“Don’t call me that” I frown and turn on my heels, leaving him behind me.
“Why not?” He asks my back.
“Only my friends call me that.”
“We used to be friends,” he retorts, coming into my room behind me and I snort a dry laugh.
“Yes, well, used to being the operative words there,”
He says nothing as I search my closet. “What are you doing?” River asks, sauntering through the doorway as I grab out my suitcase and plop my new items inside it. I flick my eyes to meet hers, not stopping what I am doing.
“I am packing.” I announce with a sigh before spinning away and grabbing a sweater. Then a shudder of excitement ripples through me and I bite my lip, stopping to face her with a smile barely suppressed on my face. Her eyes scan me, trying to decipher how she should react before she grins widely and squeals while jumping up and down.
“He invited you?!” Her mouth hangs wide open as I nod my head and giggle. “Holy shit! Of course he did! He would have to be a moron not to.”
“Stop it.” I fake a whine, but I don’t stop grinning, not for a second.
“It’s true! I know I’m your best friend and you think I’m biased, but you are seriously the most amazing person,” she says, looking over her shoulder. “And the prettiest, isn’t that right, Maverick?”
“Shut up!” I hiss, frantically making sure Mr. Hardened body guard doesn’t have a second to respond.
I can feel his dagger eyes drilling into the back of my head. River shrugs innocently as Maverick moves, sauntering around my room looking at photos or flipping through a stack of mail on my desk.
“I do not mean to rush you, but the alpha asks that we leave soon.” He says, looking up at me.
I hate how void of emotion his voice is. How formal he treats me like he didn’t just call me by my childhood nickname or grow up spending almost every day of his life in my family home. Like his family wasn’t equally important in our lives as they were his.
“Sure thing, Maverick,” River says, with far more sass than she has a right to. “Here, let me help you pack.”
River disappears, leaving me with Maverick at my back. I try to hide the tension I feel in my neck as I walk into my closet and grab some shoes. He says nothing as he wanders into my room, his eyes searching for something, but I’ve no idea what.
Maybe he’s looking for some semblance of the past. But he won’t find it. I’ve all but cut him from my memories, not thinking about him beyond what I had to do in order to move on from the last time I saw him. That awful life shattering night.
I fill my bag in silence, hating how aware of him I am as he seems totally oblivious and unaware of my uncomfortableness to him being back. But that’s no different from what it was all my life. Me pining for my older brother’s best friend while he seems to be aloof to me and all the emotions that swirl in my mind. That’s the problem with love.
Sometimes you can’t help who you fall for, and often it leaves you vulnerable and scarred. Ripe for the ruining. But I refuse to let him ruin this for me.
“He we go,” River says with a satisfied tilt on her lips as she unloads an arm full of sexy lingerie. My eyes go wide in shock as she holds up dainty lace bralettes and thongs with a shit-eating grin.
“What the hell.” I snort, trying not to laugh when I realize these are all my size. Leave it to my best friend to go buy me sexy underwear. I hold up a peculiar bra with ice cream cones covering where my nipples would fall and I stifle a laugh, shoving it in the bag.
“I figured he wouldn’t be a good alpha if he didn’t choose you, so I bought you a mating day present.”
“Riv, this is like, a week’s worth of lingerie,” I laugh and she grins.
“There will be no use for those.” Maverick says, his voice flat, but his eyes avoid mine and I chuckle.
“Of course there will be,” River scowls at him. “Just imagine her dancing in her room in one of these numbers and Alpha Hunk walks in and sees her. Boom. Mated. No mating ceremony necessary with these digs. Just get on in there.”
I roll my eyes and look at Maverick, who is struggling to hide his disdain for my over protective best friend.
“There is always use for pretty underwear, Maverick.” I scoff. “Even if it’s just to wear for ourselves as we prance around in our rooms.” Then I turn to River and point at her. “No mating necessary.”
I shove every racy lace fabric into my suitcase, enjoying the way the temperature in the room grows colder by the minute. I guess Maverick isn’t all that comfortable around underwear or strong, independent women who wear them.
“There are strict rules you will need to follow.” He mutters. I roll my eyes at River, who returns the amused sentiment as we giggle.
“Yes, Maverick, I am well aware of the rules. But that doesn’t mean we can’t toe the line.” I tease and give him the sexiest smile I can muster.
“Alpha Artemis likes his rules.” He blinks at me, unaffected by my antics.
“Good. I like to break them. Match made in heaven,” I tease, and I swear I hear him grumble under his breath.
I roll my eyes and continue with my packing. River breaks off, opting to shower before I have to take off and I make sure I grab the necessities I need, checking and double Checking I have everything.
“Is there anything else you may need?” Maverick asks, and I shake my head, not looking at him.
“Nope. I think that’s it.”
“You don’t need your blanket?” He asks, pointing to the faded purple blanket sitting in my get rid of pile. I snort and finally turn to look at him, his eyes curious as he watches me.
“No, that’s my get rid of pile. River will take that to the animal shelter for the human pets in the next town where she volunteers.” I say, shrugging. I turn to walk away, but Maverick doesn’t move. He stands before me, staring at the purple blanket like it’s calling out his name.
“You are getting rid of it?” He asks softly. “Why?”
“I have loads of blankets…” I shrug like it’s not a big deal, but inside I know it is.
Because it’s not just any purple blanket. It’s the purple blanket I freaked out about at the mall because it was so soft I told Jackson I would die if I didn’t get it for my birthday. It was the purple blanket that was left on my bed in a box on my birthday with a short birthday note.
The same damn blanket I cuddled with and cried with night after night, hoping my mate would come back for me, but he didn’t. And now it’s time for me to let that go, time for me to find something beyond the ache of a fated mate that never wanted me. It’s time for me to fall in love. And leaving this ratty once loved blanket behind is my final step.
“But it was a gift…”
“Yeah.” I give him an incredulous look. “That’s it. It was a gift that, as nice as it was for a while, it’s worn and useless now, there’s no comfort in the threads or the intentions behind it when it was given. Plus, Artemis has better blankets, guaranteed.” I give him a pointed glare and his eyes darken before he glances off into the distance.
“I need to ask you a favor…” He sighs.
“Oooh, that sounds like friend territory.”
“I’m serious, Tater tot.”
“You do not call me that.” I growl and he frowns. “You want a favor from me? Fine, but stop with trying to dredge up memories to get something from me. Just ask.”
“Alpha Artemis does not know our history.” He says, sticking his hands in his pocket.
“No, I suppose he wouldn’t,” I sigh.
“I am hoping it will stay that way,” he offers, and I break into laughter.
“Are you serious right now?” I ask and he just stares at me. “Why the hell would I want the Alpha King to know that his BODYGUARD is my ex-mate? You seriously think I want him to know I was rejected on my birthday SECONDS after finding my mate? He would think there is something wrong with me.”
I’m being dramatic and loud, but it’s only so he can’t hear how erratically my heart beats discussing this. With him. For the first time since the moment he broke my heart with those three little words. ‘I reject you.’
“There is nothing wrong with you.” He frowns. And again I snort making a much bigger production of this act than necessary.
“I am well aware, now, that YOU were the issue. Not me. But sure, your secret is safe with me. I mean, honestly, the only person who knows you are my ex-mate is River.”
“Wait, you never told your family?” His eyes grow wide and for a split second I see him in there, the laughter filled jock who used to make my heart sing. But he disappears the second there is a knock on the door.
“Just a second,” I call over my shoulder before turning back to Maverick. “There are things you don’t know about that night. Things you will never know. What I will tell you is that you died that night. To me, you are gone. I have grieved you and you are nothing to me, just a ghost that came back to haunt me when I was finally finding happiness. So how about this, you keep your distance and we will keep our secret between us because you OWE me a lifetime of happiness and this is the only way you can help me get it.”
*Maverick*“Let’s get one thing straight.” I say, taking measured strides toward her while she stands firm. “I’m no ghost. I’m as alive as they come, even if I’ve wished not to be.”I reach out and tuck a strand of her silky smooth hair behind her ear, my fingers aching to stroke her cheek. I have no right to do it. It’s completely inappropriate, yet I can’t seem to stop myself. She meets my gaze, her eyes full of fury and confusion as a storm whips around within her. There’s no helping the graze of my thumb on her cheek as I drop my hand and my heart races at the simplest contact. I knew it would be a mistake to be this close to her. Mate bond or not, she has always had a hold over me. “Right.” She scoffs, wiping at her skin where I touched her as if cleaning the stain of me away. My jaw twitches in disappointment, though I understand her hatred for me all too well. She takes a step back from me, turning to face her suitcase. “Ghost or not, we both want the secret of our past kept
We drive in silence for the rest of the trip, Tatum growing more anxious by the minute as she checks her phone, and looks out the window regularly. I find myself looking at her more than I should, my eyes lingering, and I try to convince myself it’s because it’s been so long. Seeing her has brought back many emotions I never dealt with. Memories I buried without so much as thinking I would ever have to face them again. Yeah, that’s all it is. The memories, not the curve of her lips when she smiles anxiously to herself. It’s not the way the light bounces off her perfectly smooth skin or gleams in her hair. No. It’s the memories and once we get there, I won’t have to be troubled to be near her enough to worry about those.“We are here,” I tell her, my eyes connecting with hers as she looks up from her phone and then she glances out the window, perking up. The excitement on her face as we turn into the Fallen Star Pack is contagious, as I struggle to hide my grin and watch the road ahe
*Tatum* “Shit, shit, shit,” I mutter in annoyance as I pace my new bedroom floor carpet. “Oh, come on, it’s not that bad,” Maverick says from the door frame he is leaning on. The one that now connects our rooms because I don’t just have a bodyguard now, I have zero privacy. I shoot him an icy glare and he fights back a smile. The blood still caked to the side of his head where his injury heals. “You are supposed to keep your distance,” I remind him. “You promised.”“Being around me isn’t that awful. The mate bond is gone, and we used to get along.”“I had the biggest crush on you!” I squeal “we got along because I liked you and hung on your every word, stupid or not.”“And?”“A lot has changed since then.” I scoff.“Like what?” he says. He is trying to annoy me now, and it’s of course working like a charm as my face heats and all I want to do is stomp and growl.“I don’t like you anymore! Not even as a person.” I remind him and he stares at me. There is a lingering smile on his lip
“Shit,” Artemis mutters, rushing forward, as he crouches down and turns Maverick’s head to the side, inspecting the injury. “He should have seen a healer, the stubborn idiot.” “I tried to get him to see them…” I whisper, trying not to show my internal panic. Maverick was in a rather intimate position with me now that I think about it. On his knees, hands on my body…I swallow roughly. What the hell was I thinking? “Oh, I believe you. I'm quite surprised he let you even help,” He says, standing and placing a hand on his hip before he exhales loudly. “Maverick never sees the healer unless he has to. And by has to, I mean when I order him to.” My eyes widen a little in surprise. “Why? Does he just not like healers?” I ask Artemis, who shrugs. “He has never really given anyone an answer, and it’s not really our place to ask,” He says, walking around Maverick before motioning for me to come over. “Here, help me get him up. We can’t leave him on the bathroom floor.” I want to tell him
*Maverick*I struggle to control the fall into the world of dreams. The inevitable spiral to the only place in the world, dream or real, that I fear. The darkest part of my mind, the reason for my self loathing and why I look for forgiveness in everything I do, why I started hunting rogues to begin with. I try to breathe through it all, the rushing of my mind. The twisting of my insides telling me that in a moment, no matter how hard I try, I will open my eyes and I will be back in that field. The same field that started the events of the hell I had to live through. But when I open my eyes, I’m living it all again. The rogues jump out of the woods, and panic digs its claws deep within me. My first thought should be to use the mind link to warn the pack, but I’ve grown cocky. Years of training have led to this one moment. My first fight, it’s finally my time to put all that hard work and sweat to good use. The first one lunges for my throat and, without so much as a sidestep, I avoi
*Tatum*“What are you doing?” Maverick asks, walking into my side of the room. I tilt my head to the side in feign shock as I tie the laces on my running shoes.“Oh, he speaks now?” I ask, and he shoots me a scowl. Three damn days of him being pouty and near silent. Strange how days ago I wanted him to shut up and leave me alone, but somehow, with him being my shadow, his silence annoys me more.I have spent the last three days trying to pretend the grump ass isn’t affecting me or the girls wanting to hang out with me. At lunch Clem teased maybe he suffered brain damage. I have to admit, until right now; I thought he might have. “I have spoken to you all along.” He says with an unamused frown. “I’m going for a run.” I tell him, standing and placing my hands on my hips, just daring him to tell me no. That’s the other thing he has been doing a lot of. Telling me no with a scowl and a headshake. And I’ve had more than enough of it.“You hate running,” he reminds me and I scoff, preten
*Maverick*“You did?” I ask her again. I feel numb, my arms and legs heavy as I hang on her every word for confirmation of something that can only live in the past. But I have to know. Tatum rolls her eyes and walks away from me. “Yes, did. In the past tense. Now what does Beta Milo want?” She asks again.“He just asked me to escort you to his office.” And that’s the truth.I am friends with both the alpha and his beta, but that doesn’t mean I am privy to all the information. I don’t make important decisions, I just protect. It’s honestly easier that way. I don’t have much of a life, but I enjoy the simplicity of it.She fidgets with her running jacket, tugging at the hem before she reaches up and tries to smooth her hair. You wouldn’t think someone so naturally beautiful could be this self conscious. Tatum looks at me, catching me red-handed as I stare and she frowns. “Do I look okay?”“You look like you went for a run…” I offer her honestly.I can’t really tell her how her flushed
*Tatum* Watching Artemis in the candlelight is probably the most surreal feeling I have ever had. To call him handsome feels like a disservice to his naturally sharp jawline and his kind eyes. He is what River likes to call ‘boy band’ pretty. With perfectly proportional features, glorious hair, and a smile that could thaw even the thickest ice. And the best part? It feels right. Being here with him at this moment feels like I am finally on track with my life. It’s not that I haven’t been happy where I’m at in life, I have been. It’s just…lonely. Being rejected brands you. Makes you look undesirable. That’s why this app, Alpha Artemis, willingly wanting to date only rejected females? It’s a gift. “You look beautiful.” He whispers, placing his elbows on the table to prop up his chin as he dissects my face with his eyes. “And I’m not just trying to flatter you.” “Oh,” I tuck my hair behind my ear, shyly, looking away. “No, no,” he insists. “Look at me Tatum. I want you to see the t