Friend Territory

“Don’t call me that” I frown and turn on my heels, leaving him behind me.

“Why not?” He asks my back.

“Only my friends call me that.”

“We used to be friends,” he retorts, coming into my room behind me and I snort a dry laugh.

“Yes, well, used to being the operative words there,”

He says nothing as I search my closet. “What are you doing?” River asks, sauntering through the doorway as I grab out my suitcase and plop my new items inside it. I flick my eyes to meet hers, not stopping what I am doing.

“I am packing.” I announce with a sigh before spinning away and grabbing a sweater. Then a shudder of excitement ripples through me and I bite my lip, stopping to face her with a smile barely suppressed on my face. Her eyes scan me, trying to decipher how she should react before she grins widely and squeals while jumping up and down. 

“He invited you?!” Her mouth hangs wide open as I nod my head and giggle. “Holy shit! Of course he did! He would have to be a moron not to.”

“Stop it.” I fake a whine, but I don’t stop grinning, not for a second.

“It’s true! I know I’m your best friend and you think I’m biased, but you are seriously the most amazing person,” she says, looking over her shoulder. “And the prettiest, isn’t that right, Maverick?”

“Shut up!” I hiss, frantically making sure Mr. Hardened body guard doesn’t have a second to respond.

I can feel his dagger eyes drilling into the back of my head. River shrugs innocently as Maverick moves, sauntering around my room looking at photos or flipping through a stack of mail on my desk.

“I do not mean to rush you, but the alpha asks that we leave soon.” He says, looking up at me. 

I hate how void of emotion his voice is. How formal he treats me like he didn’t just call me by my childhood nickname or grow up spending almost every day of his life in my family home. Like his family wasn’t equally important in our lives as they were his.

“Sure thing, Maverick,” River says, with far more sass than she has a right to. “Here, let me help you pack.”

River disappears, leaving me with Maverick at my back. I try to hide the tension I feel in my neck as I walk into my closet and grab some shoes. He says nothing as he wanders into my room, his eyes searching for something, but I’ve no idea what.

Maybe he’s looking for some semblance of the past. But he won’t find it. I’ve all but cut him from my memories, not thinking about him beyond what I had to do in order to move on from the last time I saw him. That awful life shattering night. 

I fill my bag in silence, hating how aware of him I am as he seems totally oblivious and unaware of my uncomfortableness to him being back. But that’s no different from what it was all my life. Me pining for my older brother’s best friend while he seems to be aloof to me and all the emotions that swirl in my mind. That’s the problem with love. 

Sometimes you can’t help who you fall for, and often it leaves you vulnerable and scarred. Ripe for the ruining. But I refuse to let him ruin this for me. 

“He we go,” River says with a satisfied tilt on her lips as she unloads an arm full of sexy lingerie. My eyes go wide in shock as she holds up dainty lace bralettes and thongs with a shit-eating grin.

“What the hell.” I snort, trying not to laugh when I realize these are all my size. Leave it to my best friend to go buy me sexy underwear. I hold up a peculiar bra with ice cream cones covering where my nipples would fall and I stifle a laugh, shoving it in the bag. 

“I figured he wouldn’t be a good alpha if he didn’t choose you, so I bought you a mating day present.” 

“Riv, this is like, a week’s worth of lingerie,” I laugh and she grins.

“There will be no use for those.” Maverick says, his voice flat, but his eyes avoid mine and I chuckle.

“Of course there will be,” River scowls at him. “Just imagine her dancing in her room in one of these numbers and Alpha Hunk walks in and sees her. Boom. Mated. No mating ceremony necessary with these digs. Just get on in there.” 

I roll my eyes and look at Maverick, who is struggling to hide his disdain for my over protective best friend. 

“There is always use for pretty underwear, Maverick.” I scoff. “Even if it’s just to wear for ourselves as we prance around in our rooms.” Then I turn to River and point at her. “No mating necessary.” 

I shove every racy lace fabric into my suitcase, enjoying the way the temperature in the room grows colder by the minute. I guess Maverick isn’t all that comfortable around underwear or strong, independent women who wear them.

“There are strict rules you will need to follow.” He mutters. I roll my eyes at River, who returns the amused sentiment as we giggle.

“Yes, Maverick, I am well aware of the rules. But that doesn’t mean we can’t toe the line.” I tease and give him the sexiest smile I can muster. 

“Alpha Artemis likes his rules.” He blinks at me, unaffected by my antics.

“Good. I like to break them. Match made in heaven,” I tease, and I swear I hear him grumble under his breath.

I roll my eyes and continue with my packing. River breaks off, opting to shower before I have to take off and I make sure I grab the necessities I need, checking and double Checking I have everything.

“Is there anything else you may need?” Maverick asks, and I shake my head, not looking at him. 

“Nope. I think that’s it.” 

“You don’t need your blanket?” He asks, pointing to the faded purple blanket sitting in my get rid of pile. I snort and finally turn to look at him, his eyes curious as he watches me. 

“No, that’s my get rid of pile. River will take that to the animal shelter for the human pets in the next town where she volunteers.” I say, shrugging. I turn to walk away, but Maverick doesn’t move. He stands before me, staring at the purple blanket like it’s calling out his name. 

“You are getting rid of it?” He asks softly. “Why?”

“I have loads of blankets…” I shrug like it’s not a big deal, but inside I know it is. 

Because it’s not just any purple blanket. It’s the purple blanket I freaked out about at the mall because it was so soft I told Jackson I would die if I didn’t get it for my birthday. It was the purple blanket that was left on my bed in a box on my birthday with a short birthday note.

The same damn blanket I cuddled with and cried with night after night, hoping my mate would come back for me, but he didn’t. And now it’s time for me to let that go, time for me to find something beyond the ache of a fated mate that never wanted me. It’s time for me to fall in love. And leaving this ratty once loved blanket behind is my final step.

“But it was a gift…”

“Yeah.” I give him an incredulous look. “That’s it. It was a gift that, as nice as it was for a while, it’s worn and useless now, there’s no comfort in the threads or the intentions behind it when it was given. Plus, Artemis has better blankets, guaranteed.” I give him a pointed glare and his eyes darken before he glances off into the distance. 

“I need to ask you a favor…” He sighs.

“Oooh, that sounds like friend territory.”

“I’m serious, Tater tot.” 

“You do not call me that.” I growl and he frowns. “You want a favor from me? Fine, but stop with trying to dredge up memories to get something from me. Just ask.”

“Alpha Artemis does not know our history.” He says, sticking his hands in his pocket.

“No, I suppose he wouldn’t,” I sigh.

“I am hoping it will stay that way,” he offers, and I break into laughter. 

“Are you serious right now?” I ask and he just stares at me. “Why the hell would I want the Alpha King to know that his BODYGUARD is my ex-mate? You seriously think I want him to know I was rejected on my birthday SECONDS after finding my mate? He would think there is something wrong with me.”

I’m being dramatic and loud, but it’s only so he can’t hear how erratically my heart beats discussing this. With him. For the first time since the moment he broke my heart with those three little words. ‘I reject you.’ 

“There is nothing wrong with you.” He frowns. And again I snort making a much bigger production of this act than necessary. 

“I am well aware, now, that YOU were the issue. Not me. But sure, your secret is safe with me. I mean, honestly, the only person who knows you are my ex-mate is River.”

“Wait, you never told your family?” His eyes grow wide and for a split second I see him in there, the laughter filled jock who used to make my heart sing. But he disappears the second there is a knock on the door.

“Just a second,” I call over my shoulder before turning back to Maverick. “There are things you don’t know about that night. Things you will never know. What I will tell you is that you died that night. To me, you are gone. I have grieved you and you are nothing to me, just a ghost that came back to haunt me when I was finally finding happiness. So how about this, you keep your distance and we will keep our secret between us because you OWE me a lifetime of happiness and this is the only way you can help me get it.”