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Chapter 5
AXEL
They say first impressions are everything. That you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. But that hasn’t been my experience. At least not when it comes to Riley.
Riley sits on the edge of the couch, the knitted throw wrapped tightly around her shoulders. I study her every movement. How her hands shake as she takes the glass of whiskey from Cree. How her eyes drift softly shut as she savors her first sip. How her shoulders relax as the long column of her throat works to swallow the warming liquid.
I don’t usually condone giving into someone’s addiction, but in this case, it was the lesser of two evils. She was ready to leave. The overwhelming cacophony of emotions and the unexpected reemergence of her wolf recognizing her mate, plus the concern she would overdo it, led me to believe it would be safer if we provided what she needs.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Riley in the throes of her weakness—it’s my third. The first two times our paths crossed, I was too inside my head to allow myself to really see her, to let my wolf out to sense our mate.
Riley’s eyes skim each of us, taking in our presence, our stances around the room. Rolling her eyes, she shakes her head before her expression morphs from annoyed to saddened.
My wolf pushes at my mind, urging me to reach out. Closing my eyes, I open my senses to her emotions and let my wolf reach out to hers. Together, we prod at her feelings and beckon her wolf forward, seeking the source of her sadness. The cresting waves of happiness and confusion are almost lost under the overwhelming currents of anger and grief.
I open my eyes and immediately lock with piercing grey orbs. Images of the moment I first walked into the bedroom and saw Riley sitting there, fiery red hair cascading down over slender shoulders and slight curves easily made out under the blankets. It was the pain and sorrow swimming in the depths of the large grey eyes that caught me, the same pain and grief topped with anger that holds me hostage now.
Mate, my wolf announces in my mind, the same way he did in that room when I first laid hands on her. When her scent surrounds me, sunshine and … well, home. She smells like home to me, and I want to drown in her. Get lost in the feel of her.
I want to protect her. Heal her pain and banish her sadness. But the thought of a mate scares me more than anything.
I don’t know. How can you be sure? I ask him.
Feel. My mate. A pulling sensation builds in the center of my chest, and without a doubt, I know it’s the connection between our wolves. She is my mate.
When Riley’s eyes widen, a terrified look masking all other emotions, I know she’s feeling that same pull. Now what?
Breaking my gaze, she looks to the third man standing in the room who she hasn’t been introduced to. She slams her glass down on the coffee table, irritation quickly rising to the surface.
“Who the hell are you?” she demands, clearly done playing games.
He crosses his arms over his chest, and, yeah, I can’t help but notice the way his muscles ripple under well-toned, beige skin. Too bad he’s not my type, though. My eyes track to the rough grizzly on the other side of the room, and my wolf howls in agreement.
Riley scoffs, and all attention snaps back to her.
“Reed.” His eyes flash to azure blue.
Riley sucks in a breath of air and pushes herself back on the sofa. The bitter scent of fear fills the air, quickly covered by the musky scent of desire. She pulls her knees up to her chest and buries her face behind her hands.
“We aren’t going there.” Her words are muffled behind the knit blanket but clear enough for the three of us to make out. Snickers echo around the room, all of us understanding what it is she’s feeling. We all feel the draw, our animals urging us to complete the mating bond that comes so naturally after finding our mates.
Visibly stamping down in her wolf’s desires, Riley sits up taller, squares her shoulders, and looks each of us in the eye, ending on Reed. “Reed, huh? Well, Reed, you wanna explain to me just what the fuck is going on here?”
Chapter 6
REED
I watch Riley’s expression as Cree explains to her the events of the day. From following her out back to consulting with me and Axel on her care. To what she needs to do before she ultimately kills herself.
Her flippant disregard sets a fire burning behind my chest. My wolf claws at me, wanting to break free and teach our mate a lesson. Yes, our mate because that’s what she is. We’ve known for months, but we’ve been waiting for her to figure it out.
Unable to keep him at bay any longer, I let the one thought fly free. “What the hell were you thinking, Riley?” I know my eyes have shifted, and I see them glowing in the watery reflection of hers. My fists hang at my sides, holding back the shift.
Rolling her eyes, she murmurs softly to herself, something that sounds like, “Thanks, Grace.”
“What?” I ask in utter confusion.
“Nothing, Reed. Are you sure you really want the answer to that question? I can tell you right now, it’ll only piss you off more, and you’re barely holding it together as it is.”
