Chapter 22 Tolin
TOLIN
TWO WEEKS LATER
Imani is humming in the bedroom, something soft and off-key, while I stare at a box of books I haven’t opened since I moved up here. The cabin is chaos around us, furniture pushed to the center, closets emptied, my entire life being packed up and sorted through.
We’re moving to the clan.
Two weeks ago, I knelt before my brother and accepted my place as Beta. My mate was welcomed into the Ironwood Clan like she’d always belonged there. Two weeks of waking up with her in my arms, of falling asleep to the sound of her breathing, of learning the rhythm of life with someone else.
I’m not ready for it to end.
“Tolin.”
I look up from the box I’ve been staring at without actually packing anything. Imani is standing in the bedroom doorway, her arms crossed, her expression determined.
“We need to go into town today.”
My whole body tenses. “Today?”
“Yes, today.” She walks toward me, stepping over a pile of blankets I still haven’t dealt with. “I need to quit my job officially. And I need to tell Derrick about the cleaning solution.”
Derrick. Of course this is about Derrick.
“Can’t you call him?”
“No, I can’t call him. This is important, Tolin. That solution masked my scent from you for two days. What if it’s doing the same thing to other shifters? Other mates?” She stops in front of me. “Derrick needs to know so he can fix it.”
“Ronan already told him.”
“And I want to make sure he understood. I want to explain it myself.” She tilts her head, studying my face. “Why are you being weird about this?”
“I’m not being weird.”
“You’re being very weird.” She pokes my chest. “What’s your problem?”
I turn away, shoving books into a box. “I don’t have a problem.”
“Tolin.”
“I said I don’t have a problem.”
“And I said you’re lying.” She circles around to face me again, blocking my path. “Talk to me.”
I clench my jaw, trying to swallow down the irrational anger building in my gut. It’s not her fault. None of this is her fault. But the thought of going into town, of watching other people look at her, talk to her, take up space in her attention...
“I don’t want to share you.”
The words come out harsher than I intended. Imani blinks.
“Excuse me?”
“The past two weeks, it’s been just us. No one else. No interruptions. No...” I wave my hand vaguely. “No Derrick.”
“Oh my God.” She laughs, but there’s an edge to it. “Are you seriously jealous right now? Still?”
“I’m not jealous.”
“You are absolutely jealous. You’re jealous of a man who has never once made a move on me, who is your friend, and who is about to find out that his cleaning supplies almost ruined your entire life.”
“He’s not my friend, anymore.”
“He is your friend. And you’re being ridiculous.”
“Maybe I am.” I turn back to the boxes, tension in my shoulders. “But I don’t want to go. We’re in the middle of packing. We have things to do. It can wait.”
“It can’t wait.” Her voice hardens. “And you don’t get to make that decision for me.”
“I’m not making decisions for you. I’m just saying—“
“You’re just saying you want me to stay in this cabin where no one else can see me or talk to me.” She steps in front of me again, and this time her eyes are blazing. “I’m not a possession, Tolin. I’m not something you get to hide away because you don’t feel like sharing.”
“That’s not what I—“
“That’s exactly what you’re doing.” She points accusingly at me. “I have a life to close out. A job to quit. People to talk to. And you can either come with me and behave like a grown man, or you can stay here and pout by yourself. But I’m going to town today whether you like it or not.”
The anger drains out of me as quickly as it came.
She’s right. She’s absolutely right, and I’m being an ass.
“Imani.” I reach for her, and the relief that washes through me when she doesn’t pull away is embarrassing. “I’m sorry.”
“You should be.”
“I am. I’m being ridiculous and possessive and unfair.” I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her. “I’m sorry. I just... I’ve never had this before. Someone who’s mine. Someone I don’t want to let out of my sight. It makes me crazy.”
“I’ve noticed.” But her voice is softer now, some of the anger fading. “You can be crazy. You can be possessive. But you can’t be an asshole about it.”
“You’re right.”
“I know I’m right.”
“I’m sorry.” I press my forehead to hers. “Forgive me?”
“Hmm.” She pretends to think about it. “I don’t know. That was pretty bad.”
“I’ll make it up to you.”
“How?”
“However you want.” I kiss her nose. “I’ll go to town. I’ll behave. I’ll be nice to Derrick.”
“Nice might be pushing it.”
“I’ll be civil to Derrick.”
“Better.” She pulls back to look at me, her expression evaluating. “And you’ll stop being snippy every time his name comes up?”
“I’ll try.”
“Tolin.”
“I’ll stop. I promise.” I cup her face in my hands. “I’m sorry. I was an ass. You’re not a possession, and you have every right to handle your own business. I’ll support you, not get in your way.”
She studies me for a long moment, then sighs. “Fine. You’re forgiven.”
“That easy?”
“That easy because I love watching you grovel.” She grins. “Also because we have a lot to do today and I don’t have time to stay mad at you.”
I kiss her properly then, deep and slow, trying to show her what I can’t put into words. She melts into me, her hands fisting in my shirt, and for a moment I forget about town and Derrick and everything else.
Then she pulls back, slightly breathless.
“Nice try.” She nudges me. “But we’re still going.”
“I know.”
“Get your keys. Let’s go.”
The drive into town takes about forty minutes. Imani holds my hand the whole way, her thumb stroking my knuckles, keeping me grounded.
I’m still not happy about this. But I’m keeping my mouth shut and my attitude in check, because she was right. I can’t be an asshole just because I don’t want to share her with the world.
We arrive at Shadow Suds, I pull into a parking spot, and cut the engine.
“Ready?” Imani asks.
“No.”
She laughs. “At least you’re honest.” She squeezes my hand. “It’ll be quick. I promise.”
We walk in together, and I immediately feel out of place. Imani walks up to the front desk like she owns the place.
“Hey, Sarah. Is Derrick in?”
The receptionist looks up, her eyes going wide when she sees me looming behind Imani. “Um. Yeah. He’s in his office. Should I—“
“I’ll just go back. Thanks.”
She takes my hand and leads me down the hallway. I have to duck slightly to avoid hitting my head on a low-hanging light fixture. Everything in this place feels too small.
Derrick’s office is at the end of the hall. The door is open, and I can see him inside, sitting behind a desk covered in paperwork.
He looks up when we appear in the doorway.
His eyes go to Imani first, then to me, then to the mark on Imani’s neck. I see it in his face. Surprise. Realization. And underneath it, a sadness that he quickly tries to hide.
“Imani.” He stands up, smoothing down his shirt. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
“I know. I should have called.” She steps into the office, pulling me with her. “But I needed to do this in person.”
Derrick’s eyes flick to me again. I can smell his emotions even if his face is carefully neutral. Disappointment. Resignation. A thread of something that might be longing, quickly suppressed.
“So it’s true,” he says quietly. “You and Ironwood.”
“Yes.” Imani’s voice is steady. “Things happened fast. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out sooner.”
“No, it’s... it’s fine.” He manages a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m happy for you. Both of you.”
The words are genuine, even if they cost him something to say. I respect that.
“Thank you,” Imani says. “But that’s not the only reason I’m here. I need to talk to you about the cleaning solution.”
Derrick nods, his expression shifting to something more professional. “Ronan reached out to me about that. About the scent masking.”
“So you know.”
“I know.” He moves around his desk, leaning against the front of it. “I’ve been looking into the ingredients, trying to figure out what’s causing it. For now, we’ve pulled that solution from rotation. We’re using something different until I can get to the bottom of it.”
“Good.” Imani relaxes slightly. “I was worried about other shifters. Other potential mates. If it blocked my scent, it could be doing the same thing to others.”
“It’s a serious issue,” Derrick agrees. “I’m taking it seriously.”
Derrick won’t look at the mark on her neck. I won’t mention how he looked at her when we walked in. The air between us gets tight.
“There’s something else,” Imani says. “I’m quitting.”
Derrick’s shoulders drop slightly, like he expected it but was hoping he was wrong. “I figured.”
“I’m moving to the clan. Starting a new life.” She pauses. “I wanted to thank you, Derrick. For giving me a chance when I first came to town. For being patient when I was still learning. For sending me up to that cabin even when everyone else refused.”
His laugh is rueful. “If I’d known what would happen, I might have sent someone else.”
“No, you wouldn’t have.” Imani smiles. “You’re too nice for that.”
“Maybe.” He looks at me then, really looks, and his expression changes. Acceptance, maybe. Or acknowledgment. “Take care of her, Ironwood. She’s one of the good ones.”
“I know.” The gruffness surprises even me. “I will.”
Another awkward pause. Then Derrick pushes off from his desk and extends his hand toward me.
I stare at it for a second. Then I step forward and pull him into a hug instead.
Not a gentle hug. A real one. The kind that knocks the air out of his lungs and makes his bones creak.
“Thank you,” I say quietly. “For sending her to me.”
He wheezes slightly. “You’re welcome. Please let go.”
I release him, and he staggers back, rubbing his ribs. Imani is laughing, her whole face lit up with amusement, and her pleasure floods through me. She’s happy. Happy that I made the effort, that I didn’t let jealousy ruin this.
“Was that necessary?” Derrick asks, still rubbing his side.
“Yes.”