His unclaimed mate

3

ears

ecaf or not. I was seriously one mocha frappucino away from blowing my own brains out. I sighed softly as I continued to watch the woman as she mumbled through her opti

as hard to find the time between school and work to make that drive. In my more frantic moments, when I had first moved here, I briefly con

egan, and I felt my teeth clench together a bit

wolf at the thought. I quickly tapped the corrected order into the electronic screen. "Will that be all, ma'am?" I asked in an overly sweetened voice as I lifted my gaze. She smiled and nodded h

rs left until my shift was over. I was going to have to make the drive out to the wildlife preserve, despite the mountain of homework I

in check. I needed this job to keep paying for the awful apartment I was renting. I had ditched the apartment the pack had provided f

Can I talk to you for a moment, please?" I nodded my head, but internally, I was groaning. When

t to roll my eyes. I frowned as I made my way into the cramped office space and took a seat in the hard chair across my manager. He eyed me in a way that I'm sure wasn't work appr

rds. I felt my heart clench at the thought. I had a strong feeling I

. A detective? He couldn't have

e to have you call him back when I saw you again. He said it

en permission to leave pack territory was happening. I had done everything in my powe

sey. They seemed to thrive on drama. I weighed the answer to his question in my mind. Now that you mention it, Frankie... Why yes, there is. My

with a boyfriend a while back. Must be about that. Restrain

hould really consider getting a cell phone, Scarlett. The work phone isn't meant for private matters," he added with a hint of judgm

the door was closed before I reached for the phone. The phone rang a c

Wyatt sp

the familiar voice. It took me a moment to register

I couldn't help asking the question. My reason

ail, I had cut my ties to everyone. They would have been forced to betray me, and I didn't want to

gone so long that you forgot me already?" I teased hi

n his voice. "I thought you might be dead. I've missed you. You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice." I b

safe?" These were the qu

a terrible studio apartment. Oh, and by the way, the truck

time all day. My wolf seemed less stressed out. That part of all shifters was a

p in. I missed the familiar things that brought me comfort. The longing in my heart surged to a crescendo. It was a

sigh of relief. "That's

tight. "How are

ny is being held this weekend." I always suspected that he would be the

pack will be better for

n doing well since he stepped into his father's shoes." The moment of connection was lost at the

on the phone, Wyatt?" I asked in a cal

t his response should be. "He's

them together at the announcement ceremony, but they flooded my brain. My wolf growled loud in my head

've got ten seconds to put him on, or I'm hanging up." I snapped, no longer in the mood to chat. I would have never spoken to any of them like that before, but I had been on my own for two yea

that I would ruin their plans to make our pack great again. They couldn't trust that the connection between their son and I had been severed enough to keep him focused on the female of their

uick." My heart began to race as I realized I was about to talk to my mate. Scratch tha

one, and the ache in my chest grew as tho

know. I didn't care if I came off as disrespectful. My anger towards the situation wouldn't al

ome looking into the matter of our missing she-wolf," he

d at him, reminding him that his father had hel

it." His tone was clipped, even slightly angry. I knew he would be angry that I hadn't stayed in contact as I had promised his parents, but

r that he had his chosen female. She would never be what I was to him. "You gave up the apartment that my father rented for you, and you didn't leave a number for anyone to reach you at or a change of address. Nothing. You vanished into thin air without a sing

to be left alone. The only reason I'm calling you now is to tell you to not to look for me anymore. Be satisfi

I'm your alpha now, and you will respect me. You have been allowed more freedoms and leeway than anyone else. Perhaps more than you shoul

eaving." He pushed it in my face. Reminding me that, as Alpha, he had t

I wasn't talking about my little sabbatical anymore. I heard his breath hitch a bit, and I could tell m

lett,

exhausted by all the apologies he had given me. They didn't take away what ha

said, feigning boredom as I tried to ignore the need to apologize for my behavior. The wolf part of me only knew the order of things; the a

business now. "We are having a pack meeting this weekend. There are important matters and changes happening that

allowed to leave again. He wouldn't allow that. His wolf wouldn't allow that. I would be forced to s

His voice rum

from the pack." And from you, my mind added. I could feel my body shaking as I came to terms with what I had just said to

u back kicking and screaming if I have to, Scarlett. That's

oked at it as karma for breaking my fragile, young heart before it even had time

you dar

pushed up out of the chair, and strode toward the door. I only had an hour, maybe a few hours at most, to get ahead

se did nothing to calm my racing heart. I was still high on the adrenaline rush of telling David off. I spotted Fr

up and turned towards me. "Is everything okay?" he asked. I nodded

unwrapped it from my body and put it down th