Chapter 3

She was pretty good at it as well. Maya absolutely hated it, but she helped the pack whenever they came into the store, and when needed, filled some online orders. John, the owner, was a nice guy. He was fair as well.

She hadn’t been able to move out of her parents’ home yet, but she was close to saving for an apartment of her own. Actually, she had enough money, but what stopped her was a decision. A choice. To leave the pack for good and to start fresh, or to stay.

Nibbling her lip, she looked toward the two towns. Some wolves, like Luke, survived without a pack. There was nothing bad about being alone. Of course, the battle would be in being lonely. That was the only part she wasn’t looking forward to. In fact, it did kind of worry her.

Tucking some hair behind her ears, she took a deep breath, trying to convince herself she was fine and happy. She hadn’t told a single soul what happened that night. Staring up at the full moon, she closed her eyes as she felt the tears welling up. Crying never helped but each full moon came with the stark memory. She was alone and her own mate didn’t want anything to do with her.

Maya had tried to starve herself. She had tried to do whatever she could to change herself, but the weight didn’t budge. She swiped at her eyes, swatting away the tears.

“Stupid,” she said.

“What’s stupid?”

She turned to see Jordan walking toward her. He was dressed in a pair of shorts. Maya was no longer naked either. She kept a crop top and shorts close by, after spending an entire week figuring out the sites of the woods where she often stopped during the full moon.

“Nothing is stupid,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

“Figured you were here. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine.”

Jordan dropped down beside her. “Damn, that’s a pretty sight.”

“Shouldn’t you be getting ready to go on a date?” she asked.

“Nah, no date for me. I decided to change it.”

“Jordan, you can’t keep doing that to a girl.”

“And with the full moon and the run, I’m not going to ruin the moment with emotions already running high. If she doesn’t want to see me, then it wasn’t meant to be. End of story.”

She tutted. “How do you expect to find your mate without dating?”

“Why aren't you dating?”

“I don’t want to find my mate,” she said. The lie formed easily on her lips.

“Come on, Maya. Everyone wants to find their mate. None of us wants to end up sad and lonely.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’ll go out and find my mate when the time is right. I have a little faith.”

He chuckled. “Is that why you won’t move out of your parents’ house?”

“There are more people out there, Jordan. More to life than the pack, and it’s been five years.” It was technically a lie.

No one knew that Luke was her soulmate … her fated mate. How cruel could the fates be?

“Maybe I should go with you,” he said. “Let’s face it, the past five years have been a bit of a bust. None of the women here are my mates.”

She shrugged. “They might not have turned yet.”

“True, but that means my woman is going to be so damn young.” He groaned. “I’ll feel like a freaking pervert.”

She chuckled. “Is that your problem? Feeling like a pervert?”

“Wouldn’t you?”

She thought about it. “I guess so. I hadn’t really thought about it.”

“If my mate isn’t of age yet, that could mean yours isn’t either.”

Maya rolled her eyes. “We do not need to have this conversation about mates right now, do we?”

All she could see was Luke. Her true mate.

“Aren’t you interested in finding out where your mate is?”

“No, not really.” She got to her feet. “I’m heading back. Are you coming?”

“Of course. Heights scare the fucking shit out of me. I don’t know how you do it.”

The moment he got to his feet, he rushed toward her and wrapped his arms across her shoulders. “Maybe we should make some kind of pact.”

“Stop it, Jordan.”

“Come on. You’re unmated. I’m unmated. We’re both lonely. If we’re still without a mate when we’re like forty, we should agree to mating.”

“And then have to deal with that kind of rejection as well when your true mate suddenly makes an appearance? No, thanks.”

“As well?” Jordan asked. “What other rejection have you had to deal with?”

“Huh?”

“You just said you’d have to deal with that kind of rejection as well. I’m just curious who else has rejected you? Or what have you been rejected for?”

She licked her lips, trying to find a good enough lie that would make him leave her alone. She couldn’t think. Her mind was all over the place.

“It’s been a long night, Jordan. I misspoke. It’s nothing. Trust me.” She forced a smile to her lips. She shoved his arm off her shoulder. “Come on. I’ll race you.”

Before she gave him time to question her further, she started running, heading back toward town. She didn’t turn back into her wolf. Maya wanted the distraction of running, of feeling her body pulsing with the energy she was spending. Each crash down on the ground sent the pulsing heat rushing through her body. Her feet sunk into the earth with each step she took. She sped up, feeling the earth, the wind, the freedom of just running. That was all she wanted—to be free.

For five years she’d been trapped, locked up with this horrible secret. The humiliation of knowing he didn’t want her. The alpha of the pack didn’t want her.

It’s time to move on.

Jordan was gaining on her and they were soon running together and the moment they cleared the woods, Maya came to an abrupt stop.

Luke was there at the edge of the forest, with his arms folded. He didn’t look happy. It had been five years since she’d been this close to him. Every chance she got, she had been far away. Taking a deep breath, she slowly looked up until she met his gaze, and then glanced away. She had no idea why he was there, and she didn’t care to find out.

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