It had become pretty obvious that fate was pairing our pack up with their friend group for some reason. I hadn’t been interested in mating with another woman who didn’t want me, so I hadn’t bothered trying to meet them.
Ethan had been attempting to get their addresses and phone numbers for months. Unsuccessfully. The girls were loyal to each other, which was good for them and shitty for him.
“Of course I fucking did.”
They’d turned him down again.
It was for the better, even if he didn’t think so. I was already steeling myself for the conversation that would come when Zoe shifted again.
I don’t want you.
We’re better as friends.
I’m in love with someone else.
“Did you ask for her number?” I was positive he had, and curious if they’d give it to him now.
There was a damn good chance he’d end up mated to the woman, if he ever met her.
Ethan handed me his phone. I hadn’t noticed it at first when I sat down, but it was on the bench next to him. A text conversation was open.
The contact was labeledMaya.
Ethan
Hey, Maya. This is Ethan. Your friends gave me your number. Can we meet up for drinks or something sometime? I think we’d get along
Maya
No
Ethan
We could go rock climbing or bowling or something instead
Maya didn’t respond to that.
I grimaced and handed the phone back. “It’s not great.”
“She fucking blocked me. Look.” He took the phone and shook it toward me. “The message should say delivered. It doesn’t.”
He must’ve googled that.
“If she doesn’t want a mate, it’s probably for the better. Rejection is deadly,” I said.
“You survived it. So would I.”
I raised an eyebrow.
I’d never been as obsessed with finding a mate as Ethan was. I was in my early twenties when I met Shaina, but I hadn’t been particularly worried about growing old alone. Not like most werewolves were.
Including Ethan.
The man wanted a companion more than anything. I didn’t hold it against him, but itwasa fact. Someone who wanted a mate that badly didn’t have great odds of surviving losing one.
Ethan chugged the rest of his vodka, then threw the empty bottle at the same tree I’d hit with the others. It missed by a solid foot.
“Why the fuck couldn’t she be mine?” He stabbed a hand toward Zoe.
