Liam grins. “Who says she hasn’t?”
She rolls her eyes. “You haven’t done any pack stuff in a while. You should come.”
Liam laughs. “Okay. Okay. I won’t skip it this year.”
“Good. Because it’s going to be a big one. Pete Garza is bringing that smoker he built, so we know the food will be amazing.” She bounces the toddler, who is trying to eat her necklace. “Tell Kara I have pictures from Costa Rica I’ve been dying to show her. She’s the one who recommended the resort we stayed at.”
“Uh… I’ll make sure she knows she’s invited,” Liam says, but that nervous tension from earlier is back. Is he afraid Kara will reject his proposal so he doesn’t want to make plans with her for the weekend?
Nora’s preschooler chooses that moment to knock a display of travel mugs off a shelf and she’s gone in a whirlwind of apologies and corralling small children.
When our shift ends we head home. I eat leftover soup Liam made during the week, while Liam showers for his date with Kara. I listen to the shower running as I eat, looking around Liam’s cozy home. I liked living here. I felt at home right away. It was like I belonged here with Liam, but now I realize that was one-sided. He’s going to move Kara in here and they’ll build a life together. I’ll simply be Liam’s work partner who might occasionally be invited to dinner. Maybe Kara won’t dislike me so much once she has a ring on her finger.
I’m reading when Liam comes downstairs in a red button-down shirt and dark jeans. He looks sexy, but nervous. My heart aches as I run my gaze over him. He smells great and he looks great. He took effort in getting ready for Kara. Naturally he wants to look his best when he pops the question to the woman he loves.
“You look nice,” I say, trying not to show I’m dying inside.
“Do I? I feel like a wreck.” He shoves his wallet into his back pocket, his movements jittery.
“Are you guys going anywhere special?”
“No, uh… I’m meeting her at her house.”
“Really?” I frown. “I’d have thought you’d take her to a fancy restaurant.”
He lets out a shaky laugh. “No. Tonight I want to be alone with her. We’ll need privacy.”
“Oh.” What was I thinking? They’ll want to make love after the engagement is official. I feel like puking at the image of them glowing with joy as they fuck like rabbits.
He meets my gaze, a muscle working in his jaw. “Um… you and I need to have a talk too, Jude.”
My heart sinks. Of course he’ll need me to move out sooner than expected. Once they’re engaged, Kara will want to move in and claim his home as her own. My new rental isn’t ready yet, but I can probably crash at Ben’s for a few nights if I have to. It’ll be tricky though. Ben has made no secret he wants to sleep with me, but because I still have feelings for Liam, I haven’t been ready. Still, Ben cares about me so I’m sure he’ll let me stay with him.
I force a smile. “Sure. You know where to find me.”
He nods, swallowing hard. “I’ll see you later tonight. If you’re still up, maybe we can have that talk.”
“Okay.” I sound more dejected than planned, but I can’t help it. My world is crumbling around me.
He seems to notice and his gaze sharpens. “It’ll be okay, Jude.”
“Of course.” I meet his gaze. “Don’t worry about me, Liam. I’ll be fine.”
His mouth tenses, but he says nothing. He just grabs his keys out of his pocket and leaves the house.
And I head straight for the whiskey.
I need something to dull the anguish I’m feeling. Tonight, Liam will come home engaged, and I’ll have truly lost himforever. He’ll be happy, or at least he’ll think he’s happy. His parents will be thrilled. Everyone will congratulate the joyous couple, and I’ll smile and tell him I’m happy for him too. But I’m not. I can’t be, not really.
“I’m so fucked,” I whimper. I swallow a shot of Irish whiskey, and the liquid burns as it slides down my throat. I wince, but pour myself another and then another.
I danced around whether I accepted the idea of fated mates, as if I had a say in whether it was true or not. But it was always out of my control. The first night we saw each other at The Fox & The Kettle, something clicked into place. My wolf knew way before my human mind caught up.
Liam and I share a mate bond.
Never having a pack, I’d never experienced pack bonds, let alone a mate bond. At first, I just thought what I felt for Liam was lust or loneliness. Now I understand what the mate bond means. It means that Liam and I are meant for each other on a biological and spiritual level. It’s not a choice. At least, it’s not a choice once you realize what’s happening. Liam is still oblivious to what’s happening.
But I finally see it clearly. There’s too much evidence to ignore. The exhilaration of our runs together and the way our wolves move in sync. The way my body responds to Liam’s scent differently than to anyone else’s. The way I can sense Liam’s moods, feel his heartbeat, and the way my wolf settles anytime Liam is near.
