Chloe laughed. “You really do have it bad. So just go let the poor guy off the hook.”
“I don’t know if I can. You weren’t there. He just snapped. It was terrifying. I’m not ready to just let him off the hook for that. It was not okay.”
“Another male had the audacity to lay hands on you right in front of your mate while you’re still mating. I say that idiot had a death wish and deserved what he got, and that’s exactly what I’ll tell people when they ask me about it.”
“No, don’t. I’d rather the gossip just die down altogether. Please don’t add fuel to the fire.”
“Oh honey, this isn’t going anywhere any time soon. I heard Dean Shannahan has already called Monte in for a meeting first thing in the morning.”
“What?”
“Sorry, girl. I’m sure he’ll go easy on him knowing he’s a mating male.”
“What am I going to do?”
“That’s for you to decide. Maybe a good run would help clear your head.”
I nodded. “I think you’re right. Will you distract my psycho mate long enough for me to run for it?”
She grinned. “What are friends for?”
That scared me a bit. What was she up to?
Instead of preparing to take off, I stayed back and listened. It didn’t take long for Chloe to make her way outside. I heard her loud and clear and saw her walk right up to Monte and give him a shove.
What the hell was she thinking?
Did she have a death wish?
“Hey, lover boy. You’re wearing down the grass with your pacing. Zoey isn’t ready to talk to you about what happened. Not yet at least. I have a feeling she’ll come around. Just go home and give her some space.”
Monte growled at her.
“Back me up boys, cause I know you’re out there watching this lovesick fool.”
Remy and Braxton seemed to appear out of thin air.
“Hey, Chloe. What’s up?” Brax asked.
“Don’t what’s up me, you buffoon. Control this fool.”
Remy scoffed. “He’s in the middle of mating and I’d rather not have my throat ripped out for interfering.”
“Then why the hell are you watching him.”
“To make sure he doesn’t do anything too stupid and be prepared to intercede should things get out of hand. So what if he messes up a little grass? He’s holding it together the best he can,” Braxton explained.
My heart lurched and I had the strongest desire to run to him, though I forced myself to head in the opposite direction after stripping out of my clothes and leaving them in my bedroom.
I streaked through the house and out the front door. The second I was on the porch I shifted and ran for the woods.
My wolf protested.
All she wanted to do was run right for our mate. But I needed to feel the wind in my fur and clear my head. And the sooner I put some space between us, the easier that would be accomplished.
Keeping a tight rein on her wasn’t easy. It would be so much better if I could just let go and wipe him from my mind, even if it was just temporarily.
Instead, my wolf began broadcasting pictures of Monte in my mind until I thought I’d go mad.
