Chapter Ten
Andrew
We’ve had a week of chaperoned dates which have failed to suck.
Movie night – I picked a violent war flick, imported in from human territory and playing at our local drive-in, which I assumed would either offend her or bore the pants off her. She loved it. And I discovered an alarmingly bloodthirsty side to my fated mate.
Did she have to get so excited about the villain’s severed arm flying across the screen?
Damn it, we have so much in common.
Board games – she wasn’t bored. She just beat me, repeatedly, and she and Coral snickered about it.
Not only that, but I feel like our fated mate bond is activating.
There’s a kind of couples telepathy that develops between fated mates.
When she showed up this morning, I knew she had a headache before she even got out of her car, and when her uncle wasn’t looking, I slipped aspirin into her pocket, which earned me a weird look and a muttered “Thanks, fur-face.”
I finally got so desperate for a bad time that tonight, I dragged her along while I repaired some fences for my cousin who owns llamas. Turns out she’s great at carpentry, and Coral and Danny ate a picnic lunch and laughed at us. I hope their baby gets fleas.
No, I don’t.
Yes, I do.
After dropping off Coral and Danny at the camper van they're staying in on Shadowpine pack property, I head toward the guesthouse where Henrietta is staying.
Then I drive right past it.
"Is this a kidnapping?" she asks, with interest. "I've never been kidnapped before."
"Imagine that," I say irritably.
She twists in her seat to look at me. "So I'm so annoying that nobody would want to kidnap me?" Her voice has a dangerous edge to it.
"Well, the results speak for themselves."
My wolf is pacing. She won't tell me what's wrong. Someone is scaring her—I know it—and she's shutting me out, and it's driving me insane. Whether I accept the mating bond or not, my wolf thinks she is my fated mate and wants to protect her at all costs.
I take the access road up to the overlook on the east ridge. It's a dirt path that winds through scrub pine and opens up at the top. I park and cut the engine.
The town spreads out below us, small and quiet. Lights from houses scattered across the valley, the water tower lit up against the dark sky. There's a half moon tonight, bright enough to cast shadows, and the air coming through the open windows smells like pine and cool earth.
“What?” she demands.
"I'm mad at you," I say, "for not trusting me enough to tell me what's bothering you."
"Really now. Are you? Well, I'm mad at you for ruining my pack's life."
"Fine. We're both stewing in mutual fury." I lean back against the seat and look out at the view, glowering. "There's a beautiful half moon tonight and I'm going to sit here and admire it."
"Why didn't you drop me off at home first, if I'm so aggravating?"
"Because I'd rather be mad with you than be happy alone,” I snap.
I keep my eyes on the moon.
She's quiet for a long moment. Then: "You drive me crazy. I want to punch you in the snout. I want to bite your face off.”
“Have at it,” I say irritably. "And then shut up and let me enjoy your annoying company, and the moon.”
We sit there in silence. The moonlight turns everything silver—the trees, the hood of the truck, her profile when I risk a glance sideways. She's three feet away from me. My wolf is settled for the first time all night, just sitting here with her, and I have no idea what I'm doing.
The crickets are loud. Somewhere down the hill a dog barks once and goes quiet.
This is the worst plan I've ever had.
"You know what would really seal the deal and break this bond?" I say finally.
“I’m listening.”
"Hate sex. One last time."
She stares at me for three full seconds. Then: "You know, that might just be crazy enough to work."