she’s not having kids, and
I’ve seen her around. She doesn’t strike me as the moping type.
More like the kind to kick anyone’s ass who messes with her.”
He smiled a little. “Certainly seems
so.”
“And what is it you feel for her?”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, he took a
deep breath. “I don’t know. Something about her calls to me. I hate
that she won’t talk to me. Every damned instinct I have is yelling
at me to go in and claim her, but I already told her I don’t want a
wolf.”
“Then just tell her you changed your
mind.”
“She doesn’t want a wolf,” he just about
screamed it before shaking his head and squeezing his hands into
fists. “If I pursue her, I have to take it slow and earn her trust.
She is a dominant wolf, she’s not going to roll over and just let
me claim her unless it’s what she wants. Even then, she would be my
equal.” A smile pulled at his lips. “Honestly though, I want an
equal partnership.”
“I know.” Victoria stood. “I wish you the
best, and don’t you dare apologize. Our time together was great,
but now it’s over. You will always be my dearest friend.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Vickie.” He
walked her to the door and watched as she took off into the
night.
Hayden pulled into the driveway with Brody
next to him in the SUV. Another thing forgotten, their barbecue. He
was tempted to order pizza. Maybe he could convince Jess to come
over though. Then it wouldn’t just be him, maybe it wouldn’t be too
awkward.
He waved as they started for the porch.
“Hey.”
“Slater,” Hayden said plainly, but there was
a curious glint in his eyes.
Brody nodded in greeting, his nose
wrinkling. “You didn’t start the grill?”
“Sorry, forgot. I’ll take care of it now.”
He walked around the back of the cabin, pulling his phone out as he
went.
It only rang twice. Jess sighed in
exasperation. “Yes?”
“I’m about to start the grill. Brody and
Hayden are here. You’re welcome to join us.”
“I’m busy. Thank you for the offer.” Then
the phone went dead.”
Brody caught up and paused, a confused look
on his face.
“What?” Slater barked.
“Just curious what has you so riled.”
“Jess is avoiding me.”
“Why?”
Slater sighed and told them both the whole
story.
* * * *
Victoria hurried into the woods just in time
for Hayden and Brody to show up. She knew about Slater’s plans but
wanted to see for herself that things were over. It wasn’t that she
was jealous. She honestly wasn’t.
Slater had been there through the hardest
times in her life and undeath. She wanted the best for the one man
who was always there for her. Any other man and their sexual
relationship would have ruined their friendship.
Not Slater. Sex was just sex with him. She
perched far enough away and downwind so they wouldn’t catch on to
the fact she was nearby, but she wanted to hear what was said. She
needed to know that Jess was a good match for Slater.
By the time Slater was finished detailing
how Jess avoided him, she had to wonder the reason. If it was fear
of mating, she could understand and had a feeling Jess would come
around. If it was disinterest, then maybe she needed to have a talk
with Slater. Either way, Victoria had Slater’s best interest at
heart.
She silently moved through the woods to the
cabin Jess resided in. She was on the phone.
“Damn it Greg. How many fucking times do I
have to tell you it’s not happening?” Jess shouted and slammed the
pan on the stove.
Victoria couldn’t help wondering who Greg
was.
“Too little too late, dumbass. I told you,
I’m not coming back. I don’t care if the bar fails. It wasn’t mine.
Remember, you wouldn’t sell it to me.”
She considered moving closer to maybe catch
both sides.
“Ha, nice try. Not going there either.” She
sighed heavily. “Sure, you got me off. You want a medal for it?
Because I have news for you, I do a better job of that on my
I’ve seen her around. She doesn’t strike me as the moping type.
More like the kind to kick anyone’s ass who messes with her.”
He smiled a little. “Certainly seems
so.”
“And what is it you feel for her?”
Scrubbing a hand over his face, he took a
deep breath. “I don’t know. Something about her calls to me. I hate
that she won’t talk to me. Every damned instinct I have is yelling
at me to go in and claim her, but I already told her I don’t want a
wolf.”
“Then just tell her you changed your
mind.”
“She doesn’t want a wolf,” he just about
screamed it before shaking his head and squeezing his hands into
fists. “If I pursue her, I have to take it slow and earn her trust.
She is a dominant wolf, she’s not going to roll over and just let
me claim her unless it’s what she wants. Even then, she would be my
equal.” A smile pulled at his lips. “Honestly though, I want an
equal partnership.”
“I know.” Victoria stood. “I wish you the
best, and don’t you dare apologize. Our time together was great,
but now it’s over. You will always be my dearest friend.”
“I’ll always be there for you, Vickie.” He
walked her to the door and watched as she took off into the
night.
Hayden pulled into the driveway with Brody
next to him in the SUV. Another thing forgotten, their barbecue. He
was tempted to order pizza. Maybe he could convince Jess to come
over though. Then it wouldn’t just be him, maybe it wouldn’t be too
awkward.
He waved as they started for the porch.
“Hey.”
“Slater,” Hayden said plainly, but there was
a curious glint in his eyes.
Brody nodded in greeting, his nose
wrinkling. “You didn’t start the grill?”
“Sorry, forgot. I’ll take care of it now.”
He walked around the back of the cabin, pulling his phone out as he
went.
It only rang twice. Jess sighed in
exasperation. “Yes?”
“I’m about to start the grill. Brody and
Hayden are here. You’re welcome to join us.”
“I’m busy. Thank you for the offer.” Then
the phone went dead.”
Brody caught up and paused, a confused look
on his face.
“What?” Slater barked.
“Just curious what has you so riled.”
“Jess is avoiding me.”
“Why?”
Slater sighed and told them both the whole
story.
* * * *
Victoria hurried into the woods just in time
for Hayden and Brody to show up. She knew about Slater’s plans but
wanted to see for herself that things were over. It wasn’t that she
was jealous. She honestly wasn’t.
Slater had been there through the hardest
times in her life and undeath. She wanted the best for the one man
who was always there for her. Any other man and their sexual
relationship would have ruined their friendship.
Not Slater. Sex was just sex with him. She
perched far enough away and downwind so they wouldn’t catch on to
the fact she was nearby, but she wanted to hear what was said. She
needed to know that Jess was a good match for Slater.
By the time Slater was finished detailing
how Jess avoided him, she had to wonder the reason. If it was fear
of mating, she could understand and had a feeling Jess would come
around. If it was disinterest, then maybe she needed to have a talk
with Slater. Either way, Victoria had Slater’s best interest at
heart.
She silently moved through the woods to the
cabin Jess resided in. She was on the phone.
“Damn it Greg. How many fucking times do I
have to tell you it’s not happening?” Jess shouted and slammed the
pan on the stove.
Victoria couldn’t help wondering who Greg
was.
“Too little too late, dumbass. I told you,
I’m not coming back. I don’t care if the bar fails. It wasn’t mine.
Remember, you wouldn’t sell it to me.”
She considered moving closer to maybe catch
both sides.
“Ha, nice try. Not going there either.” She
sighed heavily. “Sure, you got me off. You want a medal for it?
Because I have news for you, I do a better job of that on my
Similar Books
