Chapter 3

Three

Chloe

S haking my head at my reflection in the mirror as I walk on the treadmill at the gym, I can't believe I let things get so carried away with Travis last night. My brain feels like a tangled, foggy mess right now. Mia, and now Travis, out of necessity, are the only ones I've told about what Nick said to me in Alpha Sullivan's office. I'm sure plenty of other people have made their own assumptions after his behavior at the party. Word got back to my parents that there was some kind of strange interaction between Nick and me, but I passed it off as him misunderstanding Trav's intentions. I told them Nick thought he was protecting me. I must have been convincing because they haven't questioned me since.

I slow my treadmill to a stop and hop off. Grabbing my water bottle, I stand in front of Mia's treadmill to stretch as she finishes up her run. "Have you heard from Nick today?" she asks, as she slows her speed to walk.

"Nope, and if I'm lucky, I won't," I say, and then take a big drink of water .

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to him again? I mean, if what he says is true, aren't you putting off the inevitable?"

"First of all, I'm not convinced that what he's saying is true. I don't feel anything different than I did before he told me." I may not feel any sort of bond with him, but I hate it that all of those old feelings have come clawing their way back to the surface.

"Okay," she says as her eyes dart toward the door.

"You know what he did to me, Mia. Nick is a dick," I say and then laugh out loud. "Nick the dick. I think that'll be my new name for him." Mia's eyes widen and she shakes her head. "What? Nick the dick. It's kind of cute, right?"

Two large, warm hands squeeze my waist from behind, and I feel his smile against my skin as he kisses my cheek. "Having trouble keeping me and my dick out of your head, Chloe?"

I turn and scowl at him while Ethan stands and laughs next to Nick. "That's not what I was—ugh. Why are you here?"

"To workout, same as you," he says.

"Well, we're done, so we're leaving." I widen my eyes at Mia so she'll hurry up and get off the treadmill.

"That's probably a good thing, or I'd have to haul your ass out of here, anyway," Nick says, scanning me from head to toe.

"What? Why?"

His jaw tightens as he tilts his head toward the mirrors. "Look at you."

"What the hell is wrong with the way I look?" My mouth drops open and I turn to inspect my appearance in the mirror.

"There isn't a single thing wrong with the way you look. As always, you look fucking incredible," he says, almost sounding angry about it. "I just don't want every fucking dude in here checking you out."

"Chill," Ethan says below his breath.

"What makes you think anyone is checking me out?" I ask as I pull my tank top off over my head, leaving me in just my yoga pants and sports bra, knowing full well that plenty of guys actually are looking now. "Not that it's any of your business if they are or not."

Nick's face turns red, and he steps even closer to me. "It's absolutely my fucking business. Put your shirt back on."

I look up into his possessive blue eyes with defiance and tilt my head to the side. "No."

"Fine," he says as he rips his shirt off over his head, revealing his sculpted chest. I'm so busy staring at his hard body that I don't even notice that he's wrapping his shirt around my torso.

"What the hell are you doing?" I say, fighting against him. "Knock it off."

"I'm going to bust a fucking blood vessel here, Chloe. It's bad enough that you're pushing me away, and I can't mark you, but you can't just go showing off everything you've got to everyone else."

I look up at him and smile. "It doesn't feel so good to be pushed away. Does it?"

"I apologized to you for that night, Chloe."

"You're right, you did. So a year worth of feeling stupid and humiliated by you should just be gone now? Is that what you're saying?"

"Of course, not. What I'm saying is that this is reality for us now, and you denying it every step of the way is only making it more difficult for both of us."

"No, it's making it more difficult for you," I say, touching my finger to his chiseled, very bare chest. "I'm fine. Come on, Mia, let's go. I need to get home and shower. I'm going out tonight, remember." Mia frowns because she has no idea what I'm talking about.

"Where are you going?" Nick asks.

"Oh, I have a date."

Ethan shakes his head and mutters, "Oh, shit."

"The fuck you do," Nick says. "Unless you and I have plans that I don't know about. "

I look at him and shake my head. "Oh, no. You are definitely not invited."

"Don't play with me, Chloe. If you want to go out, I am more than happy to take you anywhere you want to go."

"I don't need you for that, Nick. I have someone else."

"Who the fuck has big enough balls to think he's taking you out on a date after seeing what went down between the two of us last night?"

"It's none?—"

Stepping in closer, he says, "Tell me who it is. Now, Chloe."

I stick my chin up in defiance, and I say the first name that pops into my head. "Fine. It's Travis." Crap. Why is my mouth always faster than my brain? I'll have to do damage control with poor Travis again.

Nick looks at Ethan and shakes his head. "Last night wasn't enough warning for that fucker?"

"Calm the fuck down," Ethan says to Nick then turns his attention to me. "Why would Travis ask you out when he saw what happened last night?"

"He came to find me to be sure I was okay after I left the pack house upset last night. I assured him that absolutely nothing is going on between Nick and me. I told him it was a complete misunderstanding, just like I told my parents when they heard about it. We talked for a while, and he asked me out. I said I'd love to go."

"You're canceling," Nick says.

"No, I'm not."

"Do you want him to end up in the fucking hospital? Because that's exactly what will happen if I find you out with him tonight."

I roll my eyes at him. "Don't be an asshole." I start to walk away, but he catches my wrist.

"I'm serious, Chloe. It's time to grow up and face the facts."

"Oh, fuck off, Nick. As if you have any right to lecture me about growing up. Please." I roll my eyes and turn back to Mia as we walk toward the door to leave.

"Cancel, Chloe," Nick yells, and I flip him the finger as we're walking out the door.

Nick

"Fuck."

"Don't worry," Ethan says. "She doesn't have a date tonight."

"What are you talking about?"

"When you were arguing with Chloe, I texted Travis. He didn't know anything about it. In fact, he went above and beyond to say that he has absolutely nothing going on with Chloe. She's lying."

I smile to myself. She was trying to make me jealous. "Thank God," I say as I pick up my weights for some bicep curls.

"So, what's the plan now? Do you even have one?" Ethan asks.

"To start, we need to find out where she'll actually be tonight."

"Why? So she can yell at you in public again?" Ethan says with a laugh.

"She may not want me yet, but once she turns eighteen, she will."

"Damn, this mate bullshit is intense," Ethan says as he sets his weights down.

"I should have just kept my hands off of her that night at prom. We'd probably be together and happy right now. At least she wouldn't hate me."

"Her birthday is in less than a week. She isn't going to hate you forever."

"I guarantee Chloe Harper is capable of making a week feel like forever," I say, and we both laugh.

"Do you want to run here, or go out and shift?" Ethan asks .

"Let's get the fuck out of here. I need to unleash and shift, and then I have somewhere I need to be."

Chloe

"Oh, my God. What a mess." I slam my phone down onto Mia's bed.

"I take it that was Travis on the phone?" Mia asks.

"Yes. God, I feel awful. His name just flew out of my mouth. I don't know what the hell I thought I was going to accomplish with that."

"I'm assuming he was immediately contacted by Nick and Ethan?"

"Yes, and of course, Travis denied everything. Nick knows I was lying."

Mia raises her eyebrows. "Was Travis really pissed off?"

"I mean, yeah. Of course, he was. I think it's okay now. I explained myself and apologized profusely." I'm beyond lucky he's willing to forgive me for the second time in the last twenty-four hours, but I think I've probably hit my limit with him.

I'm sure Nick is reveling in the fact that I lied, just assuming that I couldn't wait to make him jealous. I can't help but think about Nick's possessive reaction to me telling him I have a date tonight, which just leads to me then thinking about Nick with no shirt on. I can still feel the warmth of his kiss on my cheek after I called him Nick the dick. God, Nick's dick really did feel so good that night.

"Chloe?" Mia says, snapping her fingers and interrupting my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You good?" Mia asks with a smile.

Damn it. I can't let my mind wander like that. I have to focus. I hate him. "Yeah, totally. I'm fine," I say, standing and gathering my things. "I have to go home, but you and I are going out tonight."

"I'm in," Mia says. "Where are we going?"

"Nate Monroe's parents are out of town. He's having a party."

"Sounds good. Call me when you're ready."

At home, I turn the music on nice and loud when I get in the shower. I've always found dancing and singing to be a good distraction against most things that bother me. Nick Hayes is definitely one of those things. When I turn off my hair dryer and walk into my bedroom to get dressed, I hear my parents talking downstairs, but they're not alone. There's a third male voice. Going to the door to listen for a minute, I gasp when I recognize the third voice. Throwing on my shorts and a tank top, I run down the stairs to see Nick sitting at my kitchen table laughing and talking with my parents.

I shoot him my fiercest glare, which he returns with his most charming smile. "There she is," he says, rising to come and stand right in front of me. Before I realize what's happening, he raises my chin and gives me a single, gentle kiss on the lips right in front of my parents. What surprises me, and really pisses me off, is that I actually kiss him back. "Hi, babe." My mouth drops open and my eyes widen when he then says, "I just came over so we could share the good news with your parents."

I want to kill him. "What are you doing?" I whisper.

"What good news is that, honey?" my dad asks with a big, hopeful smile. My parents love Nick. Everyone loves Nick. They also know that I was in love with Nick at one time.

"I was apologizing to your parents for my behavior at the party last night. I told them there's more to the story, but I figured you'd want to tell them together," Nick says, looking at me with another big smile .

My mom clasps her hands in front of her face. "Oh, my gosh. Are you about to say what I think you're about to say?"

"That's right," Nick says with a nod. "Chloe and I are mates." He leans down and kisses me on my cheek as he wraps his arm around my waist, while all I can do is stand here fuming with my cheeks on fire.

"Oh, that's just fantastic," my dad says, shaking Nick's hand and then hugging me.

My mom gives him a hug next and then hugs me. "That's such wonderful news," she says. I don't think this moment could possibly feel any more horrific, but then my mom says, "I mean, we all know Chloe has been in love with you for years." Oh, God. My heart pounds in my chest, and I so badly want to run out of this house, far, far away from here. Thank you so very much, Mom.

Nick's hold around my waist tightens, and I swear, his touch becomes hotter at my mom's admission. "Well, I know because Chloe isn't eighteen, she's not able to recognize me as her mate yet, but I want to assure you that I've never been more certain of anything in my life. I love your daughter very much," he says, looking down at me with a genuine smile.

I hate it that the way he looks at me gives me butterflies in my stomach. I hate how good his hand feels on my waist. I especially hate how it makes my heart flutter when he says he loves me. Damn him. He can't just walk in here and do this.

"I couldn't be happier for the two of you," my dad says.

"You're awfully quiet, Chloe," my mom says with a small smile. "Don't worry, I know it's overwhelming, but you'll feel it all soon enough, honey. You must be so excited, though. I know you always hoped it would be Nick." Oh, dear God. Please, just stop talking, Mom. Mental note to never tell her any secrets ever again.

"And now it's true," Nick says, looking at me. "We're mates. We'll be together for the rest of our lives."

My mom continues to gush over the news. "We'll have to get the two of you an apartment, and we'll plan the mating ceremony. Oh, this is just so exciting!"

"Mom, stop!" It's the norm to immediately move into your own home with your mate, and the parents will often help cover the cost until the couple is stable enough to afford it themselves. But the last thing I want right now is to have my parents moving me out of my home and into an apartment with Nick after what he did to me.

My mom smiles at me and rubs my arm. She thinks she whispering so no one else can hear when she says, "Are you nervous about…you know? I promise it'll be okay. We can talk about it, sweetie." I know from the smile on Nick's face that he heard every word, and I feel like I could just die. Physical intimacy is accepted among mates. In fact, it's expected. It's a necessary part of forming the bond between the mated couple, but it's not something I want to discuss with my parents right in front of Nick.

"Oh, God, Mom! Enough."

My dad chuckles and makes an awkward attempt to change the subject. "Well, do you kids have big plans tonight?"

"What do you think, babe? Should we go out and celebrate to make things official?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Mia and I have plans tonight. You don't mind, do you…sweetie?" I say, looking up at him with a smile plastered across my face. "I'm sure you understand."

His lips press into a tight smile. "Of course. No problem."

"Good."

"Oh, it's so hard being new mates sometimes, isn't it?" my dad says. "You want to be together all the time, but it's good to remember to maintain your healthy friendships too."

"I'll walk you out," I say to Nick, taking his hand and pulling him behind me, out the front door.

"We'll see you soon, Nick," my parents call after him.

As soon as we're out of earshot from my parents, I put my hands on my hips and narrow my eyes at him. " What …the fuck …was that ?"

Nick crosses his arms and shrugs. "I did what needed to be done, Chloe."

"You did not need to tell my parents. How fucking dare you?"

"I needed to address what happened at the pack house, and I wasn't going to feed them a bullshit lie."

"You're full of bullshit right now! I had it covered with my parents. All you had to do was leave it alone! You had no right to tell them, and you had no right to catch me off guard like that! I don't even know if this is true yet!"

Shaking his head, he says, "Bullshit. You know I'm telling the truth, and they were going to find out eventually, Chloe."

"That wasn't your call to make, you ass. Have you already told your parents?"

"Of course, I did. They can't wait to have you over, but they know you have some turning eighteen to do before you fully recognize me as your mate."

"You mean before I recognize you as my mate at all."

"You can deny it all you want, Chloe," Nick says, shaking his head. "You know I'm telling the truth."

"I'm so pissed off at you right now!" I step forward and push him in the chest, but he grabs my arms and pulls me into the warmth of his body.

He wraps one arm around my waist while his other hand travels up the back of my neck and into my hair as we stare into each other's blue eyes. "You're mine, Chloe. I'll keep saying it as many times as necessary."

"You crossed a line with my parents."

"You shouldn't have lied to them."

"It's none of your business what I say to my parents."

"It is now."

"Just leave me alone, Nick," I say, attempting to back away from him. His hold on me only tightens, and he lowers his forehead to mine .

"You know I can't do that," he whispers, touching his nose to mine. "I love you."

My heart thunders in my chest, and I panic at the way it makes me feel being so close to him. I place my hands on his chest and slowly back away from him. "You need to leave," I say, finally feeling like I can breathe again. "I have to finish getting ready to go out with Mia."

"Where are you going?"

"It's none of your business."

"You're not wearing that, are you?" he asks with a scowl, looking down at my tiny jean shorts and tank top.

"I am now," I say with a smile as I turn and saunter back into the house.