanging vows with the love of my life. I always wanted to get married outside with tons of flowers, and now I may not be able to.
“I mean, there’s no rule that says you can’t…” She trails off when the bartender puts two more shot glasses in front of us. “Thank you,” she tells the man before reaching for her glass and quickly tipping it back. “Ugh, that has to be the last one.” Her face wrinkles in distaste. “Anyway, most shifters view having a wedding as redundant since the mating bond is basically a marriage in its own right. But it’s much deeper than a piece of paper. It’s a bond that permanently connects your souls.”
I pause, shot glass halfway to my mouth. “Holy shit, that’s deep.”
“I know. Imagine hearing it explained to you by your ten-year-old brother when you’re five.” She grins at the memory. “He announced at the dinner table one night he found his wife. And he knew she was going to be his wife because she was sparkly.”
“The mating aura.” I tip the shot back and stuff the lime in between my teeth as quickly as I can.
“Yep! It’s rare that shifters find their mate that young. I mean, they can grow up in the pack together and spend years around each other before the mating aura appears. But with Ryker… He was only ten when it appeared around you one day.” Remi sways in her seat a little bit as she talks. “He was so happy when my parents explained to him what it meant.”
“And now he may never actually get to mate with me because my wolf is all locked up.”
“We’ll figure a way to get her out.” Remi reaches over and grabs my hand. “Esme will know what to do.”
“I hope so because I can’t do that to Ryker. I won’t be able to live with myself if I can’t do this for him, for us.” A newfound determination washes over me. I’m going to figure out this whole shifting thing because I do want Ryker. Every fiber of my being wants him.
“Now that’s the attitude I like to see,” Remi cheers loudly, making everyone turn and look at us. She grins and wiggles her fingers at the spectators before turning back to look at the bartender who walked over.
I also turn in my seat to look at him. “We’ll take the check now.”
“Are you sure I can’t interest you pretty girls in another round?” A flirty grin appears on his face as he looks at me. “I would hate to see you leave so early. The night is still young.” He winks at me, making my skin crawl.
“No, that’s okay. Just the check would be great.” I try to give him a polite smile, but I know I’m failing.
“I’ll give you the check if you give me your phone number.”
“Uh—” is all I get out before Remi leans forward in her seat, a big grin on her face.
“Listen, Peter. It is Peter, right?” She waits for
