Southern Shifters: Purred Promises (Kindle Worlds Novella) by R. E. Butler Page B

after clearing her throat.
    Genesis took the phone from her and brushed the tears from her cheeks before typing, Miss you so much. Have found other half of my heart. Love you. G.
    Jair’s wolfy purr vibrated against her side, and she handed the phone to Mona and looked up at him. “You are.”
    “You’re mine, too,” he said.
    “How about some breakfast? I brought provisions,” Mona said after pressing a few buttons on her phone and then tucking it into her back pocket.
    “Sounds great. Can I help?” Genesis asked. Jair’s arms tightened around her , and she looked up at him as he made a face at Mona.
    “That’s okay, Dillon will help,” Mona said with a chuckle.
    “I will?” Dillon asked.
    Mona just stared at her mate with an inscrutable look. He did nothing for a moment , and then sighed loudly as he stood. “Yes, dear.”
    “Wow, teach me that,” Genesis said under her breath.
    “Thanks a lot,” Jair said.
    Dillon laughed as he passed them and followed his mate into the kitchen.
    “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Jair said, turning her to face him completely. “I’m sorry I wasn’t aware of the danger. I failed , and I don’t know how to make it up to you.”
    “I don’t think you failed,” she said.
    “If Felix hadn’t been roaming, by the time I came to you would have been gone. My senses wer e obliterated by the explosion; I wouldn’t have been able to find your scent to track you. Felix and Veron killed your abductors while I lay there unconscious.”
    “You shielded me from the blast,” she pointed out.
    She felt the growl in his chest and knew that he was struggling with guilt and anger. She was angry herself that the male had come for her, planning to do who knew what once he took her. He’d known just where they were, and she didn’t think it was a guess, so she suspected he’d been watching them while they were unaware.
    She stared into her mate’s eyes, seeing the war within the blue and green depths.
    “I forgive you,” she whispered. “Because I love you and I feel safe with you. Nothing has changed for me since we left this house to shift. You’re still my mate, you’re still the one perfect male on the planet for me. If you want to make it up to me, then you have to forgive yourself. ”
    His eyes brightened with emotion and he crushed his mouth against hers, sliding one hand into her hair and angling her head to deepen the kiss. The blood rushed in her ears as her cat made happy purring noises and rolled under her skin. As soon as possible, she wanted to go out in their shifts again, to see her mate’s pretty fur and to watch him stalk through the woods like the predator he was.
    They both seemed to remember at the same time that they weren’t alone, ending the kiss all too soon.
    “Thank you,” he murmured, easing his bruising hold on her.
    She slid her arms around his neck and hugged herself closer. “For what?”
    “For everything.”
    Any seriousness left in the moment disappeared when Mona called from the kitchen, “If you’re done molesting each other, breakfast is ready.”
    She and Jair both laughed and hugged each other once more before heading for the kitchen, with Veron and Felix close behind. Jair pulled her chair out for her and then took his seat next to her, keeping one arm around the back of the chair. She wasn’t surprised he fel t the need to be close to her. After nearly losing him, she was feeling the same way . Dropping her hand to his thigh, she squeezed lightly and smiled at him.
    “It’s going to be a good day.”
    “Oh?” He placed his other hand on top of hers. “How can you tell?”
    Glancing out the kitchen window, she saw the beautiful blue sky and the sunshine . “The sun is shining , we’re together, and someone else made breakfast. That’s the trifecta to start a good day.”
    He kissed her briefly, and grinned. “Let’s start every day that way.”
    “Um, no,” Mona said, the metal spoon she wielded clanging in the