Chapter 11

RYAN

I have not seen April since the day she came to return my jacket. I tried to get her phone number, but she refused.

Was I frustrated? Very much so. Even now, I keep remembering her flat-out NO, followed by her walking away without looking back.

I have been acting rough and cold, even with my coworkers.

I need to hear from her; I need a damn excuse to approach her before I turn the city upside down looking for her. I know I can find her; I just have to check every vet clinic. But I am giving her time, letting her think she got away.

The bad thing is that my wolf needs her; he is on the verge of hunting down what is his.

"Wolf, are you there?" a familiar, amused voice shouted from the door.

"Little Red Riding Hood!" I should have guessed they would call for backup. "I missed you, you missed me too, right?" Crazy Michael lunged forward and scooped an amused Megan into his arms.

"Of course I missed you guys. It has been a long time since I last saw you," she says, returning the crazy guy's gesture.

"What about Jack? Or did you finally realize I was always the best?" I did not miss the playful wink he gave her.

"Of course not, you idiot. Leave my husband alone. Let's see when you guys find yourselves a wife."

"Jack, I still haven't found her. It is like she is hiding from me." Oh no, here he goes with his drama.

"If I were her, I would hide from you too," I muttered sharply.

"Do not pay attention to Ryan. He is like this because his little pom-pom flew away from him. Hard to get, you know," he mumbled while letting out a deep sigh. Like I said, the drama king.

"Who is little pom-pom?" Megan looks at both of us, fighting a smile.

"Oh wait, wait, I will tell the story. I call her little pom-pom because one day I go to Ryan's house and I see something huge and white in his bed. I walked in, consumed by sheer curiosity..."

"And yet they say I am the gossip." Just look at him.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted... I walked in and saw her. A bride, dress and all. The poor girl saw me and gasped for air, which is normal, I would have been surprised if she hadn't." Megan lets out a laugh, while I grumble. Perfect, we played right into Michael's game. "So we talked, it was nice, but then I hit a nerve and she started yelling. Then Ryan kicked me out." Placing a hand over his heart, he looks at Megan. "I felt so bad, but then I forgave him. Love makes us do ugly things."

"What do you know about love?"

"I know a lot, I am a ball of feelings. Do you want me to tell you, Ryan? Now that I think about it, I could give you some advice." Despite my bad mood, I cannot help but be amused by his nonsense.

"I think I will pass," I mutter in amusement.

"Your loss. Megan, come here, I am going to tell you how little pom-pom broke her ex-fiance's nose." Megan's eyes widen in surprise as she lets Michael lead her away. I look over at Jack, who has an amused smile as he watches his wife walk off with Mich.

"It is going to sound weird, but I missed that crazy guy."

"You can return him to the pack whenever you want," I say with a smile.

"How are you doing, Ryan?"

"Good, a bit tired, but good."

"You are not fooling me," he answered in his usual calm and irreverent tone. "Is it about the girl?"

"She is my mate," I confess after a long time.

"And there is a small problem, right?"

"A big one. She was just betrayed by her lifelong boyfriend, on her wedding day, with the best man." Then I watch my friend throw his head back and start laughing.

"Holy shit! This is going to cost you a lot, Ryan," he says, still laughing.

"You are telling me. She has a hell of a temper. I saw her throw a shoe and hit her ex right in the stomach. Days later, she showed up with an injured hand from breaking his nose." I run my hands over my face. "Can you imagine if I tell her I am a wolf and her mate? Oh, and I haven't told you the best part: she is a veterinarian. Used to castrating." I cannot keep talking because I am completely joining Jack in laughter.

"Relax, I have a plan, and Michael is going to help us."

"I am not doing it," he stated, and he seemed sincere. "I am not going to do it. Did you hear me?"

"That is an order, Michael." He just looks at Megan for help.

"I will go with you, and I won't let anyone touch your family jewels." Megan was getting more and more amused.

"If she is his mate, why does it have to be me?" This was starting to sound like a whining child.

"Because my wolf won't be able to handle being near her."

"Besides, if Ryan is the wolf, how could he go looking for himself?" Megan comments as she watches her friend whine.

"But she will want to give me a shot. I do not want to get involved," he grumbles.

"Stop crying, Michael. This is going to be fun."

"No it won't, Jack. We are not talking about Megan; she is sweet. Pom-pom is... a handful. It is better if Ryan just goes and claims her right now."

"She is human, she does not act like a wolf. And she is hurt. I cannot tell her that I am her lifelong mate, let alone a wolf, without her killing me."

"Right, so sacrifice Michael, then? I do not want to do it. All you have to do is go find her, seduce her, and mark her. I shouldn't have to turn into a wolf and pretend to be sick."

"Yes, you have to and you will. End of discussion."

As we finished finalizing the details, Megan comes running over.

"Alright, Susan found her. Her name is April Glass, and she works at Pets Corner. It is located very close to her house. So Michael, your time to shine has arrived."

After a series of protests, Michael shifted into a large brown wolf.

He just whined like a little pup, resting his head on Megan's lap while she stroked his fur.

"Come on, big guy. I promise you will be fine. And if anything bad happens, I will take Jack and Ryan to get neutered myself," she murmured, placing a small leash around his neck.

"Your wife is crazy," I muttered.

"Now I am reconsidering the plan."

When Megan comes back, she looks at us and smiles. "They are going to give him a bath, and then we have to go pick him up. She seems nice, please do not ruin it."

I could not stop thinking about everything that had happened. That woman is going to drive me crazy. The few times I had been told no before, I just lost interest.

But now it was about my mate, which not only gave me the challenge of hunting her down, but also the joy of knowing that no one else would touch her if she did not want them to.

She was the only one who could catch me, but she seemed more willing to push me away than to get close.

Everything now depended on what would happen in our casual encounter.