“You don’t have to.”
I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.“You know my rules.No dating within the pack unless you’re mates.”
“M-hm.Exactly,” Olivia replies.
That’swhat she’s implying?“No.”
“Roen, you can’t ignore?—”
“She’s human, Olivia.It’s not possible.”
“Listen to me,” she insists.I huff.Must Olivia always be this pushy?“I thought so, too.Then I did some digging when I got home.There are rare cases when a bond is triggered between a human and a lycan.”
Being able to sense Nova’s emotions, the attraction, her obeying my command—a mate bond would explain all those things.But there’s one last factor.
“I’m not looking for a mate.”Even if I were, I’m sure Nova doesn’t want to be tied to someone like me.A loner stuck in his ways.
I can practically hear Olivia roll her eyes.“Alphas aren’t meant to run a pack alone.Leading means you’ll need a Luna.Everyone knows that.”
Yeah, I know.I knew when I took on the mantle.But some rules are meant to be broken.I can protect my pack no matter what.
“Most wolves find a mate in their twenties,” Olivia continues.“Honestly, I’m amazed you’ve lasted into the late thirties.Your true nature will come out eventually.”
I scowl.“I’m not accepting a mate just because of some bond.Even if it is in my nature.I won’t force this on Nova, either.”
“I know,” Olivia whispers.“But ignoring her will only make things worse.If it is a bond, there’s a chance she’ll go into heat.And a human would be more sensitive to it than an omega.”
Dammit.Omegas will literally overheat if their mate waits too long to accept or reject them.If this is affecting Nova…then there’s no choice.She has to leave.The thought immediately sends a stab of pain through me, but I grit my teeth.
“I’ll reject her.”
“Don’t,” Olivia protests.Her voice drops to a whisper.“I know how painful that is.Just—don’t let this destroy either of you.”
Then the line clicks off.I drop the phone with a growl.
Closing my eyes, I force myself to take another deep breath.Behind the scent of motor oil and gas is fresh, salty air.Pollen and pine and a hint of Nova’s trail.My muscles instinctively relax as I focus on her.
She’s the last person on earth I’d want to reject.Olivia’s already on her side, and the rest of the pack isn’t as wary as I expected.It doesn’t take more than five minutes to tell that Nova has a good heart.The woman got into a car accident and was more worried about the animal that caused it than about herself.
Then there’s the fact she’s into kink.I gave up on looking for a mate a long time ago, but one who could match my desires?It feels impossible.
If a bond was triggered between us, it won’t be permanent until we both accept it.Until it’s sealed, and I can mark her with my knot and my seed.Fuck, my dick is harder than ever at the thought.I can barely keep it together now, so how would I be able to mate without killing her?
No, it’s not an option.I won’t risk hurting her or imprisoning her in a bond she shouldn’t have.I’ll convince Nova to leave.Even if that makes me the bad guy.
Shifting brings both relief and a new form of torture.Being in wolf form sharpens my senses, her scent drawing my attention.I leave the garage and track her through the yard with ease, almost too eagerly.She circled the house before she left, and I follow her steps into a patch of ferns in the backyard.
The same ones I watched her from last night.
I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t stay inside when she smelled so good.The memory of her flashes through my mind: sleep-rustled hair, those keen eyes that locked onto mine, the temptation of her slightly parted lips.A growl slips out of the back of my throat.
It won’t be hard to be the monster tonight—because when it comes to her, that’s all I am.
As I continue to follow her trail, I take note of every step she took; every place she paused, each tree she examined, the wildflowers she stopped to admire, but left untouched.
Her emotions begin to drift unbidden through the bond.She’s relaxed, probably along the shoreline enjoying the view.There’s a hint of apprehension also, which is appropriate because it’s too late to be in these woods.She’ll figure that out soon enough.
But there’s something else.The wind picks up, and I lift my snout in the air.
