Five Years as My Mate's Stand-In

s through like a wildfire. "Lauren, you won't believe this! My stoic-as-a-ro

r brother, have been secretly bound for five years now. It started quietly-partly because of Brooke being my best friend, par

ollege, and apparently, he's de

s. "He told you?" I ask

is little mate just got back to the pack today, and he threw h

ce sharper . "You sure

ut tonight? He was shielding her from drinks, showering her with gifts

nto static. My ears ring, and my chest tightens li

even as it shakes at the edges.

e's been chasing her for ages. Get this-he was so smitten in high school, he could've gone

y, but I manage

r a while. Then, when she got into some trouble abroad, he heard about it and flew out th

. "I've been dying to know what kind of she-wolf could keep Cole, the untouchable lo

for a beat

her eyes. I swear, I did a double-take. You sur

ading like wildfire. My blood feels like it'

, so she asked me to pick him up. I dragged him home, barely managing his stumbling weight. The second we stepped th

my head spinning from the heat of his scent, my legs barely holding me up. Then

g him back. "Cole, open your

is body burning against mine. "Oh, I see

e'd already won. My cheeks bu

meet his eyes. In them, I saw my reflection-like stars sca

hallenged, his voice

eart stilled, and I met his gaze head-on. Then his lips brushed mine, soft at first

he couldn't get enough. At one point, he leaned down, kissing my eyelids,

mory like a knife. He didn't say "bea

was drunk that night, heartbroken over his white-hot moon, and I was just. there. A s

free, spilling down my cheeks. I choke dow

out of it. I wipe my face, pul

of Cole's packmates, says, propping

I'd bring

mutter, guidi

der, his breath warm against my skin. Then he

bullet. The whole room goes s

n. One of the pack had a birthday tonight. Cole's just

ring. Dylan seems relieved, helping Cole to t

e years together, and I've never once snooped. But now? I need to know. I need to