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Now I see her face last night. Her almond-shaped clay-colored eyes with copper flecks in them. Her full mouth. Her high cheekbones. The emotion all over her face as I stepped inside her van. Something ugly uncurls, spreading through my gut as I ponder the fact that she’s as beautiful as she was then. More. I remember how she felt under me. More curves than back then. Full tits. The scent of her arousal. Arousal instead of the fear scent I smelled on her the last time I touched her.
My cock hardens at the same instant as the urge to smash something returns.
Something slides through my mind, through the connection with my pack and we all exchange glances. I know their glances are at least partly about me and the thoughts that are seeping through the shield I’m trying to put up.
“What’s happening with Grey?” I change the subject, feeling with certainty that something’s up with him. “Where is he?”
A scent suddenly hits my nostrils. And my council co-alphas’ noses, too, by their faces.
“The diner waitress that shot me is Greyson’s mate,” Ty informs. “I think they’ve just mated. The pack connection sensation is familiar.” Ty turns to Mase. “I think it’s what I felt when you and Amelia mated.”
“Yep. Feel it. I smell it too. That’s Grey. Surprised he held out all night,” Mase states. “Though his mate has some explaining to do, too.”
“Bring me up to speed,” I request.
“Supposed to be you,” Jase says. “You should’ve mated last night. Is this gonna fuck with things?”
“Don’t know,” I shrug. “What happened with Grey?”
The alpha’s mating scent spreads the first time an alpha knots his mate. The fragrance spreads for at least a mile and it lingers a couple days letting any other shifters in the area know it’s happened. When it happened with Tyson and Ivy, it could be smelled for ten miles instead.
Jase says, “Right after you headed for your witch’s van, Grey went back inside the town hall, telling Joel she was his. Must’ve been whatever she was masking her shifter scent with finally wore off.”
“Don’t think it was cat grass. I think it was something stronger,” Ty says. “Something from witchcraft. But something about her smell… I know it. Or someone related to her. Can’t put my finger on it.”
“Where are Joel and Linc?” I ask.
Ty replies. “Linc’s watching your mate. Making sure she doesn’t leave, though she says she won’t until you two speak properly.”
“Joel?” I ask.
Mase answers with, “Joel messaged and said he was diggin’ in to help with research. I got the sense it had to do with Grey’s mate more than yours for the moment. Joel’s got his investigator hat on.”
They keep referring to her as my mate. My gut sours.
“Any of the rest of you gonna have uncomplicated matings?” Mase muses.
Ty scoffs.
“Fuck, please,” Jase mutters to the ceiling of the cave, folding his hands in prayer position.
“From the man next in line,” Mase puts in.
Jase pales.
I pipe up, “I’m gonna go home. Shower. Go to work and finish that basement reno.”
Mase says, “I already called the client. Goin’ back over there in a few hours. Not much left to do; Ty’s gonna help me wrap it up.”
“I’ll come,” I tell him.
“You should go speak to your mate,” Tyson suggests. “I’ll help Mason out today.”
My eyes meet his. “I’d rather work. Get this job done. Besides, what do you know about construction?” I mean for it to come across like a light-hearted jab, but I know this fails and I come across like an asshole instead.
“I can learn,” Ty replies, unfazed.
“She could have reasons for what she did, Rye,” Jase offers.
Done with the dancing around this, I bark, “That witch fucked me over and left me thinkin’ she’s dead for seven years.” I shrug. “She can sit there in that van if she wants to. She can go take that swim and never come up like I thought she did. Couldn’t care less.”
“Bullshit,” Ty clips. “Talk to her.”
“You feel drawn to her?” Jase asks.
I don’t answer. And that’s obviously an answer. And it’s a stupid question. She’s my intended mate; Of course I’m drawn to her. She was made for me.
“Riley?” Ty pushes.
“Back off,” I demand.
“He’s right, you know?” Mase tells me. “You need to talk.”
I lift a shoulder like I couldn’t care less. “Maybe I’ll talk to her in seven years. Maybe fifty.”
The three of them exchange looks and look ready to push me some more.
“Don’t,” I warn.
“Gonna head out. See what Joel’s up to, if he needs my help,” Jase says, getting to his feet, obviously bowing out for now. He shakes Mase’s hand. “Congrats again, brother.”
“Thanks, brother.” Mase slaps Jase’s back.
“Later, boys.” Jase says, shooting me a look loaded with concern. “Here for you, Rye. Okay?”
“I know you are.”
I shake his hand. He pulls me in for a hug.
