Chapter 55: One of Us

~ SASHA ~

Zev stood at her shoulder, his fingers tight on hers, the muscles on his arm hard as steel. She could feel it against her own.

Take a mate.

She hadn't followed everything that passed between the two of them, but that part she understood.

This Alpha King whatever, was telling her she had to take a mate. She swallowed. It would be Zev, of course. But… but what did they mean by take a mate?

Visions of two of her father's dogs mating in the backyard while the rest of the dogs watched bloomed in her head, and her cheeks went up in flames.

"What do you mean… mate?" she asked, working hard to keep her voice calm.

"He means you have to pick a male to spend your life with," Zev said quietly, his eyes still on the older man. "Think of it like… getting married."

Marry Zev? It was only what she'd dreamed about for five years.

"Oh, okay. I can… I mean… with some time—"