Page 14

Chapter 14

MADELINE

There's a buzz in the air at work. Excitement builds as I ascend through the office floors. Every shifter feels it too on the verge of bursting through their skin at any moment.

Even though the sun is well positioned in the sky, it feels like a precursor to how the night will unfold.

Since it's a half-day, most of the people at work start to leave around lunch. When I arrive, Nate isn't in his office. I go right to my supplies and continue knitting in silence as I wait for him.

Twenty minutes later, Nate walks in. “Did you get everything you need?”

“It's a one-day trip,” I chuckle. “There's not much to pack.”

“I know, but it's best to stay prepared. You'd obviously want to be comfortable while we're on IronFangs’ land.”

“I'm alright. I'm more worried about my aunt.”

Nate sighs and sits in his chair. He rubs his temples as if trying to ease a headache. “I know you care about her, but don't worry. We have plans in place for situations like this. She's already being taken care of.”

“Why won't she let me see her then?” I ask, frowning. “I want to stay with her.”

“It's not my choice or yours,” my mate explains. “Cora said she wants you to come with us to the land. Right now, she may be too weak to transform, but if she does, she'll have the space for it.”

I wrack my brain trying to figure out where they could've taken her to transform within the city. There are a bunch of places large enough for one wolf at least, but it still bums me out that I'm not being let in on some company secrets.

“Fine,” I concede. “As long as she's okay.”

There's no signal, yet everyone seems to know when it's time to leave. Nate gets up wordlessly and I rush to gather my tools.

He leaves the office first, and I follow a few feet behind him. The shifters on our floor smile and chatter happily on their way to the elevator.

A bunch of us enter, our scents trapped in such a small space. This almost makes us go crazy, as our noses are assaulted by the lust everyone gives off.

Nate's body presses into me, making me crave him. I bite my lips and dig my fingers into my palms to distract myself until the elevator doors open again. I rush outside to the fresh air before we head to the parking lot.

Nate heads to an empty car. He’s confused when I walk past him to another vehicle. “It's this one,” he calls out. “Rose and Graham will be out soon.”

“I'm not going with you,” I respond casually.

Nate's confusion transitions to impatience. “Very funny. Come on, we'll be leaving soon.”

I stubbornly lift my chin as I wait for the people I’m supposed to meet. I had planned this with Olivia a while ago and even though she didn't think it was a good idea, she wasn't going to stop me.

"No, thank you. I'll see you when we get there." I need to establish my independence, even if it makes him uncomfortable.

I get in the car and close the door. Part of me expects Nate to try to put up a fight, and that's the part that gets disappointed.

Graham and Rose arrive before Olivia and the others. They zoom off, leaving me sitting in an empty car. Minutes later, Olivia arrives with her friends.

She gasps when she sees me in the car. “You were serious, weren’t you?”

“Yes, I was,” I insist. “I don’t cancel plans with friends just like that. We planned this together. It's going to be great. We'll enjoy the road trip and get to know each other better.”

“No judgment here,” Olivia says, “but can you handle being without your mate?”

I sigh. “It's not like it's going to be all night. We'll meet when we get there.”

Olivia shrugs and gets in beside me. The ride is just as uncomfortable as expected. My instincts are heightened and I look for him, but I get through it with light conversation and laughter, until I get to the IronFangs land.

Nate is waiting for me there, clearly annoyed. He leans back on Graham's car, waiting for me to exit mine. “Did you have fun?” he asks as I approach.

“It was great,” I lie. He sees through this immediately, but doesn't address it.

“I'm glad you had your fun, but from now till the end of the night, you're going to be with me. I can't have you wandering off.”

“Isn't this place supposed to be safe?” I query.

"I'm not keeping you close because of safety," Nate replies. "I'm keeping you here because I don't want other wolves coming near you." He places an arm around my waist and pulls me in. "Stay close."

My breath hitches, but I try not to let him know the effect he's having on me. "I'll think about it.” I appreciate his honesty, at least.

There's something refreshingly straightforward about his possessiveness compared to his usual denial of our bond. But acknowledging our connection shouldn't mean surrendering my autonomy.

“I'm going to find a room.” I move from his grasp. “Do you want to follow me there too?”

“Where you sleep doesn't matter,” he responds. “It's not like we're sleeping in the house tonight.”

The house is a huge structure with more than enough rooms for everyone. I see a few people I've never seen in the office. They greet some of the guests, but I walk past, not expecting to talk to anyone.

I stroll through the house until I see the room Olivia and Rose have put their bags in. They laugh loudly, only quieting down when I enter.

“There she is,” Olivia says. “I was just asking Rose why I'm the one you guys keep using as a way to avoid your mates.”

“He wasn't my mate then,” Rose corrects.

“Does it matter?”

“True, true,” Rose acknowledges.

I roll my eyes and go to the only free bed. “Sometimes I need to make him miss me,” I explain.

Both girls nod understandingly. “He's going to be all over you while we're here though,” Rose points out. “Your scent will be like a drug to him given how heightened our senses are now.”

“He's not the only one being affected,” I moan, covering my face. “What's the balance here?”

Rose chuckles. “I'm the worst person to ask. I couldn't find balance if my life depended on it.”

We look at Olivia, who shrugs. “How should I know? I'm still waiting on my love story.”

The mindless chatter continues without me as I try to keep my mind on other things. Eventually, daylight becomes a memory and we all make our way toward the front of the house.

Rose introduces me to a few wolves, but I don't keep any of their names in mind, already knowing I won't be around much longer if things continue on the path they're on.

I feel an arm around me just before Rose is about to introduce me to a guy.

The familiar comfort tells me that Nate’s behind me without even having to turn around. Add to this, Graham shows up and makes a similar move on Rose before ushering her outside.

“I was beginning to think I wouldn't see you,” Nate's smooth voice tickles me all over. He spins me to face him. “The group shifting is about to start, are you ready?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“Good. The main entrance is going to be packed. We'll pass through a side door, come on.”

He holds my hand and shows me the way to a side entrance. I keep my eyes on our hands, feeling jolts of electricity move through my body.

“Nate,” a voice says, stopping us. We turn and I see the alpha walking to us with a bright smile. “It's wonderful to see you guys.” He turns to me, “I don't believe we've met. You look familiar though.”

“This is Madeline,” Nate introduces her. “She's one of the new interns at the firm.”

“I see,” he nods. “That doesn't quite explain the familiarity though.”

I frown at Nate. “Is that all I am?”

“Madeline is also Cora's niece.”

“Oh, that's why you look familiar,” Grant surmises.

I roll my eyes and wrap my hand around Nate's arm, pulling him beside me. “I'm also Nate's mate.”Grant's smile disappears. He looks from me to Nate and then back to me. “I see. Enjoy the grounds and the full moon.”

He walks away from us, leaving me confused. “Is it just me or did he seem annoyed?”

“You shouldn't have said that to him,” Nate sighs.

“Why not? It's true and it's not like he doesn't know. He can sense it.”

“Yes, but it's different.”

I let go of Nate. “How?”

He groans and heads out the door while I follow behind him. “I'm waiting.”

“Grant doesn't believe in fated mates.”

“What? He's the alpha, how can he not believe in fated mates? It's not like this is some legend. Fated mates are a thing that truly exist,” I point out.

“Yes, but he doesn't care. The two of us are alike in that way,” Nate explains.

“But surely he'll see a lot of fated mates here, especially today.”

“Yes, he sometimes encourages others, since that's basically his job. Grant and I also have an understanding, but with you here, it feels like I'm somehow breaking that by acknowledging you as my mate.”

"Of course you have to acknowledge me. This isn't an idea people can just reject on a whim."

"I have rejected it," he counters.

"You've tried to," I correct him gently. "But you're here with me now, aren't you? Fighting something doesn't mean you've defeated it." I'm not trying to corner him, just speaking a truth we both feel.

Nate takes a step back, clawing at his clothes. I feel the moon shining brighter on me as well, my skin starts to feel too uncomfortable to bear.

It's time.