Warner moved in with me after a month.He had been spending the night every night at my place anyway, and living over his mother’s shop was depressing him.
I’ve met some stubborn people in my life, but Rebecca Jameson puts every one of them to shame.Six months with no word from her.
Well, no word to the pack.Or to her older two children.Tanya lets us know that she’s alive and checking in.
Thoughts of Rebecca leave my insides feeling twisted and confused.Part of me is grateful to her for raising such a wonderful man.Part of me is pissed at her for hurting him now with her silence.Part of me feels sorry for her for losing her pack.Part of me feels guilty about being the catalyst for her lashing out.
Maybe I should be furious with her for the danger she put me in.But I think I understand her fear of me.I did almost leave Warner and for no other reason than I was confused over what I wanted in life.
But my mind is clear now.
And I’m still here.
The bar comes into view up ahead, and my pulse quickens in anticipation.
Tonight, I will finally, officially mate my werewolf.
Ninety-nine percent of me is choosing to take this step because I love Warner and want to spend forever with him.
But there’s that teeny-tiny one percent that is hoping word somehow reaches Rebecca.
I wait until the motor cuts off and the kickstand is down before dismounting.
“Do you have everything?”Warner asks as I rummage in his saddlebags.
“I think so.Not like I’d know if I’m missing something.”
Roderick decreed that the mating ceremony ritual needed to be kept under wraps because we decided to wait a bit before going through with it.So, I’m in the dark.
“Did you bring the food?”Warner asks.
My hands pause.“You mean the snacks?”
“Not exactly.I mean the ceremonial food.”
“What?”I clutch at the ziplock bag I packed.“I thought you meant something to eat afterward.While we’redrinking.I did not bringceremonialfood!”
Dating a werewolf, I’ve gotten in the habit of carrying snacks because Warner is always hungry, and he gets over-the-top happy when I give him food.Or gift it to him, as he says.
When he asked me to bring food, I thought he just meant more of my usual.
Warner smiles as he asks, “What did you bring?”
“Nothing.I brought absolutely nothing, and we have to go back to the cabin so I can make something special.Something ceremony-worthy.”I’m already re-strapping the helmet on my head.
But Warner steps in close, grabbing my hands.There’s a mischievous tilt to his too-tempting lips.
“Nope.Then, we’ll be late.Besides, I want to know what snack you brought for us to share.”
I glare up at him when, really, I want to scowl at myself.
How could I be so oblivious?This is a mating ceremony.Of course it requires special things, like delicious dishes.This isn’t a night out with the Sip ’N’ Stitch gang or playing pool with the pack.
This is a werewolf wedding, and I brought …
“No.I refuse.Mating you deserves a five-tiered cake.”
Warner leans in, rubbing his nose over mine.“Tell me.”
