Page 11 of The Wolf’s Bullied Mate (Moondust Hollow Wolves #2)

Seeing Pauline again immediately made my feelings for her resurface—the same longing I had felt towards her as a teenager, the same wish to capture her sweet lips under my own.

When she blushed, it was all the way up to her ears and collarbone.

I wanted to kiss a trail down her skin, following the alluring redness.

She had become even more beautiful now that time had passed—she was a fully grown woman with enough curves to make me more than eager about palming her breasts and ass.

She’d had a vision shortly after seeing me.

I wanted to question her about what the vision had entailed.

I also wanted to question her about other things.

She had run from me, seeming spooked about my presence…

but I didn’t know why. Something in the vision must have changed how she felt about me and the marriage, yet I couldn’t bring myself to ask her what it was.

Her visions had always been so personal and sacred to her, only for her to see. I wanted to respect her privacy.

As the agent explained the details of the agreement, I stole glances at Pauline. She looked at me shyly from underneath her lashes. It was endearing.

My gaze wandered to Ray, her child, playing on the rug with the figurine of a dog chasing a cat that Mom had given me as a ‘housewarming present’ a year ago.

Much good it had done to add warmth into my house and make it a home.

Even Pauline had noticed how sparsely decorated the place was.

All the better for her though—she could make whatever home she desired here.

Ray was the spitting image of Pauline, with a halo of red hair and big green eyes. I enjoyed watching him play happily by himself. My heart warmed at seeing him peaceful and joyous. Even though he wasn’t my child, I wanted to protect him as if he were my own son.

His father… the piece of shit… how could he have abandoned the two of them, thrown them aside like they meant nothing? If I ever got my hands on that asshole, he wouldn’t stay breathing for long.

How could anyone hurt a woman as sweet as Pauline?

After we signed the document, Pauline, then myself, the agent, spoke up again, “That’s all I need from you. I’ll arrange everything else with the alphas of both packs. You can proceed with the marriage as soon as I have both of their agreements.”

I nodded. I knew Ryder would quickly approve the agreement, and I hoped the same could be said for Lone Bite’s alpha.

“Do you want to stay here while we make the arrangements?” The woman looked at Pauline.

She bit her lip, looking down for a moment. Then, she seemed to have made up her mind because she looked at me with a confident expression. “I brought a bag with necessary items for Ray and me, as per Mrs. Ellen’s suggestion. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like for us to stay here.”

I couldn’t stop the smile that came to my lips. Pauline and Ray would be living with me sooner than I had thought. “Yes, that’s no problem. After we get married, I’ll arrange for the rest of your belongings to be sent here.”

She gave me a small smile. “I would appreciate that.”

“I’ll get the bags then,” I got up, moving to the front door. The agent followed behind me.

She unlocked the trunk, and I took out a sizable traveling bag—a single one—that felt way too heavy for a lone woman to carry. Had Pauline really come here so well-prepared and ready to live together?

The fact that she hadn’t planned on leaving after arriving made me happy, though I couldn’t quite place why.

I said my goodbyes to the agent, and Pauline waved at her from the door. I carried the bag inside.

“I’ll show you to your rooms in a bit,” I told Pauline. “But before that, would you like to eat something?”

Her stomach chose this moment to rumble. She blushed a deep red, and I chuckled.

“I guess that’s a yes,” I said.

“Y-Yes, I’m hungry,” she said.

“I’ll make us lunch then,” I gestured to the kitchen. “If you wouldn’t mind watching me cook, please come along. I’d like to talk to you.”

She nodded. We both went to my large white kitchen, which opened to the dining hall where a table for six stood. Pauline took in the surroundings.

I had to ask. “So, what do you think?”

“About what?” She gave me a puzzled look.

“The house, for starters,” I gestured around.

“It’s much bigger than I would have expected for one person,” she said.

“I bought it knowing I would look for a mate to share it with at some point.” I went to the kitchen and started taking out ingredients. “How do pancakes with maple syrup sound?”

Pauline’s eyes shone even more brightly. “Ray loves those.”

I smiled. She seemed happier each time something that would be good for her son happened. I would have to pay close attention to figure out what made Ray happy so I could make sure to do those things as much as possible. Maybe then I would see a joyful Pauline more often.

She had this aura of sadness that clung to her like something burdened her terribly.

Was it became the father of her child had abandoned the two of them, or did her problems run deeper?

I wanted to find out what made her so gloomy soon so I could help her.

I wanted to be the man who protected her from any outside threats as well as her own demons, if she would let me.

I started making the pancakes, and Pauline sat down at the kitchen island, watching me cook.

“So, how was your life after moving to Lone Bite?” I figured that subject would be as good a conversation opener as any other. After all, we hadn’t seen each other since she had moved to the other pack.

I soon realized the question was more difficult for her than I had expected. Her expression shut down, and her shoulders slumped. The terrible burden she carried became noticeably heavier.

“It was… okay,” she said in a small voice.

I wasn’t convinced that was the case, but I didn’t want to press her for further details.

I already knew a lot about her current rough circumstances, and one day, she would tell me whatever sorrows had befallen her after leaving here all those years ago.

For now, I just had to be patient. We would have to restart our relationship from point one.

I had to learn about Pauline again. On the one hand, I knew she was the Pauline whom I’d had a crush on in high school, but on the other hand, she felt like a completely different woman to me now.

I wanted to find out all about the new person who sat in front of me.

I changed the subject to Ray. “Can you tell me what Ray likes and dislikes?”

Pauline lit up immediately, telling me all the details of her son’s interests. I learned he loved cars and often said he would become a mechanic when he grew up. My father came to mind—he was a mechanic, too. Maybe I should introduce the two of them to each other soon?

Pauline then went on to tell me about Ray’s favorite food and his allergies. I took note of everything he couldn’t or wouldn’t eat.

In no time at all, the maple syrup pancakes were done, and the three of us sat down to eat. Ray really seemed overjoyed at the sight of the sweet brunch.

As soon as Pauline’s stomach was filled, she put a hand to her lips, hiding a yawn.

“Tired?” I asked her.

She nodded. “I’m not used to traveling much in a car.”

“I’ll show you to your rooms then,” I said.

I took Pauline’s bag and escorted the two of them upstairs. “Both of your rooms are guest bedrooms, so they are quite… impersonal.”

“More than the living room and the kitchen?” Pauline chuckled.

I enjoyed the sound of her laughter. I wished she would laugh more often around me. “I guess there’s not that much of a difference.”

When Ray saw the bed in the middle of his room, he ran to it and jumped on it, hiding his face in a cushion.

“Ray, you have to take your clothes off first,” Pauline said in a scolding tone.

“In a minute,” the child mumbled.

I gestured for Pauline to follow me to the other room and deposited her bag in front of the large bed. “This room will be yours.”

I saw her staring at the bed, a blush on her cheeks. She bit her lip, stopping herself from saying something.

I sighed. “I won’t touch you until you’re ready.”

Pauline’s eyes widened. She looked back at me, but the blush on her cheeks grew even deeper. “I wasn’t-”

I had read her right. I smiled.

“It’s probably a given that we’ll be intimate one day, since we’ll be married, but I don’t want to rush anything between us. I’ll give you all the time you need to accept me,” I said in a serious tone.

She looked at me, wide-eyed. “But-”

I put a finger to her lips. “No buts. I know you’re afraid of me. I don’t know why, but I do know that I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to do.”

She nodded, and I took the finger away.

“Now, get yourself comfortable. If you need anything, I’ll be in the garage.”

“Alright,” she agreed.

I walked out of the room, leaving her to prepare the space for herself and Ray.

I didn’t know what was going on in Pauline’s head. I didn’t know what extra burdens she carried.

I sure wanted to find out, though.