18
Amy and I find Noah still crowded by eager wolves. The only indication he’s there is his head - poking just a bit higher than everyone else’s. As wolves trickle away, one woman stays by Noah’s side, animated and giggling.
Noah passes me a subtle glance. The young woman follows his gaze, revealing sharp, glittering brown eyes set above stark cheekbones. When she spots me, she grasps Noah’s arm to whisper, and his feet shuffle nervously.
I’ve never been the jealous type, but now there’s even less reason to be; our bond reveals Noah’s innermost emotions. When he looks at this woman, he feels adoring and protective, but his affection for her is in a separate category altogether from the romantic attraction he feels for me. She peeks at me again, nudging Noah harder, and that’s when I feel it – soft, fluttering gushes of affection I witnessed from the moment I marked him. Noah touches his mark as he blushes, and I smile no matter how heavy my heart still feels; she must’ve mentioned me to Noah.
I stride over, hoping to meet this bright young woman. “Hello, I’m back!”
“Hi!” The woman beams. She raises her eyebrows at Noah, nodding toward me to urge him to introduce us. I giggle when Noah only shuffles his feet again, intense shyness erupting from our bond. The woman scowls. “Noah!”
He scowls back. “I-I know, I know.”
It surprises me at first - a snappy youthfulness to Noah’s demeanor that I’ve never seen from him. But Noah reaches for my hand, and I gladly take it.
“Sweet Omega, this is my little sister, Rainn.”
I gasp, looking at Rainn with fresh eyes. Thick, silky brown hair frames her cut jawline, glowing, copper skin radiates warmth from her pink cheeks, and the same piercing eye shape encompasses her gaze. I have to laugh - I didn’t see their stark resemblance sooner thanks to Noah’s stoic resting face, whereas Rainn is a ball of vibrant energy.
I open my arms, dying to hug her. “Oh, my gosh, hi! It’s so good to meet you!”
Rainn gives me the tightest squeeze she can, only pulling away to take another look at me.
Noah beams at Rainn as she breaks into a full-faced grin, opening her palms for me to grasp. When I take them, she lifts my hands to her nose to give them a good sniff.
I gasp. “O-oh! Uh–”
“Wow, you smell so nice! So woodsy and sweet!”
My smile wavers by the second. How the hell do I respond to that? Am I supposed to sniff her too?
I’m not ready for sniffing, so I give a polite laugh and blurt out an automatic response. “You too!” Rainn’s eyebrows lift just as I remember she last told me I smell woodsy and sweet, and I haven’t even smelled her. “Um - from here!”
Noah bites his lips, suppressing laughter. He wraps his sturdy arm around my waist, and my heart flutters.
“Rainn, we’ll be seeing you soon to hang out for longer, but I’ve gotta get my mate home.”
“Wait, has she met Mom yet?”
Noah puts a protective hand on my shoulder, urging me in another direction. Multiple wolves walk with us, and the unspoken pressure on Noah hangs over me. He’s clearly trying to gain some personal space, but wolves circle him constantly.
Noah lowers his voice. “Not yet. But she will.”
“Hmm... Okay...” Rainn fiddles with her purse strap. “Maybe you both should... Take a look around first...”
My stomach sinks. Did I do something weird already?
But Noah squeezes me closer, enveloping me in his protective scent. Rainn raises her eyebrows with a teasing smile, unphased by his deepening scowl.
“I know what you’re thinking, Rainn. I’m not ashamed of my mark,” Noah grumbles.
“I didn’t say anything about the mark!” Rainn gasps, yanking on her brother’s arm. Then she smirks at me. “That mark is pretty metal, though. You’ve got guts, Omega. I like you already.”
My shoulders soften in relief. “Thanks.”
Noah lets out a soft, clear laugh. I melt into its sound, holding his hand tighter.
“My mate is pretty metal. Especially beneath the surface,” he says.
Rainn winks. “Then you two sound like a perfect match. Have fun!” With a giggle at our reddened cheeks, Rainn turns to the lingering wolves and bellows far louder than I expect from such a petite body. “Who’s ready for dinner?”
She lets out another bright laugh when she’s swarmed with attention. Rainn gives Noah one last smile, softening his eyes into genuine warmth, and I realize she announced that just to relieve him for the night. The second she disappears behind a crowd of hungry wolves, Noah releases a heavy breath.
“She’s a sweetheart, and so damn cute,” I say.
“Y-yeah? You like her?”
I giggle at Noah’s hopeful smile, nuzzling into his arm. “I do, my shy Alpha. Hopefully I can get a chance to talk to her longer soon. As well as your mom.”
He drops my stare. “Soon.”
Oh, great. Something’s up with him and his mom.
Noah seems as drained as I am as we drive a winding forest road to his home, huddled in Dave’s back seats. I can’t tell if it’s just an assumption of mine or if there’s a hint of sadness in our bond.
I nuzzle my forehead into Noah’s chest. How are you feeling?
Noah’s abdomen softens beneath my palm. Tired. I’m sure you’re exhausted though, with all you’ve been through.
When he holds my head against his chest to kiss it, our bond lightens.
But I don’t think he gave me the full truth. Noah strikes me as an extremely private wolf, so I’ll have to check in when we’re alone.
The sun disappears beneath the horizon, the sky’s soft purple glow fading into indigo by the time we pull up in front of Noah’s home. His cabin is more of a lodge. Rich wooden panels line the sizeable structure in a cherry warmth against the cool night sky. We’re so secluded from the neighboring town that there are even more stars here than at my parents’ old cabin, glittering across the sky like a gentle nightlight.
“This is beautiful, Noah.”
He dips his head with a smile - back to his shy self - but he doesn’t seem to have anything to say.
Okay, I’m worried now.
I’m mesmerized by Noah’s scent the second we walk through the door, tension releasing from my body. But Noah solely focuses on me.
I pick at my thumbnail. “Are you oka–”
Noah drops my overnight bag, rushing to hug me to his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“What? Why?”
Noah doesn’t respond, but his heart drums against my ear. His stress pheromones put me on edge, crawling over my skin as they only magnify.
When I spot the source of his sadness in our bond, panic strikes - it’s not a little upset, something is seriously wrong. What do I do?