Her eyes fluttered, almost closing, and she sighed. That brought a wealth of pleasure to me, knowing how receptive my mate was to my touch, knowing how much she enjoyed it.
I wanted her desperately, my cock thick and hard behind the zipper of my jeans. But if all I ever got were these innocent touches to her cheek, or the feel of her fingers stroking along mine, I’d still be the happiest of males.
I forced myself to pull away, to let my hand drop to my side, to use all my self-control and strength to take a step back from her.
And with one lingering glance, with an unspoken declaration that I would be close, protecting her, watching over her, but still giving her space, I forced myself to turn around and leave.
And every single fucking step away from Mia was like a steel rod to my chest. It hurt. I was in agony. It was wrong, but she needed time, and I had to respect that, so I kept walking.
I walked away from my mate... but I wouldn’t forever.
5
Mia
Two days later
My vision was unfocused as I stared out the office window, hearing the sound of hammers banging against wood and nails, of males laughing and calling out orders ringing in my head.
I ran my index finger over my bottom lip. Back and forth. Slowly. Softly. My mouth still tingled all these days later.
For the last two days, I hadn’t been able to concentrate. I couldn’t think about anything but the kiss I’d shared with Tucker. And with each passing day, the fire burning inside me grew hotter and bigger until it would be out of control, until I felt it licking away all my self-control and restraint where the mating was concerned.
And for the last two days, I’d felt him watching, sensed him close. But he kept his distance, that unspoken promise that he wouldn’t push me, because he understood I needed time to come to grips with all of this.
I hadn’t given fated mates much thought before that realization, because I’d known the likelihood that I’d find that one person who was meant to be mine was slim to none, rare within Black Wolf.
But then fate, destiny, whatever you wanted to call it, had given me the greatest gift all shifters desired.
A fated mate. Right here in my own pack.
I blinked to come back into focus and watched the construction going on across the community square. Pack members were finishing up the final coats of paint on the longhouse, and Emery, the resident shit starter but an incredible artist, was painting a beautiful mural on the side of the building, showcasing our wolfen history and ancestral lineage.
The office door opened suddenly, and I jumped in the seat, acting like I’d been caught doing something wrong. Hell, I even felt like I wore a guilty expression.
Dillon, the foreman for the longhouse construction, and my father stepped inside. Dillon held a rolled-up set of blueprints under his arm. He and my father were talking, but it all sounded muffled to me, because my thoughts were still elsewhere. On someone else.
On Tucker.
“We didn’t interrupt something, did we?” Dillon asked and stopped by the desk, looking down at me. At only thirty-five, he was one of the many unmated males in the pack.
“What?” I sat up straighter and cleared my throat. Dad and Dillon kept looking at me, and I noticed my father had this confused expression on his face.
“You okay, Mia?”
I nodded and smiled at my dad, although it seemed wholly forced, and when his scowl deepened, I knew he could tell.
Seconds passed of him just watching me, and thankfully Dillon was oblivious to the silent inquisition my father was giving me. And then when the Alpha opened his mouth, no doubt to press me on what was really the matter, the office door opened. I was once again saved from having to try to explain what was going on with me.
“Dillon, do you know where that extra lumber was put?” Daisy walked in with a clipboard in hand. As the resident stock taker, she made sure any and all supplies—whether food or otherwise—were always accounted for.
I looked away as Dillon and Daisy spoke, feigning interest in a bunch of paperwork on the desk, even though I still felt my father’s gaze on me. I gathered up my things, stood, and glanced at my dad. His eyes were locked on me, and he wore a knowing expression.
His silent response was loud and clear. You’re going to tell me what’s going on.
I swallowed and gave him a small—weak—smile, and I was just about to round the table and leave when Daisy and Dillon said their goodbyes and left, closing the door behind them and sealing me in with my father.
Even though he was my dad first and foremost, he was also the Alpha in his blood, and with that came this unspoken dominance and assertiveness. He could read everybody in the pack as easily as if they told him their deepest secrets. He was the strongest fighter. The biggest male. He knew the ins and outs of… everything that made up Black Wolf.