Page 27 of Rejected Nanny Mate (Crystal Creek Wolves #3)

It had been a week since Mia had defeated the surge in the woods near downtown Crystal Creek, and things had been tense among all of the packs, to say the least.

Mia was hailed as a hero, and I was eternally grateful that she had saved Rose; however, there were many things that didn't add up. How had she known where to go? And how did she know how to defeat a surge when she'd been attacked and knocked out by one when I first found her?

Gwen shut down completely after the attack.

I'd snapped at her, but I understood my part in the blame, too.

As much as I had enjoyed driving Jayce off, if I'd handled things more calmly, Gwen would have never felt the need to take off and get some air in the first place.

I couldn't seem to get a minute alone with her since Mia had arrived.

Mia made sure she was always present, and Gwen was always busy taking care of Rose.

I couldn't fault her for that. It was what she was paid to do.

But still, I missed her.

Everyone was on edge. There had been zero movement in the investigation of the magic surges, and while Nayeli and Kiera had been working hard, they were baffled to find almost no literature about anything like the moving surges.

It felt like we'd hit a dead end and were just waiting for the next surge to attack.

As September bled into October, I decided something was needed to lift everyone's spirits, so I planned a huge bonfire party for anyone in the four packs who wanted to attend.

I knew most were staying inside out of fear of the surge, but if anyone wanted to come and blow off some steam, I wanted to provide a place for them to do so.

It was a small offering, but it was all I could do for the time being.

Plus, I needed to blow off some steam, too. And I needed an excuse to talk to Gwen that wasn't about her being Rose's nanny.

The night of the party, I dropped Rose off with Nayeli, who claimed to be much too pregnant to stand around a fire all night, and went to set everything up.

I'd cleaned the backyard behind my house, set up the bonfire, and asked Kiera to make a few charms to keep the wind from blowing the smoke over us.

I could have asked Mia, but she was becoming increasingly persistent in her pursuit of me, so I tried to avoid one-on-one time with her whenever possible.

I'd brought the food, drinks, and ample firewood. All that was left was for people to show up. The crowds started to arrive after dark, just as planned, and while a lot of wolves had stayed home like I predicted, the turnout was better than I'd thought it would be.

I'd invited everyone from the packs, but my invitation to Gwen had been personal. I was glad to see people enjoying themselves and relaxing, but she was the only thing on my mind, and from what I could see, she hadn't shown up yet. It wasn't like her to be late.

We hadn't been speaking much lately, and when we did, it was usually about Rose or if I wanted to know how many diapers she needed me to pick up for the week.

She'd been distant ever since Mia had come to town.

I knew part of it was that I'd snapped at her, but I also wondered if it had something to do with Jayce.

The two of them had been close and smiling, and it made me sick to my stomach to see them chatting together like old friends.

I didn't want Gwen to be his friend. I wanted her to be mine.

Well, I wanted her to be a lot more than a friend.

I wanted her to be my Luna. My mate. My lover.

My partner in life, in everything. That was naive as hell, and even thinking about it made me feel like some young wolf that had zero clue how pack structure worked.

Gwen wasn't even part of my pack, and despite the plethora of single Brokenclaw she-wolves, all I wanted was the Saltfang witch that had invaded my every thought.

I'd told Gwen she was important to me, and I meant it. If she was going to keep her distance, that was fine, but she'd better get used to me trying to force myself back into her life.

I poured myself a drink from the big punch bowl in the kitchen and made my rounds, talking to wolves and shaking hands like a good Alpha should, but the entire time, I was looking for Gwen out of the corner of my eye.

It had been almost two hours since the party started, and there was still no sign of her.

Mia, though, had arrived. And she was seeking me out just as single-mindedly as I was searching for Gwen.

She found me standing near the fire and handed me a freshly filled cup of punch, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

She was dressed alluringly, in a strappy dress that hugged her curves and showcased her long legs, but I felt no attraction towards her. Mia's eyes glittered in the firelight.

“You're not having fun,” she said, her tone teasing as she gave me a once-over, then frowned. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” I lied. “I'm just keeping an eye on everyone.”

“It's your party, Joe. You should be out there having fun, too.” She leaned in close to me, and I fought the urge to step back. “You know, you've been avoiding me ever since the surge attack. Are you okay?”

“I'm fine.”

“Okay...” She didn't sound convinced. She sighed and then asked, “Can I talk to you inside for a moment? Alone?”

I should have said no, but Gwen was nowhere to be found, and maybe I'd have a chance to let Mia down once and for all and end the speculation that I'd attempt a relationship with her for Rose's sake.

I nodded once and followed her into the empty guest room across from the one Gwen was using.

I wasn't sure what Mia wanted to talk to me about, but whatever it was, I hoped it would be quick.

Once we were in the room, she shut the door behind us. The air was suddenly thick and uncomfortable, and I had to fight not to shift uncomfortably on my feet. I was Alpha, and I could handle myself. I wasn't going to squirm.

“Joe, I... I’m not sure how to say this,” she began, and she looked so nervous that I almost felt bad for her. “But I know we're not on the same page when it comes to us and Rose, so I think it would be best if I just came out with it.”

“Okay...”

She took a deep breath, then leaned in, laying one perfectly manicured hand on my chest before I could step back.

“I want to be with you. I still think about the night we had together, and there was a reason I came here when I was fleeing my old pack. I wanted to be with you. I thought I could have it all: you, my daughter, and the safety of the alliance, but...” she bit her lip.

“I feel like you're pushing me away, and I don't know why. Don't you find me beautiful?”

It would be a lie to say she wasn't. Mia was beautiful, but beautiful, like a work of art behind the glass at a museum.

Not the warm, touchable, irresistible type of beautiful that Gwen was to me.

I barely remember the night we spent together, either.

It was just one link in a chain of hookups I'd had to try and fill the emptiness inside of me to no avail.

Part of me wanted to tell her exactly that, and part of me didn't want to be a total asshole to the woman who had saved Gwen, Rose, and Rhie, and who was still recovering from being part of an abusive pack.

I sighed. “Mia, you are gorgeous, and you're a wonderful mother, but you need to understand that there is no us.

That night...I barely remember it. I was drunk, you were drunk, and we both made a mistake.

Something amazing came out of it, our Rose, but I have no interest in pursuing anything else with you.

Maybe instead of joining my pack, you should consider joining one of the others in the alliance. I'm not your Alpha and—”

“You're right,” she whispered. “You're not my Alpha.” She took a step towards me, and then another until I had nowhere else to go.

My back hit the wall, and Mia's face was inches from mine.

I could smell her perfume, and something deeper underneath it.

Something I couldn't place, but it was making my skin crawl.

“Then what are you doing?” I asked, voice low. “I don't want to hurt you, but if you keep pressing, I will. We can't be anything more than Rose's parents.”

“I'm not going anywhere,” she said, her tone matching mine. “I don't think you're taking this seriously at all. We share a daughter, and that means we should be together. You have an obligation to me, Alpha.” She put a hand on my chest. “So, I'm here to collect what I'm owed.”

Mia, in heels, was tall enough to barely have to stretch when she tried to kiss me, but I'd had enough. I grabbed her shoulders and held her away from me, letting some of my wolf slip into my eyes, making them glow. Her seductive smile fell, but if anything, she looked even more determined.

“I said no.”

She took her hands away from my body, but instead laid them on the straps of her dress, sliding them down. “Then maybe you'd just like to watch me—”

I sensed Gwen only a second before she pushed the door open, and I caught a whiff of her scent as she stormed into the room.

Gwen rarely got angry, and while her emotions were a whirlwind, she still froze when she saw the two of us—me against the wall, and Mia slipping the straps of her dress down in front of me.

There was fury inside of her, I was sure of it, but Gwen wasn't a fighter, and when she looked at me, all I saw in her eyes was pain.

“Gwen—”

She shook her head, then turned around and left without another word.

I heard her footsteps flying down the hallway and then up the stairs to the first floor.

Fuck! I'd been waiting for her all night, planned this fucking party just to be able to have some time alone with her, and now it had all gone to shit.

I didn't fight women as a rule, but I was so angry at Mia that I had the wild thought that I wished she'd attack me with her magic so I had a reason to fight back and force her out of my territory.

I was hit by a wave of hate for the mother of my child.

There was no proof that she'd planned this seduction with the intention of Gwen finding us, but the worst had still happened, and it was Mia's fault.

And mine, for letting myself be trapped in a room alone with her. I had to fix what had just happened. I had to catch Gwen.

I growled low, letting Mia see how angry I was, and she still reached out for me, the top of her dress nearly off. “Wait,” she pleaded. “Just stay. I want you. Even if it's just sex, Joe, I—”

“Get the fuck out of my house,” I snarled, grabbing her wrist and squeezing until she gasped and pulled away, fear flashing in her eyes. “Get out of here before I throw you out, Mia.”

“Joe!”

I ignored her, tearing down the hallway and flying down the stairs.

I had to catch Gwen. I had to tell her everything.

That I was hers, and no one else's, if she'd have me.

I'd do whatever it took to convince her that Mia was nothing to me, and that I'd been thinking about her since the moment I laid eyes on her.

The party outside was in full swing. No one seemed to notice or care that I'd been upstairs with another woman.

Everyone was drinking and having fun, and for a moment, I wanted to stop and enjoy it.

The wolves of all the packs were getting along, laughing, eating, talking, playing music, and I'd been the one to provide all of them with a night off from fearing the surge.

I felt good about that. I'd done something for my pack, and it seemed to be working.

But none of that would matter if Gwen hated me.

I spotted Rhie immediately. She was talking to Jayce, and even from across the yard, I could tell she was tipsy. The two of them were leaning in close, smiling, with a flirtatious air between them. Maybe that was a mistake, but it wasn't my business.

Jayce spotted me, and when he saw the look on my face, understanding dawned on him. “I saw her go east, away from the house. I yelled for her because she seemed distraught, but she didn't stop.”

Most—but not all—of the animosity I'd felt towards Jayce dissipated. I nodded at him in thanks, and, between one step and the next, shifted, put my nose to the ground, and went to find my woman.