R H Y S 

When we got back to the house and I had Dove situated, unpacking with her things, I slipped away into my room and closed the door. I needed to get away from her. The bond was a growing gravitational force, pulling us closer and closer. If I could limit the amount of exposure we had to one another than maybe I could beat it. There was no law that said true mates had to be together. I had a choice in the matter. It just wasn’t a choice most wanted to make.

If I were a different man with different responsibilities…I pushed those thoughts from my mind before they could take root. I had to navigate this situation carefully. There was more to this then how the two of us were connected. The most important thing was dealing with Dove’s relationship to a real bastard. He was an Alpha. So, killing him would have consequences, even if I was completely justified in doing so. My father would’ve counselled me to be diplomatic but I doubted that would be possible considering everything that had already transpired.

I just needed to think harder. There had to be a solution to this that didn’t end in a war between our two packs. I raked my fingers through my hair, frustration bubbling in my veins. That wasn’t the kind of legacy I wanted to leave behind.

A soft knock on my door broke my thoughts.

“Rhys?”

I frowned as I glance toward my door, debating whether to respond or not – in the end I chose silence. This distance was for the best. I could sense that she remained on the other side, waiting…maybe hoping for a response. Guilt cut at my insides and my wolf pushed at the barriers of my flesh, but I held firm. A small sigh echoed through the room. I could almost feel Dove’s disappointment striking against my skin like broken glass. I held my breath and a minute later I heard the sound of her walking away.

It took a moment for me to get my wolf to calm down. He’d wanted to chase after our female, but I couldn’t allow that. Maybe later I would let him out for a run through the woods, it had been a couple days – and I could feel the itch to unburden myself from my human flesh. All this business with Dove had complicated most aspects of my life. I sighed as I slipped my shirt over my head and pulled my cellphone from my pocket and set it on the bedside table before dropping into bed.

I instantly regretted that decision. The scent of Dove and our sex still clung to the sheets. I groaned into my pillow as my cock swelled.

I wanted her so bad.

I knew if I went to her…she’d give in. Which only made it harder to resist, but I found the will to remain where I was. Instead, I undid my jeans and pulled my cock free. I gripped it in my hand and began to stroke it, pulling up the image of Dove in my mind. This way was safer, though not nearly as satisfying.

I closed my eyes and imagined her laid out before me. Brown hair a halo around her head, snowy skin flushed pink. Her back would be arched off the bed as I teased her perky nipples between my fingers. The scent of her sex…

My cellphone began to vibrate loudly. Couldn’t I get one moment of peace? I tried to ignore it, but it was not use. The image of Dove slowly faded from my mind. I growled, tucking myself back into my boxers before grabbing my phone.

“I’m busy.”

“Well, we have a problem,” Dace said through the speaker.

I bared my teeth, tightening my grip on my phone. Why should I have expected anything different? My life was a walking shit show as of late. “What’s up?”

“The boys have gathered at the bar for an impromptu meeting. Seems like someone let slip about your girl…”

“She’s not my girl.” I corrected—too fast.

“Whatever you say.” He chuckled. “Anyway, they look pretty worked up. You might want to get down here.”

Shit.

I should’ve known this would get out but I wanted to be the one to release the information. Now I was playing clean-up and that didn’t look good. I stood up from my bed, grabbing the shirt I had tossed on the floor earlier. “I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Shower first.”

I let out a growl as I hung up on him. Make that a cold shower.

A half hour later I was dressed and ready to go, making my way out of my room. I walked softly down the hallway, noticing Dove’s door was wide open. I glanced inside, her bag sat on her bed with some clothes laid out. Nothing had been put away as I had expected it to be. I told her that she could make herself at home—even made sure that there was nothing from the past lingering in the old dresser that had once belonged to my grandmother. Maybe I should’ve been happy she wasn’t settling in too much, considering her stay was meant to be a short one. I turned away from the room.

When I neared the edge of the hallway I paused, taking in the sight before me. Dove had situated herself on the couch, beer in hand and a bowl of popcorn on her lap. It was hard not to invest into the image of her comfortable and at peace in my home. It didn’t matter that I knew things between us would come to an end. The bond was a living thing that had its own agenda and its ancient magic was hard to ignore.

I approached hesitantly. “What are you watching?”

Things had been tense between us since this morning and If I was being honest, I hated it. The logical part of me understood the distance was best but the larger part of me just wanted to wrap myself up in her and get lost. Even for a moment, I wanted to be a man without titles and obligations.

Dove jumped and let out a small squeal, spilling some popcorn onto the floor. I smiled, despite myself. She twisted, looking put out as she met my gaze, hand pressed to her heart. “You ass. You nearly gave me a heart attack.”

I chuckled. “Sorry.”

“I’m sure you are.” She didn’t sound too convinced of my sincerity but there was a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

“So, what are you watching?”

She glanced at the movie menu lighting up the television. “Kill Bill.”

One of my favorites. “Tarantino is always a solid choice.”

Dove nodded, patting the spot on the couch next to her. “Join me?”

“Can’t.” Her shoulders dropped at my response. My own disappointment was overwhelming, surprising me. I’d never been the guy to want to linger with a female unless we were in bed, but with Dove everything was different and new.

Her eyes traced my body, a brow arching up. “You going somewhere?”

“Pack stuff.”

“Right, makes sense.” I noticed the way her body went rigid. This other male had obviously done a number on her when she’d been with him. My eyes focused on the bruises that lined her throat, blue and purple finger prints. My wolf rose up from the darkness of my mind, snapping his teeth and clawing at my skin. I rolled my shoulders as I tried to redirect my train of thought. It was too dangerous to think about those things when I was in Dove’s presence. Losing control, I felt that would only add to the damage that had already been done.

“I should be back in a couple of hours. Enjoy your movie.”

She gave me a weak smile. “I intend too.”

After an awkward silence I turned from her and walked to the door, opening it.

“Rhys?”

I looked back over my shoulder, meeting her whiskey eyes.

She hesitated for a moment. “Be safe.”

I held her gaze, something in my chest clenching tight. The concern of a good woman could do strange things to a man. “Always am.” I didn’t linger, locking the door behind me as I left.