That’s understandable. Different leaders have different requirements that can make the whole thing tricky. One more reason wolves stay close to their hometowns. The meeting of the packs is often where visitations are arranged.
Plus, from the few interactions I’ve had with Mick, I got that he’s not really the warm, fuzzy, let’s-work-together type.
“You want to come to Pine Falls?” I clarify.
He nods eagerly. “Could I? Just for a short visit? I think it’d be a badass surprise.”
The lack of planning bothers me, and in the past, I would have turned him down. But I’m trying to be less rigid. Plus, Thad shouldn’t have to be cut off from someone from his old pack that actually cared about him. And I feel like I still need to make up for my initial blunder with Juliet.
After deliberating the pros and cons for another minute, I relent.
“You can come. But only for the night. In the future, you’ll need to arrange with me at least a week ahead.”
The man grins wide. “Of course. I’ll grab my bike and follow you all.”
When he disappears into the crowd of others getting ready to leave, I glance over at Courtney, who leans against her truck with arms crossed.
“What do you think?”I sign.
She chews on a stick of gum as she considers. “Dunno. Gives me bro vibes. Seems like the kind of guy that’ll drink too much and do stupid shit.” She switches to signing.“Maybe keep an eye on him.”
I don’t want to have to watch over him. I want to shrug off my yoke of responsibility, find my woman, work out our problems, then pleasure her until she’s begging to stay with me forever.
With a sigh, I mount my bike. Considering all avenues, I decide to have a talk with Thad. Make it clear that the visitor ishis responsibility while in Pine Falls, that it’s on my pack mate to keep him in line. Thad isn’t a partier, so I’m confident in his ability to maintain order.
Cory pulls up beside us, and I rev my bike to life, leading us all out on the highway. Our tires eat up the pavement, and I enjoy one of the last long rides I’ll be able to take before snow comes to the mountains and the temperatures drop so low that even a wolf will feel it.
One of the most useful things about the ride, especially now that the meeting of the packs is done and not my concern again for a few years, is that I have time to think. Which is seriously important if I’m not going to fuck up this chance with Juliet tonight.
Despite the passion that roared between us last time we spoke, nothing has truly been solved. She still blew a gasket when I brought up the idea of us being together long-term. Though it hurts to think about, I replay the scene from a couple of nights ago.
And my brain snags on one important detail.
“I will never get mated.”
That’s what she said.
NotI don’t want to mate you. Only now, as the cool air swirling around me stifles any of the residual angry heat from the confrontation, do I realize the importance of her phrasing.
There’s something there. I know there is.
As the road disappears under my wheels, I pick apart the argument and then throw my mind further back, to other conversations, searching out more clues.
“Believe me, he wanted to. I politely declined.”
Another wolf asked to mate her, and she turned him down too.
My animal stirs in my chest, upset that another ever thought he had a claim.
But I focus on the fact that Juliet has been presented with the idea of mating before, and from what I can tell, she had a shitty experience with whatever wolves she associated with in the past.
For all I know, her ex might have tried to force her into the arrangement.
The thought has me gripping my handlebars overly tight.
Mating is a mutual choice, not something to be forced. Although I can’t say that it doesn’t happen that way in some packs.
And, like an epiphany, I realize where I went wrong.
