Chapter Eleven
Jeremy
I hadn’t expected the day to be this productive, but it was really nice.
Cass had demanded we start painting, letting me know how eager he was to get rid of the chubby babies on his tiles.
I had to agree, but the base coat didn’t cover them completely, just added a milky overlay to them, so we had to wait a few hours before we could add the second coat.
The paint would have to wait until tomorrow.
With all the paint supplies packed up and cleaned away, I leaned against the hallway wall and wondered if I could ask my packmates to help with the house. It was for the Alpha’s mate, after all, but maybe it was pushing my Alpha status too much. I had basically only “worked” as Alpha for one day.
“Here,” Cass said, handing me a bottle of water. “I was thinking of driving into town today, if you want to go?”
I took the offered bottle and grinned. “Sure, what are we getting?”
Selfishly, I looked forward to showing him off in town.
I wanted everyone to know he was mine, even if I still tried to take things slow for Cass.
The fact he was taking things so well alarmed me somehow.
Either the fated mate bond between us helped ease him into it, or a breakdown was coming.
I truly hoped it was our bond. Maybe it was simply the way Cass was.
He seemed to take things in stride and had a positive outlook.
Even when he saw how bad his house was, he still tried to remain positive.
I admired that about him. He already seemed like the perfect mate for an Alpha, only time would tell if the pack agreed on that.
If they had any issues, they could either leave the pack, or I would simply give Milo the position.
“Shower curtains,” Cass said, reminding me I’d asked him a question.
“Just a shower curtain?” I was hoping we could stay for longer in town. “Maybe we could eat lunch in town, too?”
“Oh,” he said, looking to be thinking it over. “That actually sounds lovely. Maybe we could do some linen shopping, too? I feel kinda icky using my granddad’s old ones, even if they’re clean.”
I laughed. “I get that. We can definitely shop for everything you need. You ordered the washer and dryer?”
He nodded. “And hired someone to remove all the carpets tomorrow.”
“You want new carpets in every room?” It wasn’t my home, so I didn’t really have any say in it, but carpets weren’t good for my sensitive nose and I much preferred wooden flooring if he expected wolf cuddles here often.
“No carpets,” he quickly replied. “I want wooden flooring, but I don’t know the state the floors are in until the carpets are gone. After seeing them, I’ll know what next steps to take.”
Feeling pleased by that, I nodded. “Then let’s get to town.”
We made one quick stop at my place for some actual clothes and shoes, with Cass staying behind in his car.
Then we drove into the center of town. I knew where everything was and Cass seemed pleased by that.
Gently seeking his hand, I quickly retracted, hiding both my hands away in my pockets.
I was already regretting telling him we would be friends and not more.
My whole body ached to touch him; to claim him.
I’d at least been able to scent mark him, something I would have to do daily to appease my wolf instincts.
Jolene from the flower shop eyed us as we passed and I gave a short nod in greeting. She was in her forties and knew of us shifters, but wasn’t one herself. She respected us, but kept her distance.
“It’s so cold!” Cass whined, shivering. “I definitely need a warmer jacket, and some gloves, too.”
“It wasn’t this cold where you lived before?” I asked, quelling the urge to warm him with my body.
“Not like this, and to think we’re only hours away is crazy! But I weirdly love the whole seasons thing. It was one of the many things I looked forward to living here.” He sounded wistful, and it made me smile. Something so normal to me was a thing to look forward to for Cass.
“Jaspar’s shop is just around the corner,” I said, steering us in that direction. “He’s the one we go to for jackets, shoes, and headwear. I think he sells gloves, too, but I haven’t used gloves since I was a child so I’m not sure about those.”
“Because you’re warm enough as an adult?”
“No, it’s just more of a hassle to strip so much off when I need to shift, and sometimes we need to do that fast,” I explained.
“Huh, that actually makes sense. What about laced boots then?”
I laughed. “I hate those things, we all do. I prefer winter shoes I can just stick my feet into, it makes it harder to walk on uneven terrain, but it’s worth it for the quick shifting.”
After buying a jacket, two pairs of gloves, and one knitted beanie, we walked toward the local diner. It was my favorite place to eat in town, and I wanted to share it with Cass.
“Warmth,” Cass breathed once we were inside.
I chuckled and walked us over to one of the booths by the window. “Here,” I said, taking his jacket. “You’ll thank yourself once we go outside again.”
I slid my own jacket off and sat opposite him.
“So,” he eyed the diner with a soft smile. “This is where you prefer to eat?”
I nodded. “It’s like eating at a family member’s place, for me at least. I’ve been coming here since I was old enough to remember.”
“I love that,” he grinned. “Any dish you think I should start with?”
“Depends on your mood, but I’ll order us a little of everything.” I winked, waving Loren over to us.
“Jeremy!” he cheered, approaching our table and then grabbing my shoulder with a squeeze. “It’s been what, a whole week since last we saw you?”
Laughing, I nodded. “To think I didn’t starve.”
“That is a mystery,” he grinned.
“This is Cass, he’s new in town,” I gestured to Cass. “Cass, this is Loren, he’s the server and is married to the cook, Loretta.”
“Nice to meet you, son, it's always good to have new faces around here.”
“I love it already,” Cass beamed, gesturing to the street outside. “I can’t wait to eat here when it’s snowing.”
“Me neither,” I smiled. “Loretta makes the best Christmas dishes! They're all different in their own way, but equally delicious.”
“That she does,” Loren nodded. “So, what can I get for you two?”
After I’d ordered everything, Loren went back inside the kitchen.
“So, Loren and Loretta,” Cass stated, smiling softly. “Are they shifters, too?”
“They are. But they rarely shift anymore. It becomes less of a need as we age, which is why the Alpha is often very young, like myself.”
“That actually surprises me a bit, with your dad still being alive and in the pack. Did you fight him for the title and win?”
“God, no,” I shook my head quickly. “The Alpha decides when to retire and then hands the title over to the child they think would be best suited. My dad picked me over my little brother.”
“Oh, so it wasn’t something you chose for yourself?”
I’d never thought about it like that before. “Well, no, but I wasn’t against being Alpha. I guess growing up knowing it was either me or Milo made it easier to adapt to.”
“Milo?”
“My little brother.”
A brother I should’ve called, or texted, or anything really.
He deserved to hear from me about Cass, but I already knew that ship had sailed.
I was actually hurt that he hadn’t told me about him and Darius.
Then there was the fact he likely knew I had a thing for Darius, and had kissed him anyway.
If he knew he and Darius were fated, he could’ve at least told me before he made his move.
“Cool! I can’t wait to meet him.” He sounded so genuine, it was so admirable how he just took things as they came at him.
“What about you?” I asked. “Any brothers or sisters?”
He shook his head, his mood souring. “I’m an only child. I had an older sister, but she died in a car accident with my mother. I was only two so I can’t remember them.”
My poor mate, but it was strangely a thing we had in common.
“I lost my mother in a car accident, too,” I said, feeling the same emotions I always did as I relived it. “I was seven, so I remember her, but it seems with each passing year it becomes harder and harder to do so.”
“I wish I remembered mine,” he sighed. “But my father rarely speaks of her. I was told numerous times growing up that when she died, he did, too. I don’t know who my father was before she died, but the man I left in the city was cold and heartless.”
“I take it you two aren’t close then?” I dared ask.
He laughed, but it sounded like it hurt him.
“He paid nannies and other family members to raise me, claiming he was too busy to take care of me himself. When I was a teenager, he started taking an interest in me, and at first, I was delighted! My father actually wanted to spend time with me? I was ecstatic! But then I learned, far too quickly, that he was simply grooming me to take over his business one day. He didn’t care about me, just his legacy. ”
“Damn,” I muttered. “God, I’m so sorry you went through that, Cass. I know we’ve only just met, but I hope you’ll soon feel like you have a family in me, and mine.”
He would, no doubt about it, but I wasn’t about to stoke the flames and mention we were fated to be together. He was cool now, but I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop.
He smiled timidly and I could tell from his eyes that he desperately needed a change in topic.
“So,” I said, smiling. “Let’s see who can eat the most.”