Chapter 2

Nathan

“What do you mean, she said nothing about me?”

Frustration gnaws at my insides as Leila rummages through the open fridge, pulling out leftovers and stacking them up on the counter. My fingers itch to shut the door and shake her until she tells me every word that my mate said from the moment they went into Leila’s old apartment to the second she left.

Breathing deeply, I try to stay calm. Leila is with her fated mate, but their relationship didn’t start with a picture-perfect first meeting either, so I have to believe she isn’t tormenting me on purpose. She’s not that mean. Most of the time. But she is annoying me by making me wait.

“Also, you don’t live here anymore. Technically, this is stealing.”

I shouldn’t comment, and I regret it the instant the petty words pass my lips. Her bump is getting more noticeable, as is her irritability. She is potentially carrying a bear cub, after all. Its natural grumpiness is probably rubbing off on her from the inside out. Leila leans back from the fridge and narrows her eyes at me, before defiantly shoving a slice of cheese into her mouth and slamming the door closed.

“I am tired and hungry. Will I tell Marcus that you won’t give me food?” She arches an eyebrow at me, daring me to tell her to put the pack's food back, knowing that threatening to tell her husband will put any wolf back in line. I shudder, glancing over my shoulder to make sure he’s not actually here.

“Fuck no.”

The last thing I need is for an irate grizzly to turn up here and kick my ass. I have enough problems as it is. Like how to undo the terrible first impression I made on Maya.

“Thought so.” She smirks before flicking back her dark hair and returning to her food. Not even bothering with a plate, she shoves the Tupperware full of pasta into the microwave and digs cutlery out of the drawer. “What did you want again?”

One hand on her hip, she points her fork at me like a weapon and I ease back slightly, putting myself just out of arm’s reach.

“Maya. She didn’t say one word about me?!”

When Leila shakes her head, I’m stunned. And hurt to the very core of my being. That can’t be true. She’s my mate. How could she ignore this completely? Maybe she swore Leila to secrecy because she was so upset or said such awful things about me.

“Why would she? How did you even meet? She only arrived an hour ago.”

The microwave beeps and Leila takes out the food, digging in with gusto. She eyes me quizzically while she chews and swallows. She’s not lying. I can’t believe it, but I there’s no deceit in her tone or body language.

“We didn’t,” I admit. Leila frowns and tilts her head at me in question, confusion written all over her face.

Shit. How much do I tell her? If Maya didn’t mention it, I shouldn’t either.

My heart sinks. Maya. My mate. That is refusing to acknowledge the mate bond with me or my sister. This doesn’t bode well, and I can feel myself breaking out in a cold sweat. It’s only right that we speak to each other first privately, but I’ve seen my brother go through rejection. The idea she might want to be rid of me before this even starts burrows itself under my skin and I pace the kitchen, unable to contain my anxiety.

“I saw her going into your apartment,” I hesitate, struggling to figure out exactly what I should divulge. “I thought we had a… moment.”

Leila snorts in disbelief.

“Nathan Jones, she has barely set foot inside the door and you’re already sniffing around? Goddess, can you let the girl have one night before you pounce on her?!”

“It’s not like that. This is different,” I growl, stopping and gripping the countertop so hard my knuckles turn white. Leila rolls her eyes at me, but when she sees the wolf flashing in my eyes, she hesitates. Sighing, she tilts her head back and looks up to the ceiling, searching for divine inspiration.

“You do know she’s Dean Reynolds' sister? You can’t mess her around Nathan,” she warns, and I grind my teeth so hard I expect them to shatter in my mouth.

Even though I know why Leila’s saying it, my entire being bristles at the mere suggestion, especially from my sister, that I would be anything but respectful toward my mate.

“No. I didn’t know that.”

This makes things infinitely worse. After staring at the door across the hall for what seemed like an eternity, waiting for Leila to emerge, the door creaked open, but Maya stayed out of sight as they bid their farewells. Even though she must have sensed I was there.

I followed Leila downstairs, peppering her with questions about the new arrival to the pack. Leila told me her name was Maya, and that she was part of the exchange program. But I didn’t realise she was the mysterious alpha’s sister.

It doesn’t matter to me who she’s related to. But it will certainly matter to him who his little sister mates with. Especially given my playboy reputation, which is undeserved, if you ask me. Stories of my antics when I was in my early twenties have been hugely exaggerated, and other than some friends with benefits arrangements, I have largely kept my nose clean for the last couple of years.

My wolf has given me no choice. He has increasingly become reluctant to do anything other than work and run. But if she asks him about me… it doesn’t bear thinking about. This is exactly what Cooper and Rex have been warning me about for years. Now they'll have their chance to say I told you so.

“I don’t even know if she’s single. I mean, I assume she is since she’s left the pack, but maybe she came because she’s dating one of the guys coming to work for you.”

Leila has no idea of the flames of fury she’s stoking within me. I turn on my heel to go, needing to leave, needing to immediately seek out my mate and assure my wolf nobody else will claim her while we’re down here chatting.

“Nathan, sit down.” Leila’s voice is eerily calm, and I freeze.

“What’s really going on? Tell me. You’ve been…” Leila’s big doe eyes are round and sparkling she moves closer, resting a hand on my arm as she looks up at me. “You’ve been different since Rex and Stacey. I’m here if you need to talk, you know that? Just because I’m not living with the pack doesn’t mean I won’t be here at the drop of a hat if you need me.”

Pulling her into a hug, I bury her face in my shoulder as I try to calm my racing heart. My sister did everything he could to help Rex get over his rejection. Including putting her own misery to the side. I pray she isn’t about to witness another of her brothers go through the same thing.

But we’re about to find out.

“Don’t be so dramatic, sis,” I whisper, trying to keep the nervousness out of my voice as I give her a kiss on the top of the head. "Go home. Put those fat feet of yours up and rest. When Hayley gets home from the hospital, you're going to be Auntie-on-call."

She grins at that. Hayley went into labor last night, which is why Leila is here settling Maya in instead. I know she can't wait to get her hands on the baby.

Disappearing out of the kitchen with a small wave, and shooing Leila to the front door and away from whatever shitshow is about to transpire, I start my slow ascent of the packhouse stairs. I fix my gaze on the door behind which lies the key to my future happiness.

Shaking out my hands and stretching my neck, I bounce on the balls of my feet as I raise my hand to knock on the door, preparing to face the music and see just how much trouble I’m in.

Her scent hits me like a tsunami the instant the door cracks open and she blinks up at me through the narrow gap. She's breathtaking.

“Hi,” I mumble, completely tongue-tied for the first time in my life.

“Hi,” she answers shyly, pushing a strand of black hair back behind her ear adorably. Her voice is like velvet and my wolf rumbles in delight at hearing it at last. Cheeks slightly flushed, she looks away and adjusts her grip on the door, not moving to open it any wider.

A little line appears between her dark eyebrows when they furrow and she looks up at me, puzzled.

“Can I help you?”