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Ashamed to admit I could feel my control over my wolf waning, I nodded anyway. “I’ve been restraining myself all day. All week, even.”
“That’s what happens when someone finds their mate, which gets worse when they give in to the connection. Griff, she might be your mate.”
Those words stunned me. I couldn’t even find the words to say.
While it was shocking to hear someone else say, at least a part of me had that inclination before. I had heard from other shifters just how feral it made them to not only be around their mate for the first time but to consummate that bond.
It almost reworked their brain chemistry in a sense and made them aggressive towards others as a means of protecting what was theirs. And after having a taste of that connection, it hurt like hell to be away from them.
It sounded ridiculous to me, but I couldn’t deny I at least had that anger. The snapping kind.
“But it can’t be,” I said, dismissing the idea. “I’ve been living next to her for months, and all we did was fight at first. There wasn’t an instant connection like everyone talks about.”
“Not every connection is the same, but it might be worth looking into if this gets worse.”
While it wasn’t the worst idea, the thought made me anxious. Not because it was Sara but because I hated the idea of putting her through it. From the anger to the possessiveness and the neediness that comes from having a mate, and especially with our arrangement, I didn’t want to make a mess of it.
We had just found common ground, and I didn’t want to tarnish that, especially because I didn’t know if she could feel the tether in the way I could.
What if it was one-sided, and she had no idea?
I didn’t want either of us to get hurt.
“I don’t know,” I mumbled, wanting to just shove it away and try to feel normal again.
Rowan shrugged and got up from the machine. “Just think about it, at least. And don’t be afraid to talk to her.”
I knew he had a point, but the thought of it was too much. She didn’t deserve to be pulled down by me. I didn’t want to be the raincloud in her life.
Chapter 16 - Sara
Scanning the shelves for the items I needed, I listened to the relaxed music coming from the grocery store speakers and grabbed the dry goods in front of me.
The place was pretty quiet as it was a weekday morning, but I was grateful for the slow pace.
While I was more extroverted, I appreciated quiet moments and took advantage of any chance to lose myself in my thoughts. Those opportunities hadn’t been too common at the Roadbar, but since I started working with Willow, I found the slower days helped give me the chance to better connect with myself.
Wandering over to the next aisle, I froze the moment I saw him.
Ryan was browsing through the deli with his head down.
I wasn’t sure why I stiffened as if I hadn’t seen him in months, but the thought of being stuck in a conversation with him made my skin flush. I didn’t want it, especially after his previous declaration to get me back.
Prepared to scurry into the next aisle without being seen, I kept my head down.
“Sara, hey.”
His voice made my stomach drop.
Of course, he saw me.
Approaching with a small smile, Ryan acted like we were long-lost friends.
“It’s been a while,” he said.
I knew I had options laid out in front of me. I could pretend to be cordial, despite how much I wanted to be left alone, or I could act on that want.
Feeling as my patience left me, I pulled in a steadying breath.
