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My mate 2.

"Spill," Annette practically pounced on me as she realized I'd returned to the office.

I hesitated. Annette was a notorious gossip, the kind of coworker who shared every tidbit without restraint. I wasn't entirely comfortable revealing my newfound secret – that The Carson Gray was my mate – to her, potentially risking it becoming common knowledge.

"I stood here and got an earful from Mr. Hot Pants Carson Gray," she pointed an accusatory finger at me. "I'm not leaving without an explanation."

I sighed. She had a point; after all, it was my doing that subjected her to Carson Gray's wrath. Heaven knows how shaken I'd be if I were the one yelled at.

My thoughts drifted back to my parents, who had always doted on me. They'd shared a deep love, and I'd never witnessed them quarrel – their love extended to me as well. But their lives were tragically cut short during an attack led by the neighboring pack.

I closed my eyes and fought back the memories.

"Do you want the short version or the long one?" I asked Annette.

"I'm in the mood for a long story," she responded, taking a seat and gesturing for me to do the same. "Tell me the whole truth. I deserve to know, don't I?"

"You do," I agreed. "But I'm also afraid you won't believe me."

"Try me," she smirked.

"Remember how we've talked about mates recently?" I began, hoping she would catch on.

Judging by her expression, she hadn't.

Annette and I often discussed mates. While I was willing to wait for mine, Annette had a different approach – she dated one man after another, mate or not. Whenever a handsome man passed by, she licked her lips and pursued him. At first, it concerned me, but I later understood that she wasn't one to settle for just one person. Her future mate would have their hands full if they thought Annette would be an easy match.

But that didn't stop Annette from chatting about mates with me.

"Mates? What does that have to do with anything?" she raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Did you find your mate?"

I nodded.

Annette's eyes widened, and she shot up from her seat, giving me a once-over before bursting into laughter. "Haha. Nice one. Are you going to tell me the truth now?"

"But, that's the truth."

Annette's laughter stopped abruptly. "Now, that's hard to believe. You know why?" I shook my head. "You and I have met almost every male in this school, and none of them is our mate. Are you trying to tell me your mate is a woman?"

I jumped in shock. "No! What kind of thoughts are you conjuring?"

"Don't blame me," she shrugged and leaned back, placing her feet on my desk. "Who is your mate? Is it a student?"

"Annette!" I exclaimed. Man, her imagination could run wild. "I'm not a pedophile. None of the students here are of age!"

"That's why I'm struggling to understand why you're so convinced that you've found your mate. Unless..." She paused, her gaze sweeping around the room before whispering, "unless it's one of the new board members."

When I didn't respond, Annette's jaw dropped. "Are you serious? Is one of those fancy men your mate?"

I nodded.

"Oh my God, who is it? Did you talk to him? Did he accept you? This is so exciting!"

I didn't share her enthusiasm at all. What I had always envisioned as a joyous celebration of love had become something else entirely.

"Wait, why aren't you happy?" Annette stopped her excitement and looked at me with concern. "Did he reject you? Tell me who it is, and we'll bash his head with a baseball bat."

I chuckled at that. Leave it to Annette to swing moods like a pendulum.

"He didn't reject me."

"Then, what's wrong?"

"I don't want him to be my mate," I finally admitted.

"Why not? He's the richest man in the pack, even the alpha defers to him, and everyone wants him as their mate. You can't reject him," Annette scolded. "Why won't you accept him?"

"Are you kidding me?" I let out a nervous laugh. "He's Carson Gray, the billionaire, the most eligible bachelor. I'm Bethany Wayne, a simple nurse with nothing but a nursing degree. Does it sound like someone Carson Gray would accept as a mate?"

"You-"

"He's an arrogant jerk, too. You just mentioned yourself that he insulted you. Who wants a mate like that?"

"Bethany," Annette placed her hand on my shoulder, her voice soothing. "I think you're overthinking this. He's your mate, of course he'll accept you."

"No, I won't wait around for him to reject me," I shook my head. "If he rejects me, my wolf won't handle it. So, it's better if he never knows about me at all."

"How do you plan to do that?" Annette asked. "You know he'll be here more often now that he's on the board, right? I can't keep covering for you whenever he's around."

"You don't have to worry about that," I assured her. "I know what to do."

"Are you sure it's the right thing?"

"It doesn't matter," I'd made up my mind. "As long as it keeps Carson Gray from discovering our mate bond, I'll do anything."

Annette nodded and left my office. Once she was gone, I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"Hello," a familiar voice answered.

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