Chapter 5

"Guess who?" Large hands covered my eyes. My heart racing, I instinctively spun and hit my attacker square in the chest with all my strength. I was rewarded with a grunt of surprise as the person holding me flew backwards.

"Man, I'm really starting to get the 'fighter' part of your nickname."

Nate. The voice belonged to Nate. Slowly my breathing returned to normal as I realised there was no threat. No attack. I was safe.

Still panting slightly I turned to my friend, "How have you not learned that sneaking up on me is never a good thing?" My experience five years ago had more than cemented that fact.

"Lesson learned." Nate held his hands up in surrender even as a grin spread across his chiseled features. Nate was a walking male model. Clean shaven, square-jawed and not of a hair out of place. He was also well aware of this fact and spent more time checking himself out in any shiny surface he passed than anyone I knew. "I just wanted to stop by and say hi to my favourite girl shifter."

"And waiting until I got home and knocking on the door wouldn't have worked?"

He shifted uncomfortably on the spot, "Well, yeah, I was headed there now but then I saw you from across the street and figured 'why not?' Clearly regretting the decision now."

I stared at him a moment longer, enjoying making him squirm. Male wolves could be arrogant creatures, and if I learned nothing else since turning it was to make the most of these moments when they came along. It was almost a duty, according to Jess.

"Fine." I relented. "It is so good to see you." And with that I flung my arms around his neck, overjoyed to see one of my very best friends.

"And you Maggie-May. Sorry I didn't keep in touch more while I was away, work was brutal." I inhaled his familiar scent as he held me close for a moment. Nate had always felt safe, from the moment Jonas introduced us I had felt a connection to him.

"I'll forgive you if you carry these shopping bags back to my place." I swung the canvas bags in front of his face. I'd finally made that trip to the store.

"It would be my pleasure although you do remember you have wolf strength now? You could carry another fifty bags and not notice the difference." 

"So? Why would I do that when I have you." I happily handed the bags over, glad to have both the company and a pack-horse for my walk home.

We strolled in comfortable silence for a time, simply enjoying the crisp Autumn day. Nate was easy company, but right now I could sense the curiosity rolling off him in waves. He wasn't here just to catch up, he wanted something.

"Gah! Spit it out already." My shout startled him. "I know you have something to say, so say it. Since when have you ever embraced the silent approach, Nathaniel?"

He turned, his eyes holding a hint of worry. Nate was not a worrier. Life for him was easy, he knew who he was and his place in the pack, that was all he needed. He had never had cause to fear the unknown or doubt himself. I can't lie and say I didn't envy him that. To live without always being scared of your own life.

Gesturing to a bench next to us he sat heavily. "I spoke to Jonas when I got back into town. He had an interesting little bit of information to share.'

Crap.  I joined him sitting down. "I think I can guess what it was he had to say, but I'm not sure what you're expecting me to say? My head is still trying to figure it out as it is."

Agreeing to meet the outside wolf was weighing on me. Change was a terrifying prospect. I needed to feel in control, a symptom of my complete lack of it five years ago. Control was power, and I worried I was putting myself in a position where I had neither.

"The why agree to it? Why the sudden need to date, Maggie-May? You've never said a word about wanting to meet someone." The frown lines on his forehead only made him look even more attractive.

"Because it seemed like the right answer to give." Maybe. "And Jonas supports it. I trust his opinion, he wouldn't put me in a bad situation. Maybe I just need a push?" Even to my ears my arguments sounded weak and uncertain.

"I get that but why be pushed towards an outsider?"

"What, Jealous?"

He recoiled in horror, "Huh? No! You're the annoying little sister I never wanted. You're my best friend but I could never go there with you. Add to that the fact that Max would rip my spine out through my asshole as another compelling reason."

"Thanks for the slightly unflattering honesty." Although I wasn't hurt. I knew what he was saying, we were friends but there was no romantic spark between us, no pull to want anything more than that. That was the joy of our relationship, there was nothing pressured or complicated.

"Maggie, I just want to understand so I know what you need from me. Don't do this just because you think you should, you need to be sure. For all our sakes." He tone was deadly serious.

"What do you mean, 'for all our sakes'? My dating life involves no one but me and my potential date. This isn't a communal undertaking." I did suspect that the pack would take an interest, however.

"Sure it is. Not only do you have people who care about you, but if you seriously plan on dating then we all have to brace ourselves for living with an angry and brooding Max. Let's face it the guy can be tough to handle on a good day, but you meeting another male wolf is really going to push his buttons."

"Max is a friend, sort of. I know he looks out for me because Jonas offered me pack protection, but what I do in my free time is my business." The words were hollow, I knew that. Max was complicated and I worked to avoid that in my life.

"Sure," Nate snorted, "Max only looks out for you because of Jonas. Come on, sweetheart, we both know that isn't true."

"I have no idea what you mean." Denial was going to be my friend on this one. Even with Nate I wasn't willing to go any deeper with this conversation.

"Fine, I hear you." He stood. "We'll go with avoidance for now. But just so you know Jonas is currently having to replace the big, antique mirror in the front hallway."

"Why?" That mirror was a thing of beauty.

"For some reason Max put a fist through it. I think the plaster behind it needs a touch up as well."

See. Complicated.

********

A few hours later and Nate had left. As promised he'd walked me home, although he demanded dinner as payment for carrying my shopping. My mind was still turning over our earlier conversation as I walked to the trash can in front of my apartment building. Max being upset was weighing on me, even as I didn't fully understand it. Maybe I should call him? No, talking to him usually ended in an argument of some sort. Text? The modern way of avoiding a real conversation. Perfect.

I trudged up the stairs towards my apartment. I was only one floor up but I still resented the extra exercise. Heading down the hallway a faint hint of rot hit my nostrils, grimacing I searched for the source. Arriving at my doorway I found it, a dead rat. I knew this building wasn't in the best part of town and that the landlord did the bare minimum but this was ridiculous. He'd be getting a strongly worded email from me tomorrow.

Gingerly I bent down and picked the little sucker up by its cold, leathery tail. Holding it as far away from me as possible I rushed back down the stairs and out to the garbage can. Sorry little guy but I can't offer you a better burial than this. 

Back in my apartment I sat on the couch staring at my phone. My palms were strangely sweaty as I started to tap out a message.

Hey Max. It was the best opener I could come up with. His reply was almost immediate.

What's up Little Fighter? Need me for something?

No. Nothing. Just thought I'd see how you are. As friends do. I was so lame.

Is that so? I'm all good. How are things in your life? 

Fine. Same as ever.

Not what I've heard. Big changes coming according to Jonas.

Nothing major really. A little experiment.

Experiment? Come on babe, you can do better than that. 

I don't know what you mean, Max. It's no big deal. 

There was a delay in his reply for the first time.

Course it isn't. Why would it be? Gotta go, Jonas is calling. Sweet dreams Little Fighter.

See, Max was absolutely fine.