Derek gently ran his fingers through Nathan’s hair as they sat. Kaison and Peregrin had left them for the time being. His mate had begun to settle as soon as the others had gone. Derek couldn’t help but smile. Clearly, his mate did not like others so close to him even if they were friends.
“I’m sorry,” Nathan quietly muttered.
“Why?” Derek asked.
“I thought if I was ever given a second-chance mate, I would be able to stand tall and make a good impression. But instead, I just folded up and collapsed, like a…”
“Shhh,” Derek hushed him. “It’s fine. I don’t mind. Peregrin said you lost your first mate a year ago?”
Nathan let out a soft growl, “I should gag him.”
Derek chuckled, “I get that, but if he hadn’t stopped me, I might have taken off in a fit of rage because I thought you were r
