BK 4 - Chapter 61 - Patrick and Carmen
Patrick saw the confusion on Carmen's face and realized he'd spoken out loud. He wasn't sure what to do at first.
"Uh, I don't understand what that means." She said. Patrick looked at his grandparents for help, and Lisa started laughing.
"If it's true, then I think you should just go ahead and tell her. I honestly think it's a good thing." Carmen looks from Lisa back to Patrick.
"Tell me what?" She asked. Looking down, she realized Patrick was still holding her hand. It wasn't unpleasant; it actually made her feel safe. Carmen knew not all men were like Jerry. In just the few minutes she'd known Patrick, she already knew he was ten times the man Jerry was. Anyone associated with Lisa's family, she felt, was good.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that; I just couldn't help it when I touched your hand." Carmen still didn't understand.
"Can you explain what you said?" She asked.
"He called you his mate. We're not human. We're werelions." Lisa said while watching Carmen's expression. Carmen chewed her bottom lip, looking around at everyone in the room.
"What's a werelion?" She asked. Carmen didn't know what to think. She wasn't scared, but she needed to know what they were talking about.
"It means we look human, but we can shift into lions. My lion's name is Kian." Patrick answered her. He was aware he was still holding her hand, but he couldn't bring himself to let go. She didn't seem to be in any hurry to let go, either.
"You're kidding, right?" Carmen looked at Lisa and Cat; both shook their heads. "Can you show me?"
"You're not scared or think we're crazy?" Patrick asked. After everything she'd been through, he was sure this would be too much for her. Carmen shrugged.
"You're family has already shown me how incredible they are. If you're not human, that's even better because the human I just left wasn't that great." Cat smiled and put her arm around Carmen.
"I always said people who have experienced some of the most horrific things in their lives are the ones who take this news the best," Cat said with a smile. Patrick was still in shock. Kian started purring loudly, and Carmen looked at him with wide eyes.
"Is that your lion?" She asked, moving forward. She wanted to put her ear to his chest so she could hear it better, but she didn't think that was appropriate. Patrick smiled and nodded.
"He's excited to meet you." He lifted her hand and put it against his chest, and the purring got louder. Carmen giggled and couldn't resist putting her ear against his chest. Patrick wasn't sure what to do. He wanted to wrap his arms around her but didn't want to scare her.
"That's so cool. I would have loved to be able to turn into a lion; then maybe Jerry would have never hurt me." She whispered. Patrick felt a tightness in his chest, and he had to comfort her. Putting one arm lightly around her, he felt her tears soaking through his shirt.
"He won't hurt you anymore." He said, rubbing her arm lightly. Carmen shivered from the touch. No one had ever shown her such compassion.
"What did you mean when you said mate?" She asked, looking up at Patrick and wiping her tears away. She didn't move from him, and once again, he was speechless. Luckily, Lisa didn't have the same problem.
"Jayce is my mate. Grandpa Trey is Grandma Cat's mate. You're Patrick's mate." Carmen looked from Lisa to Patrick in disbelief.
"I'm your mate? I'm human. What does it mean to be someone's mate?" She asked, feeling her face get red.
"Jayce and Grandma Cat were human, too. We don't have to mate with other shifters. I know this is a lot after everything that's happened today. Are you sure you're okay?" Lisa asked, taking Carmen's hand. The last thing she wanted was for her to feel pressured to be with Patrick. However, just like Adelma, she thought having Patrick mark her as soon as possible would be for the best.
"I'm actually fascinated about all of this, but what is a mate exactly?" Carmen looked back up at Patrick. He still had an arm around her, and she was in no hurry to leave his side. The warmth of his embrace with the sparks running through her body seemed to be making her stronger. How was it possible to feel like someone she just met was her destiny?
"Shifters and vampires have mates. It means that one person in the world is intended to be theirs. Finding that person makes you feel complete, like finding your other half. You're my mate, but I don't want you to think that you have to accept me right away. I know you've been through a lot, but I will be here to help you through it even if you decide to reject me." Patrick felt pain in his chest at the thought of Carmen rejecting him. She looked up at him in confusion.
"What do you mean, reject you? Why would anyone reject their mate?" Carmen couldn't imagine anyone not wanting to be with the person who was literally made for them. She may not be ready to do some things with Patrick, but she already couldn't imagine telling him she didn't want him.
"Some people don't want this life or already have someone they pick as their chosen mate. I don't want you to think that you don't have a choice just because you're my fated mate." Patrick looked into her eyes, and she suddenly understood. Was he saying that he really didn't want her? Is that why he kept saying she didn't have to say yes?
"Ar...are you trying to tell me you don't want me as your mate? I know I'm not much to look at, and I'm damaged, so I'll understand." Patrick couldn't believe that's what she thought. Lisa and Cat came to her side immediately, but he kept his arm around her, not wanting to let her go.
"That's not what I'm saying at all. I've waited a long time to find you, and now that you're here, as long as you'll have me, I'm never letting you go." Carmen looked at him through her tears and saw he was telling the truth.
"Really?" She asked. Lisa, Cat, and their mates walked out of the kitchen to leave them alone. Carmen saw them leave, but she continued to stare at Patrick. Was it possible to find the love of your life the same day you escaped your nightmare? She knew love was a strong word, but she already felt more for Patrick than she ever did for Jerry. She had settled for him at a time in her life when she was desperate to have anyone who showed her any affection, but it was all a lie.
"Yes, really. You're the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and to be able to call you mine means the world to me. If you accept me, I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never shed another tear from pain for the rest of your life." He kissed her forehead, and Carmen couldn't hold back anymore. She broke down with deep sobs as she wrapped her arms around Patrick. After so much pain for so many years, hearing someone say the words she'd always dreamed of made the dam break.
Patrick wrapped her in his arms and led her to the kitchen table. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. He held her as she cried, kissing her forehead and cheek, letting her get it all out.
Once she got started, Carmen couldn't stop. She hadn't cried other than in pain for a long time. Everything she'd been through had caught up to her, and she lost it. Every foster family she'd had to leave, every time someone had hit her, every hurtful word that had been shouted at her, every day she felt alone and unloved all washed over her. When her tears had stopped, she stayed on Patrick's lap, not wanting to move.
"Why couldn't I have met you a long time ago?" Carmen said, her voice sounded raw from crying. Patrick stroked her head and smiled.
"My Grandma Cat always says we find our mates when they need us the most. When you're ready, I'll mark you, and you'll become a werelion, too." Carmen's head shot up, and she looked at him in disbelief.
"I'll become like you?" She asked.
"Yes. You'll have a lion and be able to shift and everything. We have time for all that; there's no rush." Carmen cut him off before he could finish.
"Mark me. I want you to do it now. I don't care about all the details and what's going to happen later. There's nothing that I want more than being with you. I know we've only known each other for about an hour, but this feels right. I need this. I want to put Jerry and my past behind me and move on with you. I don't ever want to look back. Will you mark me?" Carmen stared into his hazel eyes. She was determined. She didn't know why, but she felt like it was important to do it right away.
"Okay, do you want to go outside or somewhere else?" Patrick asked. He hadn't expected her to be ready so quickly, but there was no way he would try to change her mind after what she just said. He wanted her to know that he would always be there for her. If anyone dared to hurt her again, it would be the last day of their life.
"Let's do it right here in the kitchen where we met. Is that okay?" Carmen asked nervously. She didn't even know what it meant to be marked.
"This is fine. I'm going to bite you in the area between your neck and collarbone. It will hurt for a second, but the pain will go away. Are you ready?" Patrick glanced toward the doorway and saw Lisa peeking in. She gave him a smile and a thumbs-up. It made him happy she supported him, marking her sister so quickly.
"Yes." Carmen's heart raced as she waited. Patrick placed a light kiss on her lips and then kissed the area he would bite. She felt a slight stinging sensation when he bit her, but it quickly went away. She closed her eyes as a warmth spread through her body. Carmen felt herself becoming connected to Patrick at a deeper level than she ever imagined. Maybe she was crazy to accept all of this so quickly, but she didn't care. After all the pain, she was ready to begin living and wasn't waiting for another day to go by. When he pulled away, she looked into his eyes and threw her arms around his neck.
"Thank you. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you." Patrick's heart swelled at her words. He was quickly falling in love with Carmen. She was his now, and no one would take her away from him.
