Chapter 12

His what now? I blinked. Had I heard her correctly? I hadn't detected a mate bond.

"Something you forgot to tell us, Mikael?" Kennedy said, her voice frosty.

"I . . ." His jaw worked, no words coming out.

The wolf glided closer, not completely bridging the distance. "Mikael? Aren't you happy to see me? I came all this way to surprise you. Surprise!"

All warmth drained from me. "You have a mate?"

"Not yet," he croaked out. "I mean—"

"Handle this," Kennedy snapped and snagged my arm, tugging me away. I numbly followed. Ike and Jagger brought up the rear, none of us speaking as we stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed, the woman threw herself into Michael's arms.

Wow. Hadn't read someone so wrong in a long time. I could practically hear my heart pounding in my ears. Didn't know whether I wanted to laugh or punch the guy. A mate. He had a mate. Or would. I should have known.

When we reached our floor, I bade everyone goodnight and strode to my room.

Once inside, I stripped to my boxer briefs, crawled into bed, and let the darkness take me.

* * *

The next morning,I woke to a text from Kennedy telling me to take the morning off. When I peered outside a curtained window, I could see why. Falling snow had blanketed downtown, though so far, power remained on. I shivered looking at it. Unless all hell broke loose, we'd be staying in today.

No messages from Michael. No gift, either. I hadn't expected him to come by or anything, but I thought he'd at least send a "Hey, sorry" text or something. Whatever. I didn't need this shit, anyway.

I skipped breakfast, eating a couple of protein bars I'd stashed in my bedside drawer. Wasn't up for seeing Michael or being the focus of gossip. How had I been so stupid? Of course, he'd mate with another dire wolf. I'd thought as much from the beginning. I'd almost let him convince me it could be different.

More fool me. I debated using the shared gym—taking my frustrations out on a punching bag sounded like a hell of a plan—but again, couldn't muster the energy. Needed to pull myself together so when I faced him, I wouldn't look like I cared. I didn't care. Not much, anyway.

The lie sat heavy in my gut. When had I started to fall for the wolf? I'd done my best to keep him at a distance. I just hadn't had a guy pursue me like that, with such focus. That's all. I'd get over it.

A knock at the door startled me from my restless pacing. I didn't answer. Another knock. I didn't move.

"Abe," Michael called. "I know you're in there. Please open the door so we can talk."

Part of me wanted to keep quiet until he went away. Wasn't a coward, though. Another part wanted to punch his lights out. After a deep breath, I let that urge go, too. I wasn't a kid. The least I could do was act like the man I'd fought so hard to become. Pulling on a pair of basketball shorts but no shirt, I steeled myself, tilted my chin up, and swaggered to the door, yanking it open.

Michael looked terrible. Blood-shot eyes like he hadn't slept, a vein throbbing on his forehead. Even a sparse dusting of ginger stubble along his jaw. He'd thrown on a pair of track pants, a black tee, and a ball cap instead of his usual finery. Not a bad look, though the grim expression ruined it.

His gaze trailed over my bare chest, and he swallowed. "May I come in?"

"Sure, man, knock yourself out," I said, as though I were totally unaffected by him. Like he was just some guy. I stood back. "'Sup?"

"I owe you an explanation—"

"Nah, it's cool. You don't owe me anything." I waved him to my desk chair. He refused it, choosing to lean back against the door like it was the only thing holding him up.

"Abe, please. It's not what you think. Natalie and I have been . . . betrothed since we were kids. Our families are close. My parents encouraged her to come. I'd told them about you . . . about finding my fated mate, and as you can imagine, they weren't happy. They set both of us up."

"Your parents sound awful," I pointed out. "So, when's the mating ceremony? Or is that why you look like you haven't slept?" A tendril of jealousy snaked its way around my heart. I stomped it viciously. I knew the score. Besides, he didn't smell mated. I'd know.

His eyes narrowed, and he straightened, bristling. "You think I would sleep with someone else when I've found my fated mate?"

"I don't know what you would do, man, but it's none of my business."

"Like fuck it's not," Michael snarled, a muscle in his jaw ticcing. "You're my mate. Not her. You." He took a prowling step in my direction, and I admit, I stepped back. "And the reason I look like I haven't slept is because I had to tell her I was breaking the contract. This doesn't only affect my life. She has to face the consequences, too, and I feel like shit about that. But I wouldn't be with someone else when I've found you."

"I didn't ask you to do that." Made myself stand my ground, crossing my arms. I wasn't going to be blamed—

"Why do you do that?" He stormed over to me until we were chest to chest. "I know you didn't ask. I wanted to. Abe, I'm crazy about you. Only you. I'd break a hundred contracts if it meant having a shot with you."

I swallowed, mouth gone dry. "And what about your family? Don't want to be a complication, mess up your perfect world."

"Fuck being a complication. And I told you, my family is hardly perfect. I'm not going back. Not ever. I'm not fighting my sister. I'm not mating with anyone except you. And I'm not leaving Baltimore unless you do. This is my home, too. There's a reason I'm in Tommy's territory, why I work for him. I never planned to go back. I simply hadn't acknowledged it to myself before. Until this morning. I called my parents and let them know if they couldn't be happy for me and my mate, I wanted nothing to do with them."

A tiny flare of hope unfurled. "I . . . we don't come from the same worlds. You've seen me. This is who I am." I held out my arms. "You going to be happy with that? I'm not changing." A hand lacing through my locs scattered my thoughts. "I'm not . . ."

"I know. I don't want you to change. I like who you are. You're rock steady, you care about people, you do what needs to be done. And you're the most stubborn bird I've ever met. An alpha couldn't ask for a better mate." He tipped my chin up, his large hand cradling the back of my head. He didn't kiss me. "You drive me wild. Every time you walk in the room, I want to use all available surfaces to pleasure you until you scream. I want everyone to know you're mine. And I'm yours. Just yours."

I pushed up on my toes, closed the last few inches between us and kissed him. Couldn't help myself. He moaned into my mouth, letting me make all the moves this time. I explored him—his mouth, his chin, down his neck, leaving a hint of beard burn on his skin. My instincts were going wild, and my mating spot tingled. Wasn't ready for that, yet. But maybe a little . . .

A loud hum and an even louder pop as a transformer blew. The power went out, and then the generator kicked on. A second later, Michael's phone chimed with a text.

We both groaned.

"Damn it. Kennedy's pissed at me for the way I handled things last night. She's had me running errands since early morning."

I couldn't hide the small smile. "Oh, yeah? She looking out for my honor?"

"More like your property," he grumbled, pulling out his phone to confirm he'd been summoned.

"My property?" I snorted, giving him a sweeping glance. "Looks like I bought something upscale."

"I'd like to show you how ‘upscale' I can be." His hand tangled harder in my hair.

Another chime.

"I don't want to keep her waiting. Don't suppose we can pick this up later? I offer myself as tribute."

I chuckled. "Go deal with Kennedy. I'll be around."

I felt his reluctance to let me go. He stepped back. "I'm serious. Abe, you're it for me. I know I'm not perfect, but I hope I'm enough."

He looked so unlike him, vulnerability in his gaze. It squeezed my chest. I wanted to tell him it wasn't him, it was the situation. What would being mates look like? He was an alpha. Wouldn't he want a pack of his own? I already belonged to my roost and didn't want to leave it. So many questions and not enough answers.

I must have paused too long before answering, because he looked away, his jaw tense. "Guess not. Good to know."

"Michael—" I started. He'd already strode back to the door, wrenching it open. "Wait!"

He paused in the doorway.

"There's nothing wrong with you."

"Not a ringing endorsement."

Before I could say more, he vanished into the hallway.

Well, shit.