chapter 4

Elina POV

I stood in the arrival area, looking around for Ezra. I couldn’t find him. I called him, but he didn’t answer, and I sent a text asking where he was. He sent a text back telling me to meet him outside. As I arrived outside the airport building where cars were parked, I looked around the small crowd for Ezra. I was about to send another text asking where he was when I saw him.

Kieran.

He was walking straight toward me, but he stopped…stopped as if he was fighting himself. I was shocked to see him. Ezra didn’t tell him, right? He stood there clad in black, looking like a bad-boy biker. What was I thinking? He has always been a bad-boy biker. He looked more mature…much more mature than the twenty-three-year-old young Alpha-to-be I remembered.

We stood there, staring at each other. It felt like ages. I looked away and turned around to walk off. I was sure he wasn’t here for me…or I hoped he wasn’t here for me. Yet, I also wished he was here for me.

“Elina! Elina! Wait up,” I heard him call.

I stopped in my tracks. He walked toward me…closer. Too close.

“I am here to pick you up,” he said.

I turned around to face him, but my face almost bumped into his chest. I felt Elle purr as I inhaled his scent.

“I will take a taxi,” I said awkwardly and tried to walk away quickly. I wasn’t ready to see him or face him. But some part of me wanted to fall into his arms, while the other part reminded me that he had a mate…and I had just rejected my own mate.

“No, no. Hold on,” he said softly, holding my wrist.

I held my breath as I turned back to him.

“Thank you, Alpha Kieran, and I am sorry for letting you come all the way to the airport, but I can find my way back to the pack,” I said, removing my wrist from his hand.

“Can you listen for a minute, Elina? I know I am the last person you wanted to see, but for old times’ sake, please let me take you home,” he pleaded.

I stared into his cold blue eyes. I watched them soften, pleading as he looked back at me. I bet he still thought of me as a little sister. I bit my lower lip as my stomach churned. I hated this feeling.

“Ezra was supposed to pick me up. Is he here?” I asked, looking over his shoulder to see if my brother was nearby.

“No, he isn’t. Lina…his mate…is heavily pregnant, so he had to stay with her in case there’s an emergency,” he explained nervously.

I watched as he scratched the back of his head, then smiled and continued.

“He didn’t tell me you were coming. I… I overheard you guys talking, so I offered to pick you up.”

I had never seen Kieran this nervous. I stared in mild surprise and nodded, not knowing how to reply. I wanted to ask if his mate, Naya, wouldn’t mind him taking me home, but I didn’t want to sound too forward. I knew he saw that I was about to refuse.

“Please, please, Elina. Let me,” he begged.

“Okay, Alpha Kieran. I really appreciate it,” I said. I agreed only because we had been standing there too long, and people were already starting to stare…attention I didn’t want.

“Please don’t call me Alpha, E. Please call me by my name, or Kier, like you used to,” he said.

I stared at him, surprised, but I didn’t say anything. I didn’t smile.

“Where is your luggage?” he asked, looking around.

“I didn’t pack any,” I answered, stepping forward. “Where is the car?” I asked.

“Oh, hold on,” he said as he texted someone on his phone. “Now let’s go,” he added, offering his hand.

I didn’t take it. He slipped his hand back into his pocket.

“This way,” he said.

We walked toward where cars were parked, but stopped in front of a bike.

“Where is the car?” I asked.

“No, we’re riding the bike. I brought an extra helmet,” he answered.

“I am not getting on that. What would your mate think?” I asked. The bike brought back memories and feelings I had buried.

“Lina is making dinner. She’s excited to meet you. You don’t want to miss out,” he smiled, ignoring what I said.

“Hand it over,” I said, pointing at the extra helmet.

He picked it up and tried to put it on me, but I stepped back, took it from his hand, and put it on myself.

He froze for a second at my refusal, then sat on the bike and put on his helmet.

“Get on. It’s going to be a long ride,” he said.

I sat behind him…but not too close.

“You should hold on to me if you don’t want to fly off the bike,” he said.

I didn’t listen. He started the bike slowly, then sped up. I grabbed onto him tightly as I nearly slipped off. His scent was calming and dominant. Elle purred, and I smiled internally…until Elle said something confusing.

“Mate.”

“Mate is so warm,” she purred, like a cat being stroked.

I am crazy.

No…my wolf is crazy.