Chapter 13

13

" L eave it to Ali to pack that bus full," I said over the noise in The Gay Bar. Rory, Poppy, Kade, and I squeezed into a corner with our beers, while Alistair flitted around playing host. The bus had been painted a neon green with "Camp Smudgy" stenciled in bold letters along the side. A mixture of crew members came. Everyone from one of the hair stylists, to several boom operators, to the stunt coordinator, to numerous production assistants piled on the party bus. Notably absent were Jabril and Hyde, though two or three of Hyde's entourage tagged along, and one of them—a blond—kept shooting daggers my way on the bus. Whatever.

I don't know what I'd been expecting, but the bar in question was actually in a beige house that just happened to have a bar in it. The poor bartender looked overwhelmed with all the orders and raced around the bar's U-shape, handing out bottles and cans of beer. They even had some local beer from the Keweenaw Brewing Company.

Most people ordered one of The Gay Bar's "famous" hotdogs or a homemade pizza. The two pool tables had a pile of quarters on them, as people called dibs on the next game. There was also a line for the pinball machines, and several crew members bought tees with sayings like, "I blew my wad at The Gay Bar" and "I had twelve inches at The Gay Bar." The inches referring to the hotdogs, of course. No rainbow flags here.

Since it was a weekday, the bar would close early. That was fine with me. I was dead on my feet. Still, I was glad I came. I hadn't expected to see Kade, even though Ali could be very persuasive. He'd probably been roped in the same way Rory and I were.

Poppy excused herself and hurried over to the pool table to get in on the next game. She'd put her quarters on the table the moment we walked inside. I had a feeling she was a pool shark.

Kade sat across the aisle from me on the bus and hadn't said much on the way over. He'd looked annoyed for most of the thirty minute ride, his eyes glued to his phone, his fingers tapping out text after text. Not even sure how he had a signal, since my cell had zero bars until we'd reached Gay.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Fine." His lips pulled into a tight line.

I raised a brow. If that was fine, I'd hate to see pissed off. I took a pull of my beer to keep from saying that. None of my business. Oh, who was I kidding?

"Are you sure—"

His phone rang. This was the third time since we arrived. He'd sent it to voice mail the last two times. Pulling out his phone, he went to do so again, when his brow furrowed. He answered.

"Bryan? What's up?" He had to stuff a finger in his ear to hear better. His furrow turned into a full-on scowl. "No, I'm fine. I'm so sorry. When did she contact you? Wait. Let me go outside. Hold on a sec." He mouthed "My agent," then wound his way to the exit.

"Wonder what that's about." I was tempted to follow him. Something about his displeasure made unease twist in my belly. I felt like I should be comforting him, even though I didn't know if that's what he'd want. But the impulse was strong, like a string connected us, and the further away he moved, the more anxious I became.

"Who knows?" Rory said. "I figured it was his girlfriend. Ali told me they've been arguing a lot."

"Oh?" I wasn't great at sounding innocent.

"Yeah, ‘oh'." Rory smirked because he knew me too well. "And no, I have no idea what it's about. You could ask. Be a good friend."

"Haha. I'll rush right out and do that."

Holding a cheese pizza, Alistair worked his way toward us. He nodded toward a long table where a couple of people had just finished, and we met him there. Only two seats. I took one and Ali grinned, pulling Rory onto his lap.

"Perfect."

Rory's cheeks pinked. "You are incorrigible."

"Granted," he said, then scanned the bar. "Where's our favorite wolf? He almost didn't come. Don't tell me he's on the bus pouting."

"He got a call from his agent," I said.

"Ah, I thought Nora was calling him for the hundredth time. I don't know how he handles it. I'd be smothered. Though wolves are pack animals at heart, so maybe he likes it." He shrugged, but his expression said he wasn't convinced.

Rory picked up a slice. "Don't wolves struggle if they're away from their mates? I can see how that would be hard with him being so far away." He took a big bite. His eyes held a mischievous light.

"Who said anything about them being mates?" Ali put his hands on Rory's waist and adjusted him on his lap. "From my understanding, they've been friends for a long time and decided to date. Now, stop fishing." He pinched Rory's side, and Rory squirmed. "Yes, just like that, little laird."

I gagged. "Eww. Get a room, you two."

Alistair placed the back of his hand across his forehead. "Alas, this fiery soul requires commitment and I'm, well, me. Otherwise, you can be assured, I'd have him in a room, on this table, on the bus, in the—"

"I get it! Don't need any more details." I covered my ears. "I'll never unhear that."

"You're welcome, precious."

Before I could retort, Alistair handed me a slice of pizza. He had some redeeming qualities. While I ate, I processed Ali's assertion that Kade and Nora weren't mates. Made sense, but it left me with some questions about wolves. I'd already shown Kade my ignorance about alphas, so would it be rude . . . or too flirty . . . to ask him about mates?

"What's on your mind, cupcake?" Ali asked after I refused a second slice.

"Why don't wolves ever mate with humans? Why is it always another wolf?"

Ali gave me a knowing look. "My goodness, I wonder what ever could make you ask such a question, hmmm?"

I flipped him off. "Never mind—"

"No, no, I'd love to tell you." He snuggled Rory back on his lap. "It doesn't have to be a wolf. There have been instances—rare, admittedly—where wolves and vampires have been fated mates. But, you're right, usually wolves find their life partners with other wolves."

"Never humans?" I rested my elbows on the table, my body seeming heavier.

"Never, precious, I'm sorry to say." He looked sorry, too.

"Why not?" Rory said around a mouthful of pizza.

"Chew, little laird." Alistair squeezed him. "No magic to bond with."

He could probably tell by my expression that I didn't understand.

"Wolves and vampires have magic?" I waved my fingers like I was casting a spell.

"Not in that sense, no. But at our core, we're magical beings. It's our magic that allows us to bond. And from my understanding wolves get restless in relationships without bonds. Probably the issue between Nora and Kade. She's ready and he's not."

"No one ever talks about vampires having fated mates," Rory said, wiping his mouth.

"That's because we rarely do. We can still bond, of course, just like wolves can. We just don't usually feel the need."

I bit my bottom lip. How did fated mates find each other? There weren't as many wolf shifters as humans, but still too many to meet every single wolf until you found "the one." Unless there was something instinctual that drew them together? "Wolves always bond with their fated mate?"

"You read too many romance novels, pop tart." Ali ran his hand through Rory's hair like he was petting him. Was he even aware he was doing it? "My understanding is that wolves wait for their mates until they're twenty-five, and after that, they're free to bond with a wolf who's compatible. Once they bond, it severs the connection with their fated one and they transfer that connection to the one they chose. There are yearly mating conventions in the US and throughout the rest of the world. Wolves from eighteen to twenty-five are encouraged to attend the nearest ones to see if they have any luck. Most don't."

"Why would they bother?" Rory tilted his head to direct Ali's petting. Looked like he was melting into Ali's lap. "I mean, if you can fall in love with another wolf, why would you wait for a fated mate?"

"Ah, now that is worthy of a romance novel. They say the fated mate connection runs deeper. Like two halves of the same soul coming together. Very romantic, no?"

"I guess—" A sudden pang in my chest almost caused me to double over. What the hell? Sadness seeped into every pore, and I couldn't breathe. I gasped.

"What's wrong? You're really pale." Rory pulled away from Alistair's hand.

"I-I just need to get some air. Too many people."

"Come on, I'll take you." Rory hopped up.

I staggered to my feet, my instincts leading me toward the exit. "No, you stay. Finish the pizza. I'll be right back. Promise."

Before he could follow, Ali grabbed Rory's wrist and shook his head. His eyes narrowed.

I pushed through the door and onto the porch. Leaning against the railing, I took a shuddering breath. What was wrong with me? All I felt was self-loathing, sadness, anger. I could seriously burst into tears at any moment. I leaned against the railing, the wind whipping my hair and rain pelting me even under the overhang. Never thought I'd say this after today's shoot, but the cold felt good.

"Teremie?" Kade's voice. He stepped from the shadows, soaked to the bone. "You okay?"

I took a calming breath, my chest still aching. Even though I couldn't see his features clearly, I sensed the tension in his body. He didn't feel . . . right.

"Maybe I should be asking you." I squinted, trying to get a better look. "You're drenched."

He sighed and stepped onto the porch. "I guess I am."

"Did something go wrong with your agent? You seem . . . off."

"Off. That's a good way to say it. Yeah, I'm off." He ran a hand through his rain slicked hair.

I had the urge to do the same. Instead, I stuffed my hands under my armpits.

"Wanna talk about it? I'm a good listener."

"Nora and I split up." His voice came out inflectionless, though a sharp pang in my chest told me he was more upset than he sounded.

"Oh. I'm sorry." I wasn't sure what else to say. Hadn't expected that.

"Me, too." He sighed again and leaned against the railing next to me. "It's been coming for a while. Her last boyfriend was a lying, cheating dick, and it's left her with trust issues. Me being on location has been especially difficult for her. I'd already talked to her earlier this evening, and she wasn't happy I planned to go out. That's who I was texting with on the way over here. After I didn't pick up tonight, she called my agent and worried him. Then she phoned my publicist. When I called her back after reassuring my agent and publicist I was fine, she accused me of sleeping with Poppy. It was the last straw. I just . . . can't."

"That's awful." I knew exactly how crappy it felt to be accused of something you didn't do.

"It is. I feel like shit."

I kept quiet because I'd overlooked so many red flags with Matt. I'd changed what I wore, given up opportunities, and spent too much time reassuring him I only had eyes for him. If Nora accused Kade of cheating, she might be a good person, but she wasn't a good partner for him. I leaned against his side, despite his drenched clothes. In the short time I'd known him, I'd figured out that wolves were really tactile, and a reassuring touch was better than words.

He pressed back. As usual, the contact lit up something inside me, like a light flaring to life in a dark room. Only this time, it was also tinged with sadness.

We huddled together, the wind whipping around us.

"Is there anything I can do?" I asked after a bit.

He shook his head. "It's for the best. She sensed I wasn't as invested in our relationship as she was, and it made her issues worse. That's on me. I waited before saying anything, thinking maybe it would get better. Tonight, I realized I can't give her what she needs. I didn't want to hurt her because she's still my friend, and she's under a lot of pressure from her family to settle down."

"That's hard. If it makes you feel better, you're doing her a kindness by letting her go now and not dragging it out any longer."

He snorted. "Is that how you feel about your ex? That he did you a kindness?"

I barked a laugh. "There's nothing kind about Matt Diorio, but he absolutely did me a favor by showing me who he really is. The signs were there for a while, I just didn't want to see them." I probably didn't disguise my bitterness well. It would take a lot more time for that wound to fully scar over. "The difference is, you were truthful with her, and it's obvious you care about her feelings. You didn't hint to her that you were going to propose on a livestream and then crush not only her dreams, but destroy everything you'd built over almost eight years together just for a ratings boost. Oh, and then encourage your viewers to weigh in on her heartbreak."

"Damn, T. That's cold." His voice came out with a growl. "What an asshole."

"He is. But I didn't mean to spill my guts about a long dead relationship. You can talk to me. Breakups suck, so having a friend—or friends—to talk to makes the weight more bearable."

"Thank you." He brushed a wet lock of hair from my cheek, his thumb running along the contours of my face.

The intimacy of that gentle caress had me leaning into his palm. It felt amazing. I practically purred.

Our eyes met, and for an instant, I swore he thought about kissing me. We seemed to sway toward one another.

He took a step back, his hand falling away. "I need to go. I'll see you later."

"Go?" It took my fuzzy brain a full second to process his words. "I don't think the bus is leaving for another hour or two."

"I'm not taking the bus." He stepped from the porch. One minute he was a man, the next a wolf. He shook out his fur, glanced over his shoulder, then turned and bounded away.