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“I always pictured someone like…”
I waited a few breaths for her to finish her thought, but she didn’t. “Like who, Stell?”
She blushed again and looked down to her lap. “Liam or Isaac.”
I let out a little laugh. “They couldn’t be more opposite from each other.”
“I know! But I thought I’d either end up with a successful businessman or someone strong, handsome, and kind. Liam and Isaac both fill all those slots in their own way.”
I nodded. “That’s true. Tell me about your mate. What’s his name? How did it happen? What did it feel like?” I did my best to be the excited girlfriend I would have been only weeks earlier.
“His name is Roland. He’s in the Winter pack. That also surprised me.”
His light blond hair had surprised me too. If you don’t meet your mate in your local pack, you have to wait for the Annual Pack Summit when packs from all over the world converge, because finding your mate in a different Season pack is rare. It has happened, but so infrequently it made me suspicious.
“Yeah, I get that, but you know it’s happened before. So? Tell me how you knew? What did it feel like?”
She tipped her head to the side and pursed her lips. “You know what? It didn’t really feel like anything.” She paused and looked like her usual shy self again. “I haven’t told you, but my dad is sick.”
It took all I had to hug her in that moment. My stomach turned knowing what she’d been doing, but I imagined I was hugging Childhood Stella, not the Stella she’d become. “Oh, Stell, I’m so sorry. Is that why they’re in Oregon?”
She sniffled a little, nuzzling her head into my chest. “Yeah. Liam’s company has been helping us a lot. He’s a good man.” She looked up at me and I smiled to cover the hurt that rose at the mention of his name. “Anyway, my mom keeps telling me a grandchild would make my dad happy.”
Something stirred inside me as I held her and listened to her tell me everything I already knew about her dad. Maybe she’s innocent. Maybe this Roland character is forcing her to do these things against her will.
“Stella, why haven’t you told me any of this before?”
She pulled out of my embrace and shrugged. “You’ve had such a hard life. I’ve always tried to be upbeat around you so you wouldn’t have to deal with more negativity. He hurt you so much…”
My heart sunk knowing my best friend had been putting on a façade because she thought it was what I needed. “Oh Stell, I am sorry you felt you needed to do that. I would never have wanted you to hide anything from me or pretend to be who you’re not. I’m so sorry.”
She waved me off. “Don’t be. It was my choice. Anyway, back to how I met Roland.”
She told me she’d been frequenting bars and singles nights for a while. She’d slept with every guy she could find in the Summer pack and ventured out into the others. So, when Roland approached her, they talked for a long while. They had a lot in common, and she figured she’d give him a go, even though she didn’t find him attractive. He was her height, skinny, and like all Winter pack shifters he was pale, but he was overly so. It made him look sickly.
After they’d slept together, he was so excited. She said he literally jumped for joy, right there on the bed. Stella was confused at first but then he told her they were mates. Stella was so happy she threw him on the bed and had her way with him again. All the while hoping she got pregnant.
“That’s great,” I lied. “I’m so happy for you! When can I meet him?”
And that’s when the Stella I knew disappeared again. Her expression went dark, her lips set in a tight line. “Not yet. In fact, I think you should go. He’ll be here any minute. I’m in heat so…”
She wasn’t lying about that. I could sense it.
“Okay. Sure, I understand.” I walked to the door but turned back to her. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” She ran up and hugged me again. “I’m sorry to rush you out. See you later.”
I called Isaac on my way back to his house. He suggested I come to my property to see the progress while I told him what happened with Stella. A thrill of excitement ran through me as I drove. I was getting a brand-new house, one that wouldn’t have any of the horrible memories of the old one.
As I pulled up to the construction site that was once my home, I was already in love. They’d taken out the original foundation and moved the house site back further into the yard, closer to the trees. Not only was it a better placement, but it truly made it a completely different house. All mine.
“Isaac, this is way faster than you told me. You said you’d work on it between the jobs you’re making money on.” I felt guilty he was taking some of his men from profitable jobs to do this for me.
“It’s fine. I’m not losing time on my other jobs. I’ll pull these guys if I need to.” He gave me a half hug. “What do you think so far though?”
“There’s a second floor?”
“Oh, yeah, I put the fourth bedroom with a half bath upstairs. It’ll be separate from the rest of the house.” He pulled me to a worktable and unrolled the new plans. “See. It can be your office. It’ll overlook the trees out back. And here,” he pointed to an open area, “this is a little loft area where you can set up a coffee bar or something, so you don’t have to go far for snacks and caffeine while you work.”
