Maybe I should wait and see. I don’t want to jump too fast.
Because he also didn’t want to get a rep as someone “afraid” of potential “competition,” even if that wasn’t an accurate narrative.
Only weak and scared Pack Alphas preemptively banished people from their pack who’d done nothing wrong. And actions like that invited more bad actors to dig around for any hint of weakness. Not to mention it would cause issues among the pack, pitting people against each other.
Besides, now having been warned off, maybe the guy would take the hint. In that case, he wouldn’t be “the” one she’d warned about.
Right? Then no harm, no foul.
Chapter Three
Chelsea - Six Years Later
Chelsea tipped her head back and forth, cracking her neck as she walked across campus toward her dorm. It’d been too long since she’d had a run, and she looked forward to going on one this weekend with Charlie at the pack compound.
Among other things.
She softly giggled to herself. She still had a year left of college before she and Charlie would even begin to talk about pups, but it didn’t mean they didn’t have a lot of fun together when it was safe for her to do so, because she didn’t want to risk accidentally getting pregnant.
No, he’d promised to support her in any way she needed so she could get her degree, and that’s what she would do.
She had zero regrets about being Charlie’s mate or being engaged to him. They were already living together when she wasn’t in the dorm. She’d tentatively set the date for their wedding but didn’t want to jinx it by formally announcing it before her graduation.
And, one day, she knew, Charlie would be Pack Alpha.
Hopefully not for several decades at least, so they could enjoy growing their family before the full weight of the pack and all the responsibilities that entailed fell on their shoulders.
But it was important to her to set a good example to other women and girls in their pack. To let them know it was not only okay to hold off and take care of your education and future first—if you wanted to—but that it was normal. The times were a-changin’, and a woman’s place didn’t have to be in the kitchen. Unless that’s where she wanted to be.
And yes, ironically, Chelsea did want to be a wife and mother. But with her degree, she’d be in a better position to help run the pack school and manage the financial aspects of their business to assist Charlie with those duties. Her own mother, while not formally educated the way Chelsea and her sisters were, was whip-smart, always learning about new things and studying, and had encouraged them to pursue their interests in school.
When Chelsea heard the man clear his throat too close behind her, she whirled, immediately on alert, cursing her inattentiveness.
Walter Endquist.
“Sorry,” he said, edging closer. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”
Which was a lie, and she knew it as she took three full steps back. “What do you want?” she snapped, a little harsher than she’d meant but?—
No, wait. She did mean it.
“Just happened to see you and thought I’d say hi.”
She took another step back. She couldn’t outrun the Prime Alpha on two legs, but it was broad daylight and there were plenty of people around, although none close enough to overhear their exchange.
“So you’ve said hi,” she said. “Is that all?”
He scowled. “Look, I just wanted to ask you?—”
She held up her left hand, showing him the engagement ring. “I’m a claimed mate and engaged. We have a mate bond. Charlie Bleacke and I are publicly announcing our wedding date at the Muster next month.” Well, I guess we are now…
His face told her more than his mouth did. “I didn’t mean to?—”
“No, let’s stop this right now, Endquist.” She opted to channel both her father and her mate. “I know you asked my father about me, and he told you no because I’m already mated. And I know you’ve asked others about me. Now I’m telling you no, and in no uncertain terms. We all know you didn’t grow up in a pack, so we’ve cut you slack because we felt sorry for you.”
His cheeks turned absolutely red. “I’m not looking for anyone’s pity!”
“Fine. Then learn. Your. Place,” she snarled. “Maybe you don’t understand how mate bonds work, or how mates are viewed, so let me make it perfectly clear to you—I have zero interest in you. None. Charlie and I are mates for life, and we’re in love. And when someone is a claimed mate, you. Leave. Them. Alone. Is that understood?”
