Chapter 75
RAFE TRU
Ibarely reach Driftwood Pointe’s city limits when the depth of my cowardice hits me so hard, I pull over.
I’m not flying home to find my cousin. I’m running away from Chason and ensuring our bond irrevocably breaks.
The backward logic has me in a chokehold, but I need to fight it.
I’m not saving myself heartache if I leave now.
Instead, I’m creating a Chason-size abyss.
It’s pure selfishness, causing my mate harm. I told Chason I didn’t want a mate because I’m afraid of hurting him. Yet, my actions speak louder than any words. By leaving, I’m saying he doesn’t matter, and I’m a bastard for not trying.
His sweet face and deep laugh lines are all I see behind my eyelids. I can’t turn away from a man who cares for everyone else and has no tolerance for nonsense. His orange blossom and amber scent lingers like the most beautiful sunset, offering me a future of wide-open possibilities.
A future that I’m destroying by deserting him.
My wolf is so distraught, he’s retreated to a hibernation state.
I curl over the steering wheel, hearing Chason’s voice in my head. If he had asked me to stay, I don’t think I would’ve been strong enough to leave. Not because he’s my mate, but because I can’t deny him anything.
But I did unforgivable things. Walking out proves he’s not my first priority and I’m unreliable.
The universe, against all odds, brought me my fated mate, and I denied him.
I am a witch-ist dumbass. Groveling won’t sway him. If I could go back and start over, I would.
The short time since we met doesn’t matter; he’s who I would choose. Freely, without a bond.
I love him.
The revelation should be monumental, but it feels right in a way that calms and centers me. I’m not giving Chason up without a fight.
My wolf stirs with hope as I fire off a text to Wayne.
He’ll understand. Wayne knows other trackers, and we have contacts with law enforcement, so I’m confident my cousin will be found. He’s a bit of a fuckup and has gone on benders for days. He made my life miserable and isn’t worth hurting my mate over.
My mate.
I have a mate.
If he’ll still have me.
Checking my mirrors, I make a U-turn and pray to the gods and universe that he’ll forgive me.
Hours later without a solid plan, I stand outside Chason’s door, too scared to knock or walk away.
“I can feel you out there,” Chason yells from his living room.
“Can I come in?” I ask, wiping sweat off my palms. He should be at work.
“What do you want?” his steely voice cracks my heart.
“I fucked this up. I’m sorry.” Taking a chance, I turn the knob, and the door opens. “Hey,” I whisper, crossing the room to kneel next to the couch where he’s lying with an ice pack on his face.
He’s suffering the consequences of my actions. The flowers in my hand are a lame apology.
“Isn’t being here now only going to make it worse when you leave again?” he asks flatly.
I brush his red-brown hair from his forehead, dragging a hiss out of him.
“Yes,” I admit, and his lips pinch. “I don’t deserve it, but I’d like a second chance.” My entire world hangs in limbo, waiting for his answer.
“What about your cousin?” The ice pack covers most of his face, but his despair is clear.
“My pack will find him. You’re who I want to be with.” If my wolf had his way, we’d shift and lie on top of Chason, licking his face until he demands we stop.
“Want or need?” His lip curls into a sneer.
“Both.” I won’t ever lie to him again. “Can we start over?”
I’ve piqued his curiosity enough that he lifts the ice up to stare belligerently at me with red-rimmed eyes.
“What are you doing?” he demands, sitting up.
“I’m Rafe Tru. If it’s not too forward, I’d like to take you on a date.” I hold out the flowers.
He stares, mouth open and anger surging through our faint bond.
“You think you can bribe me with flowers?” Chason stands and glares at me down his cute nose. “I was fine before you got here.” His hands flap in exasperation.
“I know,” I agree and open our bond wider so he can sense my emotions.
“Don’t do that,” he snaps. “You can’t come here, tell me I’m your mate but you don’t want me, act like you care about my well-being, leave me, and expect me to forgive you because you brought beautiful pink chrysanthemums with gold centers?
Nope.” He gazes longingly at the flowers.
“They don’t sell those here. Where did you get them? ”
“I found a shop in the next town over.” I shrug, wondering if buying his favorite flowers was a mistake.
“What exactly are you hoping to accomplish?” He folds his arms protectively around himself.
“To show you that you’re my choice. That it’s more than a biological bond. It’s you, your heart is bigger than the sky, it’s your compassion. The way you’d never ask me to stay when my cousin is missing, the way you pet my wolf and call him a good boy.” I pause and Chason snorts.
“My goal: To make you so happy that your laugh lines become permanent fixtures on your face.” He’s too good for me, but I can’t deny him.
“You’re cursing me with wrinkles,” he huffs and pops his hip.
“Never,” I say with mock horror. “Mostly I intend to show you every day that you matter most. I don’t want to live without you. Breaking our bond won’t kill us, but forsaking you is the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’m sorry.” My heart hammers and my wolf whines.
“I won’t make it easy on you.” Chason plucks the flowers from my hand and saunters into the kitchen.
“Understood.” I trail behind him, daring to believe.
“It’s not like I’m a sure thing.” His smile appears along with his incredible laugh lines. “One dinner will not get you into my pants.”
“That’s fine. You’re worth every second of the wait.” I lean against the counter, and Chason swallows hard, turning away to arrange the flowers.
“How long are you planning to stay?” he asks, with his back to me.
“As long as you’ll let me.” It’s killing me not to touch him.
“What? You’ll leave your pack and move here?” He faces me with an arched eyebrow. “For me?” Chason clarifies in disbelief.
I tentatively step toward him, and he doesn’t back away, so I advance until his body heat reaches me. “I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your trust. My pack will function fine without me, but without you I’m nothing.”
Chason snorts and covers his mouth as he laughs. “If you quote sappy song lyrics to me, I will curse you. It’s almost Halloween and a full moon, a deadly combination for hexes. The town is known for it.”
“And I thought I was being original.” I lightly rest my hands on his waist. A song plays in the back of my mind with the words I spoke. It doesn’t make them less true.
Chason bows his head, leaning on my chest. “I should kick you out and tell you to go to hell on a broomstick.” He sighs.
“But…?” I wait.
“But apparently my momma raised a fool because I don’t want to let you go.”
My arms engulf him, and my wolf howls with joy. “Thank you.”