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I walk to the archway and lean against it. Sean is at the countertop, looking through cupboards. He already has a mug in front of him when he finds a box of hot chocolate mix and takes out an envelope.
“Are you excited about Winter Solstice?” I ask. “I guess there’s a pack meeting tonight.”
“Saw that,” he says. “Looking forward to it.”
Well, that answer was about as bland as a piece of bread. I keep trying, though. I’m nothing if not persistent. “I wonder when shifters from other packs will start showing up?”
“Soon, probably,” he answers noncommittally.
I stay quiet as he finishes making the hot chocolate. He hands me the mug, grabs himself a beer from the fridge, and then we head into the living room. As soon as I sit, I take a sip of the deep brown liquid, breathing in the smell of chocolate.
Sean twists the top of his beer and throws the cap down on the table. “So, you said you had a lot to talk to me about?”
Here goes nothing.
I set the mug down and place my hands between my knees. Turning toward him, I take a deep breath. “Lydia Greystone, the head of the academy? She says I only have two weeks left there. Well, twelve days now.”
He twists his head to the side. “Twelve days?”
“Yeah. She says if I can’t win you back, they’re kicking me out, Sean. And not to come back here. I’ll be going Feral.”
He blinks, sitting forward, and setting his beer on the table. “They told you this? But I haven’t filled anything out.”
“I know. I guess they’re sick of me being there, waiting around with no progress. It’s not like I can stay there forever, Sean.”
He runs his hands through his hair again. My news has affected him at least. He rubs his temples. “I was trying to spare you.”
“Well, it looks like non-action isn’t going to cut it anymore.”
When he peeks at me, I give him a smile to let him know that I’m not really kidding.
He slumps back on the couch like all he’s had to deal with is a bad day at work.
That same angry determination rears its ugly head again. I’m supposed to be winning him back. If I knew how to do that, I’d have already done it, goddammit.
“Sean, do you feel anything for me?” I ask, desperation clawing at me. I move closer to him on the couch. “Anything at all?” I slide my hand over his thigh, and he stares at it.
“Is this why you’re here?” he asks. “Because of your deadline?”
“Answer my question, Sean. My life is in your hands.”
He shoves my hand away from him and gets to his feet, then moves around the arm of the couch. “That’s not fair.”
“The fuck it isn’t.”
“Really nice, Mia. What every shifter wants—a mate with a filthy mouth.”
“So, Gayle doesn’t swear?” I counter.
“Stop bringing her up. It was never about her.”
He’s so full of his own shit, it looks like he believes himself. “Sean, I’m asking you, here, on our own pack land....” I move closer, grabbing his hand and putting it on my chest. “Do you feel my wolf? Do you feel the pull?”
I close my eyes. In my head, my wolf is nuzzling her head against his palm. If he doesn’t take me after this, I will break. I’ll be done for.
“I feel her,” he says, and he’s almost in awe of it, his jaw slack.
My gaze snaps open to find his stare watery and glazed over. “Of course you do,” I tell him, getting to my feet to get closer to him. “Fate paired us together. We’re supposed to be partners. I never did anything to you, Sean. I’ve stayed in Greystone this entire time because you rejected me, and I’m still right here in front of you. I’m still here because we’re mates.”