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Dean raises his eyebrow and looks at me. I know it’s uncommon for a shifter to have a pup and not be mated. Still, it sounds like there were some extenuating circumstances, and just because she has a daughter doesn’t mean we aren’t compatible. That’s the point of the app. Plus, I love pups.
“Hm, well, I hope it works out. I think it really will solidify your position as Alpha. The Luna is your counterpart, yin to your yang, so to speak. Without strong leadership, you are open to attack and can instil doubt in the pack about your abilities.”
I know. I have heard this time and time again. Even my parents have been hounding me to find a mate, though I know my mother’s intentions are not for the betterment of the pack. She just wants grandbabies. Maybe this can work. I do feel a strong connection with Lilac351, stronger than I have felt with anyone in a long time. I don’t know her real name or where she lives because the app doesn’t tell you everything. But I think this might actually be something. I need to talk to her and make it clear that I want to move forward.
“She might be the one, but I want to talk to her about it first.”
“Don’t take too long; a good woman can change your life. From what my folks say, finding a good mate makes life better…especially with how long we live. If my parents' relationship is anything to go on. Though sometimes watching them is sickening.”
That must be true, because Dean’s parents are really happy—his dad constantly fawns over his mom, walking around with doe eyes over his mate of fifty years. I’m grateful for Dean, though. He has stuck by me for years. He was the person who helped me figure out how to protect Quinn when the Alpha found out we slept together. I intended to make her my mate, but our relationship's fallout would have been great. It threatened the peace talks with Jake, especially because Quinn comes from a sacred psychic bloodline. But I never should have given her up. It will always be one of my greatest mistakes.
“Something to think about. I’m going to go for a run. My wolf is agitated, and I need to blow off some steam.”
“Sure thing. I will double-check our patrols and make sure our people know not to get too close. I don’t trust Jake.”
“Me neither. There is something not right about that guy.”
The sun shines bright as I exit my office building. The fresh air is already doing wonderful things to my frustrated mind. Letting my wolf out will burn any further annoyance I have been feeling and help me connect better with my wolf, which I desperately need right now. Making my way to the tree line, I find the bag we use to stash our clothes before we shift. Stripping down, I shift, stretching my stiff muscles, and then I run.
Chapter 3 - Quinn
Paige unloads a bag of soup, crackers, and a bottle of wine in the kitchen while I get a show going for Maddie.
“Paige, you really didn’t have to come over here; I don’t want you getting sick.”
“Stop it. What are best friends for!”
Meandering over to Paige I try shaking off the exhaustion that wants to pull me down. I’m so tired that my wolf isn’t begging to go for a run, half the time she is whining in my head scratching to go outside. Meanwhile, Paige has pulled down two mugs and poured wine into them. When setting up my home from the thrift store, wine glasses weren’t on the necessity list. Paige has been my best friend since I moved to the city. We met at my old job, but she has since moved on to bigger and better things. She is a physiotherapist at the hospital. It’s an odd profession for a shifter, seeing as we can heal almost any injury, but she likes helping the city's residents. She hasn’t gone into great detail about what led her to move to the city, but I know she wasn’t safe in her old pack, just like me. We bonded over mutual trauma, I guess.
“I really appreciate this, Paige.”
“Oh, girl. You look exhausted.”
I sort of laugh-cry at that statement because I am so very, very tired. I'm tired of hustling to make ends meet, tired of being a single parent; I’m just tired. Looking over at Maddie curled up on the couch holding her stuffed penguin, I see the reason to keep going. She deserves a good life, and I will work hard to get it for her, no matter what. I take the mug and down the wine; it's a good thing I’m a shifter, because this won’t even give me a buzz with how fast my metabolism is.
“Wow, okay, it’s one of those moments, huh. Here, have another.” She refills my mug, and I start sipping this one.
“It’s just a season. Before I know what hits me, she will be a teenager and won’t want to snuggle anymore. But I don’t know what to do, Paige. I have enough savings to cover the rest of the month but still need a job ASAP.”
We take our mugs over to the small table in the open space of my apartment. This seems like a sitting-down conversation.
“Listen, I can look over your resume, and you can start handing it out. I can even watch Maddie while you do it, but another option might exist.”
She has that twinkle in her eye, the one that says I am not going to like her next idea. Raising an eyebrow, I urge her onto whatever mastermind plan she has created.
“Okay, now hear me out. I know it’s only been like a week since you started talking to this guy, but MAYBE this was all meant to be. I mean, you could go right to the trial run with him and see how that works out. Worse comes to worst, you can always come back to the city, stay with me, and find a new job.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit soon? I have only been talking to him for a week. Sure, we have shared a bit about our lives, but not enough to see if we want to permanently mate. I don’t even know where he lives or what his name is. All I know is he has some serious cash because he owns a construction company, real estate agency, and land…now that I think about it, this guy is way out of my league.”
“You shut your mouth! He is not out of your league. You are an amazing woman with a heart of gold! You ooze kindness; you’re a heck of a lot nicer than I am to most people. I mean, look at Mrs. Rosa. What young single mom goes out of her way to befriend the old lady next door? You do. He would be lucky to be with you. Plus, if he thinks you are amazing, which you told me he said, then let his assessment be true because, sweetheart, you are amazing.”
For so long, I have been hiding, and it’s starting to take a toll. My wolf is constantly agitated because we can’t run as much as we should. But I can’t risk getting caught, and there aren’t a lot of places to run in this city. I’ve just been hoping and praying for the past four years that my pack won’t find me. It’s scary to take a chance. What-ifs plague my mind. What if he doesn’t like me in person? What if he can’t accept my daughter or my daughter doesn’t like him? What if dating someone opens me up to being found by my old pack? We are safe here. It may be stressful, and it may not be ideal, but we have been safe for the past 4 years. Do I tempt fate? I don’t know. So that’s what I tell her.
“I don’t know, Paige. He makes me feel special. He makes me laugh, but I think it might be too soon.”
She leans over and grabs my hand. “Look, whatever you choose, I support you one hundred percent. For now, let’s drink our wine and enjoy the quiet—or, well, as quiet as it can be, with Bluey playing in the background.”
At that, I laugh, because this is the quiet I need right now. Maybe I should consider it, but I can’t make any decisions on my own anyway…I’m going to have to talk to Wolfy182 at some point, I guess.
