Keya's POV:
I walked out of the room with Ryker trailing a step behind me. His shoulders were rigid, his jaw tense, and he looked like I’d hit him in the face. I knew how much he longed for his mate, and I had a feeling what I had just told him made him feel guilty. But he wasn't.
My life was mine, and his was his.
I glanced over, giving him a soft smile. “Hey, Ryk, just because I don’t want a mate right now doesn’t mean you have to stop wanting one. We are not the same person. Your need to find your true mate is just as valid as my choice not to want one, okay?” I said with a sigh.
He paused, head turning as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard. “When did you grow up?” His tone was soft, like he couldn't even believe himself. He wrapped an arm around me, steadying both of us.
I le
