Partway through the movie, I hit the pause button so I could take a pee break and grab a glass of water. When I came back, I found Maya sitting with her knees to her chest, and a faraway look in her eyes.
“You okay?” I checked.
It was past midnight, but she didn’t look tired.
“Hmm?”
“Are you okay?” I repeated.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
I lifted an eyebrow at her.
Her expression was defiant as it met mine.
After a moment, she let out a slow breath and looked at the TV screen. “I’ve never told anyone about him.”
She was talking about her mate, obviously. The one she’d rejected. She must’ve been thinking about my question, in the car.
“Stella knows a little, I guess. She just kind of figured it out. I didn’t tell her.”
“You don’t have to tell anyone, if you don’t want to. It doesn’t change our friendship.”
“I know,” she admitted. “But maybe I want to. Or… maybe I should? Would it help?” She met my eyes, and I could see that she was genuinely asking me.
“Talking about things helps me work through them, but I can’t say for sure if it would help you.”
She nodded, looking back at the TV. It seemed like she’d decided she was just going to leave her past alone, and that was okay. I understood.
I gave it a minute, though. In case she changed her mind.
“He was… charismatic. Aiden. My ex. Mymate.” She said the word like she hated it. Like it hurt, too. “Everyone loved him. Our relationship was… explosive. We fought as intensely as we fucked. It was violent and all-consuming. I thought that was normal for werewolves. I thought the violence meant he loved me.”
I scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders so I could pull her in for a hug.
She leaned against me.
Her face was a little pale.
Her voice was soft when she continued. “He was pissed that my wolf hadn’t bitten him as time went by. The fights got worse. It wasn’t until I was sitting on a hospital bed with his mother crying next to me that I learned even werewolves don’t physically hurt people they love. My wolf rejected him that day, and he was gone that night.”
“Dead, gone?”
She nodded. “Most men don’t survive rejection.”
Finn had said that too.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, side-hugging her even tighter.
“It was a long time ago.”
“That doesn’t make it okay.”
“No. it doesn’t.” She leaned her head back, resting it on the couch’s cushions. “Why was Finn rejected?”
“His mate was abusive. I haven’t asked for details, and I don’t think he plans to give them to me, but I think it was mostly emotional.”
Maya nodded. “Just be smart about it. Fight with him and make sure he doesn’t lose his temper with you. Tell him what you’re feeling, and make sure he cares enough to listen. Get to know him really well.”
