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“Alpha Reynolds, kindly take your hands off my son or I’ll have to insist you to leave immediately.”
Even without raising it, my father’s alpha voice still packs quite the punch and some of the less dominant wolves hover at the end of the hall, cowering. They’re glued to the scene unfolding before them, but also terrified of all the alpha power bouncing around the pack hallway.
“Maya is coming home with me first thing in the morning. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from both of us.”
Dean dumps me to the ground with a grunt.
With a growl and a snarl, I lunge for him, but my father holds me back while I fake wrestle to break free from his grip. Dean stands back, looking smug and superior.
“Nathan. Stop.”
My father’s command halts my struggling, and he sighs, dragging a hand back through his salt and pepper hair.
“Leave. Stay at Cooper’s tonight. You can’t be under the same roof. We’ll discuss this in the morning when everyone has calmed down.”
“Come Dean, we need to speak anyway about the security at our border.” Dad steers Dean back toward his office. Pretending to follow his orders reluctantly, I brush myself off and straighten my now ripped shirt before storming out of the packhouse. I ignore the curious eyes and aghast faces of my pack mates, using every ounce of willpower I have to walk further away from my mate.
REX: Don’t worry brother, you’ll see her again tomorrow. And Ross is keeping watch over the apartment.
That doesn’t make me feel better. I don’t even answer him. I can’t. Instead, as soon as I’m outside, I let my wolf take control and shift, running as fast as I can to Cooper’s so I can lock myself inside and stop my wolf from running back to his mate.
NATHAN: Kim, change my flights. I want to leave ASAP. I can’t be here. Add Ross to the itinerary too. Rex is being a pain in the ass and says nobody can travel alone.
KIM: Nathan, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say…
NATHAN: I really don’t want to talk about it. Can you just send me the details when it’s done?
KIM: Of course
When I get to Cooper’s, I shift and slink inside, raiding his room for a new t-shirt and some tracksuit bottoms before slumping down on his big, worn leather sofa. There’s no food in this place since he and Hayley have moved into the alpha’s quarters, but there is beer. It’s warm and gross, but it’ll do.
As I lean back and ponder how much of this is bad karma for having so much fun while I was footloose and fancy-free, Maya’s face fills my mind. This might be painful right now, but it’s only for a short time, and then we’ll be back together again.
My mind is churning, and I try not to think about the fact that Maya is alone in her apartment tonight. I try not to imagine Dean making good on his threats and stealing her back to his own territory. It’s going to be impossible to get any sleep again. Instead, I sit and wait for the rumour mill to do its work and for everyone to assume whatever we had is already over.
When I get a mind-link from Danny, checking to see if I’m doing okay and whether I want to go for a run, I know the plan is working. I want those rumours to reach everyone in the pack, especially the traitor.
A car door slams outside, and I groan, knowing exactly what’s coming, or who. I already said I wasn’t in the mood for company.
“How are you holding up?”
Kim pauses in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe with her hip and looks around awkwardly, unsure whether she should come in. Taking my complete silence as a hint that I don’t want to talk about it, she steps in just as far as the edge of the coffee table and sets the folder down when I don’t reach for it. Her pale blonde bob is neat and, even though it’s late, her make-up is fresh. She’s freshened up since they got back from the bar.
“The new flight details are in there, and I’ve booked a room for Ross in the same hotel. You sure you don’t need me to come?”
Kim looks at me for a decision, but I’ve already told her I want to go alone. Shaking my head, I stare at the rebooked trip. This is my lifeline. Getting Maya to the beach, so she can see just how beautiful our life together would be, is consuming my thoughts. Once we’re alone together, I’m praying she’ll realise I’m the man for her.
“It’ll all work out for the best. Trust me,” Kim says quietly, lingering and glancing around Cooper's cabin, which is my new temporary home. She means I’ll get over my fling with Maya, but I still take some comfort from her words. I hope to goddess she’s right.
"Thanks, Kim. I'll see you when I get back."
Maybe I'm being rude, but I just want to be alone.Now that I have a mate, I don't feel comfortable being on my own here with Kim and I've no intention of opening up to her about my relationship. The whole point of this ruse is to protect Maya by keeping what she is to me secret for the moment.
“Call me if you need anything.” Kim edges out the door with one last penetrating stare and closes it softly behind her.”You know I’m here for you.”
Without my mate close by, I'm miserable. Normally, when I'm lonely, as I have been since Rex left and Cooper threw himself into getting ready to become alpha, I go out and find a beautiful woman to keep me company.
Just the thought makes me ill.
