Chapter Thirty-Six
Thirty-Six
Tegan
I couldn’t stop thinking about mating. Since Atlas mentioned it, it was the only thing on my mind. I had so many questions, but I was too afraid to ask them.
I mean, what if I was totally jumping the gun here?
The way Atlas brought it up kind of made it seem like I was his mate, but what if I was just projecting my own feelings?
Every time we hung out, it just felt like there was something lingering between us. Something that neither of us was ready to admit or acknowledge. For us, that was really unusual.
The full moon was only a few days away, and he hadn’t even asked me to spend it with him yet.
And maybe he wasn’t going to.
I let out a big yawn as I turned onto the gravel driveway that led to the cottage.
Selene was off today, and after working by myself, it was obvious just how much I needed her.
I was exhausted—not just mentally over the whole mate thing but physically.
I couldn’t wait to take a warm shower and crawl into bed.
Not without texting my sexy wolven first, though.
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath as I pulled up to my house.
A deep green Briar Glenn Parks Department truck was parked in the driveway, my asshole brother propped against the driver’s-side door, a sour expression plastered on his stupid face.
I stopped the car and stepped out, slamming the door behind me. “What do you want, Reece?”
My brother shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head. “Now, Tegan. What kind of greeting is that for your big brother? Aren’t you happy to see me?”
“If I’m being totally honest, no. What are you doing here?” He was the last person I wanted gracing my doorstep after the day I’d had.
“I talked to Mom for a bit today. She said things between you and the guy you’re seeing are getting pretty serious. You aren’t planning on spending the full moon with him, are you?”
And there it was. The reason he was here.
To lecture me about my relationship with Atlas.
I glared at him and put my hands on my hips, showing the six-foot-four muscular idiot that I wasn’t backing down. “So what if I am. Do you have a problem with that?”
He stepped closer to me. “Yeah, I do have a problem with that, Tegan. You just met the guy. Aren’t you rushing into things a little too fast?”
Too fast?
I knew how I felt about Atlas. The attraction I’d felt from the moment we first met had only intensified since I got to know him. Sure, maybe we were mates, but I genuinely liked Atlas for who he was.
Anger ignited inside of me and my hands instinctively clenched into tight fists. “Rushing into things?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“What if he hurts you?” My brother was shouting now. He was coming from a place of concern, but he was going about it all wrong. Instead of meeting Atlas and getting to know him, he was making assumptions.
“Atlas would never hurt me. Never.” I kept my voice low and even. I wasn’t going to give him the reaction he wanted. “Leave. Now,” I said as I pointed down the road.
Reece opened the door to his truck and threw me a glance before getting inside. “I just want to keep you safe.”
“Go.”
He dipped his head and climbed into his truck.
I stomped inside the house, slamming the door so hard, I rattled the windows.
The universe had really been testing me lately, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to scream or cry.
Before I could do either, my phone vibrated, and I pulled it out of my pocket. Atlas had impeccable timing.
Atlas: Hiii baby. Miss you
A wide smile spread across my face, and with a few words and a string of emojis, all the anger I felt over my brother evaporated away.
Tegan: Hiii. Miss you too. I needed that today.
He replied immediately, like he was staring at his phone, waiting for me to respond.
Atlas: We’re gonna have our tough days, baby, but we’ll get through them together. What are you doing?
Gods, he was so fucking sweet. And what was I doing? My fingers tapped against the phone screen.
Tegan: I’m thinking about when I’ll get to see you again.
Atlas: Why don’t I come over? I’ll bring dinner and we can talk.
Food and a sexy wolf?
Tegan: Say less.