After our first date, Tyler and I had several more. During this time we got to know each other better and grew closer. Not too long after we started dating we ran into problem. Our wolves were unhappy with our distance and were fighting for control. Tyler and I discussed this and agreed to share items of clothing. The scent from my clothing would comfort his wolf and the scent from his clothing would comfort my wolf. After a couple of months I have finally decided to trust Tyler. He has proved himself to be a kind and caring mate thus far. Despite our terrible start, I feel ready to commit myself to him. I am excited that I have finally opened up to someone and want to share the good news with him. I walk out of my office with a grin on my face. I hurry down to my car. I climb in and buckle my seat belt before pulling out of the parking garage. I’m off to Moonfang pack to see Tyler. The guards wave me in at the gate and I drive to the central pack house. My car jerks t
Several days pass while I complete the same routine. Wake up, eat, work, eat again, and sleep. My heart feels heavy and empty. I feel so betrayed. I trusted Tyler and he betrayed that trust as soon as he earned it. Rather than dwell on this, I push the feelings down and ignore them. Instead, I throw myself into my work. I spend long hours at the office and only return home to go to sleep. Tyler has not stopped trying to contact me during this time. The day after I found him kissing another she-wolf, I was handed a bouquet of hyacinths that he had sent to my office. Tyler has texted me several times each day and left me a couple of voicemails. I have not read any of the messages. I cannot bring myself to confirm that he doesn’t want me. I am typing up an email when I hear a knock on my office door. “Come in,” I call. The door swings open to reveal Claire. I glance up at her with a sad smile. “It’s nice to see you, Claire.” Claire returns my sad smile. “Oh, Dear. Why did
Tick. Tick. Tick. The only thing to mark the passage of time is the ticking of the clock. I continue to sit and watch Tyler’s chest rise and fall. Seconds pass. Then minutes, followed by hours. Nurses periodically enter the room to check on Tyler before leaving again. Eventually, I hear a knock on the door. Cole lets himself in and sets a large tray of food down next to me. “The nurses told me that you haven’t left the room since you arrived,” he says. “I figured you might be hungry.” “Thank you for thinking of that, but I’m not hungry,” I reply. “You need to eat,” Cole states. “I have already watched Tyler fall apart once. I don’t want to watch him fall apart again.” “What do you mean ‘again’?” I ask, confused. “When you first arrived you looked terrible. Now, you look like a ghost. When Tyler wakes up and sees you, he’s going to blame himself for hurting you even more,” Cole explains. “I look fine. I just haven’t been sleeping well,” I admit.
I wake up, but remain lying down with my eyes closed. I pull the blanket tighter around me and snuggle closer to a warm pillow. It takes a couple of moments, but I realize that the ‘pillow’ is actually Tyler. Unfortunately, I realize this after he has already patted me on the head. Blushing, I peek my head out of the blanket and glance up at him. He stares down at me with a grin. My face must be bright red with how hot it feels. I don’t usually act like this. Tyler chuckles and lifts a hand to tap his cheek with a finger. I tilt my head and scrunch my eyebrows together. Why is he tapping his cheek? After several moments Tyler must realize that I am confused about what he wants because he says, “Can I have a good morning kiss?” I freeze. Should I kiss him? I feel conflicted. On one hand, I want to kiss him, but on the other hand, I am not ready to take this relationship any further, physically, than a kiss. I don’t want him to misunderstand. A peck on the cheek shouldn’t mean
The plates that were once full of food are now empty. Tyler leans back, pulling me with him. “What are you going to do now?” he asks. “I need to call Claire and Jane to touch base about what is happening. Then I was planning to go home and pack,” I said. “I’ll help you pack,” Tyler offers. “Okay. I’d like that, but,” I warn. “...I will only let you come if the doctor discharges you.” Tyler sets his chin against my shoulder and is silent for a moment. “Okay,” he mumbles. I gently pat his head while reaching for my phone. While I enjoy being close to Tyler, it feels weird. I have spent so much time pushing him
As I turn the corner, my house comes into view. The car bumps slightly as I pull over the curb and into my driveway. I press a button on the dashboard and my garage door rattles up. I press my foot to the gas pedal and slide my car forward into the garage. The engine falls silent as the garage door rattles its way shut. Tyler and I step out of the car, doors slamming shut in tandem. Metal clinks against metal as I pull my key ring from my purse and unlock the door leading into the house. Tyler follows me through the hallways to my office. I enter the room and proceed to sit in the chair behind my desk. “What are we doing in here?” Tyler asks, sitting down on the couch in the center of the room. “I’m going to write a list of what I need to pack, so I don’t forget anything,” I reply, pulling open the top drawer to my right and rummaging around for a pen and notebook. “Oh. Are you not going to sell this house when you move in with me?” he questions. “Are you ke
Time flies by as Tyler and I pack box after box. My office items were packed first. Then we moved on to my bathroom and bedroom. My bathroom supplies are currently stacked in boxes next to the bedroom door. There are only a few piles of clothes left to put in boxes. I fold a shirt and set it in the box to my left when I hear the sound of tape being pulled from the roll. I look behind me and see Tyler taping up his box. “That’s the last of my boxes. I’m going to take the finished ones down the hall to the front door. I told Cole to send over some warriors to help move the boxes to the packhouse. They should be here soon,” Tyler informs me. “Okay,” I say. “I’m going to finish the rest of my packing and then I will join you.” I pick up another shirt, fold it, and set it in the box. I can hear Tyler walking back and forth through the house as I continue folding clothes and placing them in boxes. The doorbell rings as I am taping the last box shut. I don’t bother to rush to
“What are you going to do now?” Tyler asks me as we are finishing our meal. “I was planning on unpacking. I’m not sure what I will do after that,” I reply. “Okay. Why don’t you get started on that while I take these trays back down to the kitchen,” he offers. “The boxes with your things in them should be in your room.” “Alright,” I say. I stand up from the couch I was seated on and walk over to the door that leads to my room. I turn the handle and the door swings open. I cast a precursory glance over the room. The walls are dark blue, to match the accents of Tyler’s room. The bed had a light gray comforter. The small side couch and window curtains were also gray. The furniture was made of a dark reddish brown wood. Sitting at the end of my new bed are the boxes. One by one, I cut the tape that secures the flaps down. I check the contents of each box and sort them into piles. When I finish, there are four piles. One is bedroom items, another is bathroom