I paced my living room, continuing to stare at my front door, not wanting anything more than to go back to her.
My mate.
My female.
It had taken every single ounce of control, of strength in my body, to leave her. But I’d smelled her hesitation. It had been small, minute in the grand scheme of things.
But it had been there and it instantly had me backing off. Making her feel anything but happiness and pleasure was a no-fucking-go for me.
I should’ve controlled myself and not beaten the shit out of that little asshole who touched her. It was clear they were friends. But she was my mate.
Mine.
And knowing she was afraid of me, that a fraction of her was uncertain and nervous, made me retreat, giving her space. But I knew her, her name, her scent. There wouldn’t be any place on this planet she could run to, could hide from me.
I’d always find her. Always.
I heard someone approaching, their footsteps taking the porch steps two at a time. An involuntary growl left me. I inhaled deeply and scented it was my brother, Oli. I also smelled
food.
I was at the front door and pulling it open before he could knock. He stood there staring at me, one eyebrow cocked as he held a covered dish. I knew his mate, India, had made it—a fresh pan of homemade lasagna by the smell of it. I swore my brothers’ mates felt sorry for me, always cooking meals, so many that my freezer was filled with Tupperware.
Oli didn’t say anything as he held the dish out to me. I made a gruff sound as I took it and stepped back, letting him inside. “Tell India I said thank you. Again. She goes to too much trouble for me.” My voice was a low, rough tone, scratchy, because my animal was right there at the surface.
I could feel Oli watching me, and as soon as I glanced up and saw his nostrils flare as he inhaled, I knew he was very aware I was mated. I might not have claimed her yet, but that mating happened, that connection. The scent of it was clear to any shifter.
He narrowed his eyes and a slow grin spread across his face. “About fucking time, brother.”
I shut the door and didn’t say anything, taking the dish into the kitchen and setting it on the stove. Although the last thing I wanted to do was eat, because—truth be told—I wanted to go to my mate, to make her see she was mine, that I wouldn’t back down, I turned on the oven and popped the dish inside. I looked over my shoulder, still seeing Oli smirk.
“Do I keep the aluminum foil on?” You’d think I’d know the answer to such a mundane question, but I was trying to focus on other things, to not talk about this with my brother.
Until I claimed my mate, I didn’t want to talk about it with anybody.
Oli shook his head before walking over to the couch and sitting down. “Like you don’t have twenty other dishes in your fuckin’ freezer right now.”
I didn’t reply. He grunted at my non-response.
“Leave it in for about fifteen minutes. Then after that, peel the aluminum foil off so the cheese can brown.” He didn’t look at me as he spoke, and I could feel the frustration coming from him.
He could be annoyed all he wanted. It wasn’t like any of my brothers were all about talking about their mates before they claimed them. They’d been grumpy bastards, just like me.
I leaned back against the counter and crossed my arms over my chest, staring at Oli. He did the same to me, his focus trained right on me as if he was waiting for me to tell him everything. I wasn’t going to tell him shit though—not because I didn’t trust him, but because I didn’t want to. I was a selfish fuck when it came to Rue.
He exhaled roughly, as if this whole situation was obnoxious to him, and then lifted his hand to smooth his fingers over his longer hair. After a moment, he stood and faced me, raising a brow as if he knew I wasn’t going to budge.
“You stubborn ass.” He should know me by now, know that I was just as hardheaded as the rest of them. “Listen, you’re mated. I can see it and smell it on you. But I can also tell you obviously didn’t complete the claiming. And no doubt that’s why you’re in this pissy-ass mood.” Oli stood and rounded the couch before heading toward the front door. He stopped and looked over at me again. “We’ve all been there, brother. Give it time. You’ll have her, and everything will be exactly how it should be.” He nodded once, and I gave a gruff affirmation that I heard him, that I knew what he said was the truth.
But that didn’t mean I felt any better about the situation. I watched as my brother left, closing the door behind him, leaving me to wallow in my own self-pity. I told myself there would be no pity, though. There would be no annoyance or sadness or frustration. Because what I was going to do was claim my mate. I was going to make Rue see I wasn’t going to stop. I wasn’t going to give up, and at the end of it all… she would be mine.
Chapter Four
Rue
I wasn’t concentrating on anything but watching the flames dance over the logs. The bonfire my father built with Ronnie was blazing, the heat so intense I didn’t even feel the chill in the night air. But I still pulled my jacket closer around me, wrapping my arms around my chest and leaning forward slightly, staring at the fire.
Conversation was going on all around me, our families laughing, beer bottles clanking as they were being pulled out of the cooler. The sound of crackling and popping from the fire filled my head, taking up residence with one consuming thought. One pronounced image.