Page 5

Stepping into her space, I watch as she sucks in a breath. Watch as her eyes dilate. “I’m your mate, am I not?”

Scoffing, she takes a step back from me. “Mate or not, I will not give in just because you want me to. You didn’t care when we realized we were mates, and you sure haven’t cared since I’ve been back from college. So why now, hmm? Gone through all the girls in town and now you’re bored?”

“That’s not it at all…” Before I can finish what I was saying, the bell above the door chimes again. Both of our heads whip in that direction, mine to see who interrupted us and hers to see what customer is saving her from me. Gail gives us a warm smile as she walks over to us. Known to most of the wolf pack as our Matriarchal grandmother, she has a tendency to also meddle in relationships. If she gives you an idea, you should probably listen, since she is rarely wrong about things. No one is sure when she came into the pack or really much about her story. All we know is each generation we grow up with Gail watching over us, guiding us, and loving each of us with the same intensity. Around town, though, she is just known as a meddling old lady who knows all the gossip.

“Oh, lovely, just the two I wanted to see,” Gail says, as she walks over to us.

What does she mean, just the two she wanted to see? How did she even know that I was going to be here?

Aspen recovers more quickly than I do. “Good morning, Gail. What brings you into the bookstore?”

“You know, I have been reading some really cute romance books lately, but I found I really love second chance romances.” She winks at me before continuing, “Do you have any recommendations?”

Aspen’s eyebrows bunch together in confusion. “Uh, I do have a few of those that you might like. I didn’t know you read books. Have I ever even seen a book in your hands?” She walks away to grab the books she is thinking of. I hear a faint, “What is this woman up to now?” as she moves toward the back of the store.

Gail turns toward me and whispers conspiratorially. “She will come around, but you have a lot of work ahead of you. The things that you have made your mate feel over the years are obstacles between you and your goal. If you want it badly enough, you will need to figure out the right way to her heart.”How does she always know things? Does she have a sort of sixth sense, a power from the Goddess? I do want my mate, duh, why else would I be here? Clearly, it won’t be as easy as I thought it would be. Surely Aspen wants her mate, too?

“How do you …” I snap my jaw shut as Aspen comes walking from the back. She glances between the two of us before turning to Gail.

“I don’t know for sure that you will love these, but I have read all three of them and they are good places to start with for that trope,” she says, handing the books to Gail.

She looks through the stack before deciding on one that has a football player with a beautiful girl on the cover. “I would like to buy this one. Seems to be the exact book I was searching for.” She gives me a knowing look before following Aspen to the register.

While Aspen is ringing up Gail’s book, I hear Gail tell her, “You should give him another chance. He’s made mistakes, but we all have, dear. You both are missing out on the love and peace that being with your mate brings.”

Aspen sighs before she says, “I can’t just forgive him for cheating on me and then flaunting all his flings in front of me every time I come around. Just because he has decided he is done with the bachelor life doesn’t mean I have to give into him.”

Gail hums before saying, “The mistakes of one’s past should have no bearing on their future. The fact he is standing here asking for a chance is a testament to his commitment already.”

“It doesn’t matter. I won't give into someone who hurt me so easily and showed no remorse for it.”

Growling in anger, I turn to storm out of the bookstore when the bell chimes again. When I look up, I find Chase standing there with a look of shock across his face. His dirty blonde hair is pulled back into a bun on the back of his head. Does this man ever shave or, for fuck’s sake, at least trim the damn thing?

He snaps out of his shock. “What are you doing here, Warrick?” A low, deep growl rumbles out of Chase.

Chase better watch himself. He might be the one warming her bed right now, but it won’t be long before she gives into me, her mate.Shoulder checking him as I pass by, I stomp out the door.

I don’t know why I even bother. When I first found out that he was dating Aspen, I tried to intimidate him into leaving her alone. He simply laughed and patted my shoulder before leaving. Patted my shoulder! He might be a mountain lion shifter, but even he has to know that I would win that fight. Still, he walked away like I wasn’t more than a fly to shoo away.

Four months ago…

There’s a bonfire tonight, and it’s about time that we can do something fun. Orion, our pack Alpha, has been running us around like we don’t need rest or even a food break. I don’t understand why he has us running the perimeters so much. There aren't any threats. There never have been. But fuck if we can do anything about it.

“You ready to head over to the bonfire?” Silas asks, as he finishes putting on his boots. I’m so lucky to have my best friendrunning laps with me each day. At least we make a game out of it. Otherwise, I would have lost hope before now.

Watching him as he finishes getting ready, I wish he could see the Alpha that he is becoming. He takes better care of us in our unit than anyone else has, especially Orion.

“Yeah, hopefully, Orion stays wherever he is and we can actually have a peaceful night without his constant bragging and degrading of our pack females. It would be nice to drink a few cold ones with you and find some girl willing to come back with me,” I say to him as I finish rubbing oil into my beard.

Silas is silent as he watches me.

Looking over my shoulder, I say, “What?”

“Why don’t you stop bringing home random women and finally claim your mate?”

Shrugging my shoulders, I tell him, “Aspen will never give into the mating, so might as well find someone to warm my bed instead of being alone the rest of my life.”

“It’s none of my business, but don’t you think that continuing to bring girls home instead of your mate might just be the reason Aspen won’t forgive you?”