Henry would’ve done more research, but women exited the building.He shoved his phone away and paid close attention.They exited in twos and threes, carrying bulging bags.At a guess—their uniforms.The exit slowed, and Maia didn’t appear.
A half-hour ticked away, and instinct prodded him to find her.Before the thought formed, he jumped out of his car and was halfway up the steps to the building entrance.Amused despite his worry, he forced himself to slow and took a deep breath before he entered the building.Just inside the door, he inhaled again, his wolf locating the faint trace of Maia.Without hesitation, he turned to the right and followed the scent trail.Then he heard her laugh and shout a cheerful goodbye before her footsteps headed toward him.
His heart fluttered—man, there was no other word for it.Henry shook from his stupor and resumed walking toward Maia.
His mate.
Damn it, she was young, but shewashis mate, and he couldn’t step back and let her go now that someone was attempting to harm her.And yes, he’d been going back and forth about this since he’d heard from Laura.Hell, it wasn’t like him to act indecisively.
Maia walked toward him and cocked her head as if silently asking him why he’d come inside.
“Hi,” he said, forcing himself to meet her gaze when his every fiber longed to study her and commit her image to memory.Not gentlemanly to ogle a woman, so he held strong.“Everyone else left, and I wondered what was keeping you.”
She pulled a face.A slight limp was evident now, and he frowned but didn’t mention the hitch in her step.“They asked if everyone was fit.I told them I tripped, and the coaches and manager asked me to stay and chat.”
“You didn’t tell them what happened?”Henry asked.
“I did once we were alone.I thought it best not to tell everyone my problems.”
“What did they say?”
“The manager wants to talk to Laura.”She slid him a sidelong glance as he opened the door for them to exit the building.“I got the sense they thought I was exaggerating.”
“They thought you were lying?”
Maia shrugged.“My explanation seems fanciful.”
“You could’ve shown them the lump on your head.How is the headache?”
Maia snorted.“Rose, the head coach, looked, and the throbbing seems to have settled.”
“That’s good.What will they do about security?”
“No problem, according to them,” Maia said.“Yes, someone attacked me, but in Middlemarch.Whatever happened has nothing to do with the rugby club.”
Yeah, Henry understood their perspective.“What about training?Will this impact your place on the team?”He tugged the bag she carried, and she released it.
“They’ve arranged an appointment for me with the team doctor.”She checked the time.“My appointment is in an hour.The medical center is on Edwards Road, close to here.Is that okay?”
“Have you seen much of Dunedin?I’ll give you a tour.”
Maia beamed, and Henry stared back, delighted at her approval.He opened the passenger door and waited until she’d settled before shutting it again.Once inside the vehicle, he said, “We’ll drive around the Octagon and past the railway station before we head to the doctor.”
“My aunt brought me to Dunedin when we visited the lawyer.I was too young to understand, but she tried overturning my parents’ wills.She disagreed with them sending me to a boarding school.”
“That must’ve been hard.My mother died when I was young, but my stepfather was a rock.He remarried a few years ago, but we’re close.”
“You’re lucky.Do you see him often?”
“He and Megan live on the same property as me.”
“Oh, right!London chatters a lot, and it was hard to remember everything.That must be nice.My aunt was my only family member.I made lasting friendships at school, though.I don’t see them often because we went in different directions.”
“Gerard and Sam are my best friends.We were in the army together.Sam lives in Christchurch with his wife.”
She turned wide eyes toward him.“How long were you in the army?”
“Almost ten years.Gerard, Sam, and I left around the same time.Sam had fallen for Lisa, and Gerard and I were looking to set up our business.We ended up in Middlemarch.What happens after your medical?”
