Chapter 6

“I still don’t like it. You spend way too much time on your own, exploring the woods. We’re worried half to death about the trouble you can get into.”

“Mom, I’m fine. Last night I wasn’t alone. Jordan was with me.”

Leah sighed. “That’s good. Jordan is a good boy. You haven’t had … you know...”

“I’ve told you, Mom, that’s not going to happen. Jordan and I are not mates.”

The cup Luke had been holding shattered within his grip.

Maya sipped her drink while staring at him over the rim.

“I don’t know my own strength,” he said, as an excuse.

Her father was already fussing over him, trying to clean up the mess.

“Let me grab you another one,” Leah said, reaching for a mug. “It’s such a shame. You and Jordan have been friends for as long as I can remember. He’d make a nice mate, I’m sure of it.”

“He’s not mine.”

“I know, but you are aware that some people mate even though they’re not fated mates.”

She chuckled. “I know that, Mom, and when his mate comes along, I’ll be left high and dry. Trust me, I don’t want that.”

“You know, sweetheart, you always talk about Jordan and his mate coming along. What about your mate? Your mate might turn up. I know it hasn’t happened yet.”

She refused to look at her mate, the alpha—the one sitting in their kitchen.

“I will never be mated,” Maya said. She moved to her place at the counter and took a seat.

“I don’t know why you are suddenly so ‘doom on you’. Mates come out of nowhere. Trust us. We know,” Leah said, walking to her own mate.

Maya watched her parents. There was love between them. They were happy and together, but that was never going to happen between her and Luke.

“I’ve been thinking about moving out,” Maya said, changing the subject.

Her parents looked worried again.

“I’ve told you we don’t need to talk about this.”

“I know, I know, but you guys don’t want me ruining all the fun you could be having.” She smiled at them.

“I know several apartments have opened up. Deanna, the florist, told me the apartment above her shop is a nice one, reasonably priced.”

“Actually,” she said, stopping her mother before she could start organizing it, “I think it’s time for me to leave town. You know, go out, explore, maybe learn something.”

“That’s not happening,” Luke said.

Maya ignored him.

“Honey, what about the pack? Your job?” Leah asked.

She shrugged. “I love the pack. You know that, but I … John’s great. The store is great, but I just think it’s time, and we’ve talked about this in the past, remember. Some people move on, they go and find something they’re looking for.”

“This is not happening,” Luke said. “You are not leaving this pack.”

She took a deep breath and got to her feet. “I want you to think about it. I know it will be good for me.”

Her parents looked toward Luke and then her. He’d stood as well.

“You don’t get to tell me what to do. Not now. Not ever,” she said, glaring at him. Spinning on her heel, she headed out of the kitchen and down the hall. She didn’t get far before Luke grabbed her arm and tried to stop her from leaving.

“Let go of me!” She had no choice but to whisper the demand.

If her parents heard, they would be suspicious.

“You’re not leaving town.”

“Do you remember what happened a couple of years ago? Five to be exact. You don’t get to tell me what to do. Not then, not now, not ever.” She looked past his shoulder, hoping her parents were more focused on each other than what was going on between her and the alpha.

“Damn it, Maya, you will do as you’re told.”

“Make me!” She pulled out of his arms. “But if you remember what you said to me that night, you have no right to even order me to do anything.” She looked at him, and then repeated exactly what he’d said to her.“You better have enjoyed that because that is all you’re getting. I don’t want a fucking mate, and especially not someone like you. You keep this to yourself. You tell anyone and I’ll fucking kill you and your whole family, do you hear me?”She glared at him. “Do you remember that?”

She certainly had. Not a day had gone by that those exact words hadn’t played in her mind.

****

Luke didn’t remember the exact words he’d said to her. All he’d been focused on was being cruel to be kind. He watched her run up the stairs. The nightshirt she wore was a little long and covered the curve of her ass.

Damn it. He should have stayed away. He knew this, and yet, here he was, once again butting his fucking nose where it didn’t belong. The wolf inside him was getting pissy. Five years without a mate. Without a good hard fuck. He’d been taking care of his own needs, and he wanted her. The truth was, he could blame his wolf, but he was the one who craved her. He’d never felt lonely, until he met her. The nights were long and the days even longer. Maya Simpkin played in his mind and damn, he missed her all the freaking time.

He stepped into the kitchen to find Leah and Ben sitting at the counter. There was a plate of breakfast for him, but he didn’t see one for Maya, so he asked.

“She won’t eat now,” Leah said, sighing. “She … I don’t know what’s going on with her.”

“She doesn’t like being the big girl,” Ben said. “That’s how some people see her. The big one.” Ben winced. “She will always be my little girl.”

“Maya is a beautiful woman. There is nothing wrong with her body.”

Leah cut into a piece of bacon. “I know that. I loved cooking for her. Growing up, she always had an appetite, and she was a pleasure to feed. Until her transition.”