"It's a cabin owned by one of our kind. Not exactly a pack member, but a friend of the pack. Real wealthy guy. I asked for permission to use it today, and he agreed." Jared pulls a saddle bag from the motorcycle and carries it up the door, where he punches a code into a keypad.
"Cool." I follow him in, taking in the rustic, yet very well-appointed cabin.
He unloads the saddlebag, which is filled with food from a deli-fresh cut up fruit, fried chicken, potato salad, and a sack of brownies. "Hungry?"
I eye the food. "Um. I probably shouldn't."
He lifts a brow. "What the fuck does that mean?"
His tone stings, and I turn my head to hide a flush.
In a flash I'm in his arms, my cheek pressed against his chest. "Baby, that came out wrong. Are you telling me you're hungry but don't think you should eat? Because that's not gonna slide with me."
I nuzzle into him, loving this protective streak he has for me. "I'll eat," I concede quickly. "I definitely don't want to go up against an angry wolf."
He chuckles and strokes the back of my head. "I didn't mean to scare you, angel. Did I?"
"You hurt my feelings a little. I don't like to get yelled at. But it's all good. I appreciate what you're doing for me."
He drops a kiss on the top of my head. "I won't yell again." He sits in a chair at the table and pulls me into his lap, then proceeds to hand feed me until he's satisfied I've eaten enough. Only then does he eat what's left.
"Okay, angel. You ready to meet my wolf?"
I jump up from his lap. "Yes!"
He stands and peels off his t-shirt. "It's bigger than a normal wolf. Don't be afraid, okay? I won't hurt you."
"I'm not afraid." Excitement wings through my chest. It's like I have some secret belief that seeing his wolf will close the gaps between us. The differences keeping us apart.
He kicks off his boots, then unbuttons his jeans and shucks them. His boxers and socks come off last, and then he's naked. With the world's biggest boner.
Again.
It seems this man never gets tired of me.
"I'll probably need to run. If I leave through the doggy door, just make yourself at home here, okay? I'll come back when I get my animal under control."
I don't understand what he's talking about, but I nod, anyway.
Jared gives a curt nod and then his eyes turn gold. He drops to all fours, a giant white and silver wolf. So beautiful I want to weep.
Maybe I do weep.
I definitely drop to my knees and throw my arms around his furry neck. He whines and licks my face while I stroke him all over. Beautiful, soft fur. Massive animal.
I'm in total awe of him.
"Jared," I breathe.
He shudders and bolts, running straight for the doggy door in the kitchen. And then he's gone.
I fling open the door, not to follow, just to watch. He covers ground swiftly, his massive paws leaping across the soft forest floor.
"Have fun," I murmur, leaning my hip against the doorway.
Incredible, gorgeous wolf.
Seeing him sets off a longing I can't describe. It's a tug in my belly. A deep need or desire that I don't even understand.
Do I want to be a wolf too?
No, that's not it.
I want him.
I want to keep him.
Forever.
Tears spear my eyes.
Why can't this work?
Jared
Angelina seems subdued after she sees my wolf. Maybe she finally understands how inhuman I am. How we can't be together. That thought shouldn't make me feel so fucking desperate, but it does.
She presses her body right up against my back on the ride down the mountain, like she can't get close enough, and yet there's a flavor of melancholy to her.
Is this goodbye?
Fuck.
I fear it is.
I take her back to her place and we walk in, slowly. "So what do you have going for the evening?"
I saw her time blocked off on her phone, but it didn't say what for. It was a recurring Sunday night date, whatever it is.
"Oh, um, not much," she says. "Are you hanging around?"
I slow to a stop at the weird strain in her voice.
Did she just lie to me?
When she looks at me, guilt washes over her expression.
I stunned at how badly it hurts. Unbelievably. Like a monster truck just rolled across my chest.
"I usually have dinner with my parents on Sundays."
There's the truth. But the pain doesn't ease. It amplifies. Because Angelina's voicing what I've always known but somehow tricked myself into believing wasn't true.
I'm not good enough.
Not for Angelina's parents, who want what's best for her. Hooking up with me may be fine for a two week fling, but I'm not the guy she brings home.
Ever.
I shove my hands in my pockets. "Yeah, I got it. That's cool." My voice sounds strangled. The urge to hit something is huge.
Or to shift and run.
"Yeah, I have pack business to take care of. I'll catch you later." I head for the door. I literally can't stand another minute in her place because I'm suffocated by loss.
Which is stupid, because she was never mine to lose.
But this is a good thing. Because I'd just started wondering if she's really my mate and whether I can figure out how to make this work.
The answer is no.
Which I knew from the start.
So walk away. And even though it kills me, I'll have to break my word and get her wiped. Maybe I can get her to agree to it. That needs to be my one and only strategy.
Stop fucking her.
Convince her to let go of these memories.
Our memories.