Chapter 16

Lauren

I couldn’t believe I was actually doing this. It was the craziest thing I’d ever done, yet it felt right.

That hotel room cost nearly two hundred dollars a night. And that was one of the cheaper ones in the area. I’d been saving up for months to afford it. That would be a lot of money saved by staying with Denny.

My cheeks warmed at the thought.

He told me he could stay in another room, but could he? I could sense when his wolf was on edge and I knew that being around other males did that to him. So why was I agreeing to stay in an all-male house?

My mate was going to go crazy if I made him sleep in another room.

Was the money saved worth that?

Was I just going to torture him?

Denny moved quickly as he rushed us back to the hotel and packed my things. It was very clear that he wanted me to stay with him. I just wasn’t sure he understood what he was getting himself into and prayed it would all work out.

Once he packed my bags and put them in his car, he went to the front desk and asked the lady to release me from my reservation without penalty.

It was a human establishment, so it wasn’t like he could just tell her we were newly mated and wanted to be together. Though that wasn’t at all what this was about. Was it?

There was a part of me that still wanted him with a desperation I didn’t fully understand. It scared me. I didn’t know what to do about it. I also worried that maybe I was sending him the wrong idea by agreeing to stay with him. Yet, the frugal part of me couldn’t turn down the offer. I think he knew it, too.

I was nervous and yet a little excited, too.

And my first party?

This was a whole trip of firsts. I was trying not to let myself freak out about everything and just enjoy it.

Being with Denny helped that a lot. It should have scared me, but it didn’t. I was already dreading the end of the week when it would be time for me to pack up my things and drive home, leaving everything I cared about in California.

But what if I stayed?

I quickly pushed that thought aside. It was going to hurt enough without leaving me open to possibilities that couldn’t be achieved.

The lady behind the counter giggled, and I shook my head to clear it. I had no idea how long I’d spaced out standing there while Denny did all the talking.

“You know I’m not supposed to do this. That was a prepaid room.”

“But you can, can’t you?” he asked her.

She rolled her eyes, but the sparkle in them told me she was amused by him.

Damn. Why hadn’t I been paying attention? I wanted to know what he’d said to her.

Overall, I was handling this mating stuff pretty well, better than him. Or at least that’s what I told myself. But then she reached across the desk and touched my mate’s hand.

Anger flared in me so fast that I yelped in surprise. My whole body vibrated with untamed emotions.

“Excuse me,” I said before running for the bathroom.

My wolf was furious that I left our mate standing there with another woman while she was flirting with him. And the overwhelming sense of betrayal that hit me was profound. It nearly knocked me to my knees as tears pricked my eyes.

I had the strong need to shift and submit to my wolf, but I was terrified of what she would do to that poor lady just for casually touching my mate.

Who was I?

I was sitting in the bathroom bawling my eyes out over a boy while trying to rein in my emotions.

No matter what I told myself, my tears kept falling.

It wasn’t long before Denny burst through the door and ran over to wrap me up in his arms.

“I’m so sorry, babe. I should have just paid for the hotel and been done with it. I wasn’t thinking about how it would make you feel. I’m a terrible flirt, but I don’t mean anything by it.”

I clung to him, letting his touch soothe me.

“I know,” I finally managed to say.

We sat in there for a while, just holding each other. When a woman walked in and gasped, I buried my head in his chest.

“Sorry. Just give us a minute, please,” he said.

She seemed to listen to him and left the bathroom without a word.

Everything here was different. It felt like I was in a foreign country I didn’t understand. Back home, that woman would have cussed us out for having a man in the ladies’ room. She would have caused a big scene over it. With my luck, it would have ended up on social media or something. I wasn’t sure if it was the area or just Denny, but none of that happened.

I sniffed and stepped away from him to get a tissue and blow my nose.

“I’m sorry,” I told him.

It was embarrassing to know how close I’d been to losing it.

“Is your wolf calmer now?”

I nodded.

“Good. Let’s go home.”

Home.

Why did that one simple word give me comfort when it never had before?

Home had always been nothing more than a place for me to lay my head. Hearing him say it made me feel so much more. It had nothing to do with a bed and a roof over my head, and everything to do with him. I thought of comfort and peace, stuff I’d never felt or talked about before. I realized I desperately wanted these things, though.

I nodded and let him lead me out.

I couldn’t even look the receptionist in the eyes as we passed the front desk. I just stared at the floor and hugged Denny a little closer.

It wasn’t until we were in the car and pulling out of the parking lot that I really found my voice again.

“Did you at least get me a refund?”

He barked out a laugh. “I did. In fact, she credited back all of it, even the nights you already stayed.”

“She did? Why?”

“I think she felt bad when you ran off like that.”

I covered my face with my hands. “That was so embarrassing.”

“Hey, it worked some magic. She insisted on a full refund after that. I didn’t even ask for it. I only asked for tonight and the remainder of your stay.”

“Oh my God. I’ll never be able to show my face in there again.”

“No need. Because you’ll always have a place to stay with me.”

He seemed so certain of that when I was so unsure of where my future would lead me now.

I stayed quiet on the drive back to the doghouse. And when we arrived, he took gathered up my things and took them inside.

Several of the guys were hanging out in the main living room area. Monte looked up and nodded, which drew the attention of the others.

My cheeks burned. I wondered what they would think about me temporarily moving in.

None of them seemed surprised or bothered by it. They just went back to doing whatever they were doing without even saying a word.

I didn’t question it until we were in Denny’s room, behind closed doors where I knew they couldn’t hear us. I didn’t really understand why or how that contraption thing he mentioned worked, but I trusted that it did.

“Did you warn them I was going to be staying here?”

“Nope.”

“But they didn’t look surprised to see me.”

“They know you’re my mate. They are probably more confused that I didn’t move you in sooner.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal.

But to me, this was a very big deal.

“I need to let Kylie know about this.”

“Don’t want her blindsided or anything?” he guessed.

“Exactly.”

“You feel very nervous right now. Relax. I told you nothing is going to happen that you don’t want. I know how to behave, babe.”

I looked up, and he gave me a wicked grin. I suspected he could get away with murder from that look alone—so innocent.

I laughed. “Sure you do.”

I was flirting with him now and it felt so natural. If anything, I was nervous about the fact that I wasn’t nervous at all. That was the part that kept hitting me the hardest.

“Are you sure I don’t need to dress up for the party tonight?” I asked him, choosing to change the subject.

“I’m positive. I’m just wearing jeans and a tee-shirt. Nobody will care what either of us is wearing.”

“Okay,” I finally said, and I started to relax.

I could handle that.

“How about some dinner before the party? I can book us a reservation where I work.”

“Like a date?”

“Exactly like a date.”

“I’ve never been on a date before,” I blurted out.

“Then it’s time we fix that.”

Nervous energy bubbled within me. So many new experiences in such a short time. It was a lot to wrap my head around. But for once, I wasn’t going to sabotage myself and just go with it.

Guys had asked me out on dates before. Lots of times. I had just never allowed myself to say yes. There had always been Kylie to consider, or work, or a million other responsibilities. But I was on vacation here. I didn’t have those excuses. Kylie already knew that Denny was my mate, so I didn’t see why she would be affected by me dating him.

I laughed at the thought. Mating was so much bigger than dating, yet I accepted him as my mate so easily. But going on a date with him was this unknown, terrifying new discovery somehow. It was ridiculous.

“Okay. I’ll go out on a date with you.”

I was pretty sure that was a given, but it felt good to say it out loud.

Butterflies took residence in my stomach, but not in a bad way. I was excited for this new development. It wasn’t that I was opposed to dating. I simply couldn’t justify the time to do it. And in hindsight, I was grateful for that because it felt like the sort of thing one should do with a mate and not just anyone.

Denny made a quick phone call and then smiled triumphantly when he disconnected.

“We’re set for five.”

I looked at the clock. It was already after four.

“That doesn’t give me much time to get ready.”

“You look gorgeous, babe. You don’t need to worry about that.”

I just rolled my eyes and pushed him away when he tried to get close.

“Out. I need to get ready.”

He looked like a sad little puppy dog, but there was mischief in his eyes as he begrudgingly left me alone in his room.

I sat there for a moment contemplating my options, and then I grabbed my phone and called Kylie.

She answered right away.

“ Where are you? ” she signed.

“ Hello to you too. ”

“ Is that D-E-N-N-Y’s room? ”

There was no point in lying to her, so I admitted it.

“ Will you be there later? They’re having a party. ”

“ I know. I’ll be there. ”

Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head.

“ You’re going to a party? ”

I rolled my eyes and signed yes.

“ Do you have something to wear? ”

I frowned and looked down at my jeans and shirt.

“ You are not wearing that. It’s a party! ”

“ D-E-N-N-Y said this was fine. We’re going out to dinner first. He made reservations at some Italian restaurant. ”

Until Autumn piped in, I didn’t realize that I was speaking out loud while signing. It was just habit really.

“That’s one of the nicest places in town.”

“It is?”

“Yes. You definitely want to dress up a bit for it.”

I groaned.

“I didn’t bring anything fancy. I have one dress with me.”

“Put it on and show us,” she advised.

“ Good idea, ” Kylie agreed.

I quickly changed while leaving them staring at the empty bed I’d just vacated.

When I returned in the flowered frock, they both cringed.

I sighed. “Maybe I should just cancel.”

“No, don’t do that. Relax. We’re on our way,” Autumn assured me as the screen went black.

True to her word, Autumn and Kylie burst into Denny’s room about fifteen minutes later. I had already taken to pacing the room. He’d checked on me twice, so I knew he was sensing my anxiety.

Wasn’t dating supposed to be fun? This felt stressful.

“Okay, try this one on,” Autumn ordered as she shoved a black dress in my direction that I knew was going to be far too small.

Much to my surprise, it fit, but barely. The hem of the dress ended more than halfway up my thigh and was unlike anything I’d ever worn before.

“What was wrong with my dress?” I asked, thinking of the pale pink tea length dress covered in flowers that was one of my favorites.

“ You look hot in this, ” Kylie signed excitedly.

“It’s perfect. Can we do your hair, makeup, and nails, too?” Autumn asked.

“My nails?”

“Absolutely.”

Before I could agree, the two of them pushed me down into the desk chair and got to work. It felt as if I was being poked and prodded everywhere.

While it was way outside my sense of normal, I had to admit that having them there to help me get ready was fun.

“ Perfect! ” Kylie finally exclaimed, as Autumn guided me to the bathroom to look in the mirror.

I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.

“I can’t go out like this,” I blurted out.

“ You look beautiful and not like a forty-year-old. ”

I scoffed. “Kylie, I do not look old,” I insisted.

“You kind of do. I thought you were her mother at first,” Autumn confessed. “It’s not that you look bad, just not quite your age, either. Besides, you’re going on a date and then a party. Relax and enjoy it.”

“ What she said. And be carefree and spontaneous for once. Have a great time. ”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a bit conservative.”

“ You really need a life, Lauren. Now’s your chance. Take a walk on the wild side. ”

I snorted. “It’s just dinner, you guys.”

“With your true mate,” Autumn reminded me.

Kylie nodded her agreement.

Suddenly, I was more nervous than ever.