Chapter 6 #2
The way it transformed his already-beautiful face to look even better was just plain unfair.
“To clarify, is that number pre-tax, or post?” I checked.
I was going to take it either way, but they didn’t need to know that.
Rhone grunted. “We don’t fucking care.”
“Post, then. I’ll need a contract, of course. Notarized.”
“Notarized?” Maverick asked.
“Yes. And I want an office. If I’m going to be enemy #1 at Darkwood Investment, I need a place to escape to.”
Rhone agreed. “Sure. Fine. Notarized contract and office. I’ll get it sorted out, and we’ll make it official tomorrow morning. Show up to work on time.”
He left the room, lifting his phone to his ear on his way out.
I looked at Maverick.
We were alone together now, and I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. My fangs were still throbbing. “Am I free to go now? I should be able to sign online, and you can give me the contract in the morning.”
“Not quite.” Maverick leaned back in his chair again.
“I’ve already agreed to fix your company and act as bait. What else do you want from me?”
His eyes started to glow again. I didn’t think that was a good sign. “Have you ever heard about werewolves having fated mates?”
Something was gathering in my gut. Nerves. Nausea. I hoped it was just hunger, but I didn’t think that covered it.
“No. What does this have to do with me?”
Maverick met my gaze head-on, and our eyes locked. “That’s what the bites mean. We’re fated.”
I stared.
He stared back.
“I’m going to need you to explain with more details,” I finally said.
“Werewolves can trade bites to become mates without fate’s approval, but occasionally, fate decides to butt in and match a werewolf with a mate.”
“So fate pushed you to bite me twice? Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?” I was trying to breathe steadily. It wasn’t easy. I wasn’t succeeding, either.
“When fate steps in, instinct takes over and a werewolf is pushed to bite their mate. The first bite I gave you was driven by fate, and out of my control. The second was just possessiveness.” Maverick set his hands on the desk.
My gaze was drawn to them, but I tried not to look too closely. I had yet to see a part of the Alpha that I wasn’t attracted to.
“The connection doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” he added.
“Other than us being mated?” I shot back.
“We’re not mated. Just… fated. The bond won’t be permanent until we both bite each other within a few days.”
“So we’re not married?”
“More like engaged.”
“Thank fuck.” I sagged against the back of my chair in relief.
Maverick chuckled.
My momentary relaxation faded over the next few seconds.
Engaged was still bad.
Being fated sounded almost as permanent as being mated.
“Does this frequently happen between werewolves and vampires?” I asked.
“It’s rare for someone to be fated to a vampire, but yeah, it happens.”
“So how do we call it off?”
“A mate bite usually fades in three or four days if it’s not reciprocated,” Maverick explained. “We’re not sure why yours are still there.”
It didn’t pass my attention that he referred to both wounds as mate bites. The first bite might have been the instinctual, fate-driven one, but he considered both of them as part of the connection.
“When the bite wounds heal completely, the temporary bond will be broken,” Maverick said. “We’ll be drawn to each other for two or three weeks after the initial connection, but fate won’t force anything again.”
“I’ll heal after I feed. All we have to do is ignore the connection until then, and we’ll go back to normal after that?”
He paused a beat before answering. “Technically, yes.”
I wasn’t going to ask for the technicalities. It sounded like being fated mates didn’t particularly matter outside of the original biting thing and the part where he smelled amazing. I was going to roll with that.
Especially if the alternative was being mated to the werewolf in front of me. I’d known I would have to pick a mate fairly young since I was a kid, for the sake of having a steady blood source, but that didn’t mean I wanted to bind myself permanently to the Alpha.
“Great.” I stood up. “Glad we figured that out. Can I go home now?”
“Yup.” Maverick stood too, handing me the messenger bag he’d been carrying when he came to my room, followed by my phone.
I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved I could contact my friends and family, or to dread doing so.
My mom was going to lose her shit. Assuming she hadn’t already, which was not a safe assumption.
“There’s a car waiting for you in the parking garage. I’ll walk you to the elevator.”
“I know where it is.” I slipped the strap of the bag over my shoulder. It was pretty heavy, but I was exhausted. I didn’t know what was in it, but I didn’t want to ask. That would require staying long enough to get an answer, and I was ready to be done with the whole Alpha Pack mess.
I would leave, spend a few months doing paperwork while they attempted to find a murderous vampire who hopefully didn’t try to kill me, then disappear.
Starting fresh suddenly sounded blissful.
Despite my words, Maverick walked out of the office with me. By some miracle, I managed not to stop and bathe in his scent on the way out.
Neither of us said another word until we reached the elevator.
“The car you’re looking for is a black SUV. It’ll be parked right outside the elevator. The driver is a female werewolf with blonde hair and a mate mark on the right side of her neck.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Do mated werewolves walk around with open wounds frequently?”
“When you seal a bond, they scar immediately.”
I guess I should’ve assumed something along those lines.
Still, what a perfect opportunity. All I had to do was bite Maverick Darkwood, and I could get scars for both of the gnarly wounds he’d given me.
“Cool,” I said, though it was extremely not cool.
Who the fuck wanted to walk around with a gigantic scar on their throat for the rest of their immortal life? Even the worst vampires didn’t scar their victims.
Then again, the worst vampires’ victims were usually dead.
Maverick pressed the button to call the elevator. I nearly sighed in relief when the doors immediately opened with a ding, and there was no one inside.
A clean escape was exactly what I needed.
I stepped in. When I turned around, my eyes met Maverick’s.
His shifted from emerald green to glowing the moment they collided with mine.
The doors closed smoothly, and I sagged against the wall.
I might never have to see the Alpha again.
Thank fuck for that.