Page 7 of Her Second-Hand Mate

I looked from him to Dominic, unsure of how much contact between me and another male was acceptable now.

“It’s best you show him how to arrange the bags in the trunk,” Dominic said without looking at either of us.

Elliot met my eyes and shrugged so we made our way to the car.

“Do you have any questions for me, Luna?” he asked, clearly teasing.

It made me hope for an easy camaraderie with him. If everyone in the pack was this easy-going, it would be a change for the better.

“Your Alpha... what can you tell me about him?”

Elliot frowned as he glanced at my mark. It made me self-conscious for some reason.

“Well, I can tell you never to talk to the male when he’s driving,” he grumbled and then laughed upon seeing my surprised face. “Yeah, he’s absolutely incapable of doing two things at once. Whenever he’s working on something, you better leave him alone. He’s been that way ever since we were pups.”

“So you grew up in Greylock as well?”

“I did. It’s a great pack. Everyone’s gonna be so happy to meet you. Especially my mate, Grace.”

“I look forward to meeting her as well.”

I really was looking forward to it. I had exactly two female friends in this pack, and one of them was my cousin so that didn’t really count. I hoped that would change in Greylock. Both Flora and Theresa would be here soon to say goodbye. I refused to think about it.

I could already see Nana and Evie in the distance, making their way to guest housing, and my heart clenched painfully. This was a good thing. All females whose mates were from different packs had to move to be with them. Nana’d moved here from Georgia. And Mother’s home pack was in Wyoming. It was the way of the world.

The Blessed Family wasn’t one for big emotional displays, so we all briefly hugged as we said our goodbyes, although I did linger a bit longer than I normally would, just to take in everyone’s scent one last time. Father and Isaac shook Dominic’s hand and we left. Just like that, I was no longer part of the Uinta pack.

Elliot turned out to be the kind of wolf we needed for the long drive back. He was talkative without being annoying, he pointed out interesting things in the scenery, and generally took the edge of the tension I would have felt if Dominic and I were sitting alone in a silent car.

He didn’t seem disturbed or surprised by my mate’s silence, so I assumed it must not have been out of the ordinary. The two of them sat in the front, and I had the back to myself. Soon, the exhaustion of the past few days caught up to me, so I drifted off and didn’t wake until we’d arrived in Greylock territory.

I couldn’t remember the last time I'd slept for so long. I was disoriented. They must have taken a break at some point, because now Dominic was the one behind the wheel. His eyes found mine in the rear-view mirror and he simply said: “We’re almost there.”

From what I’d seen as we drove through it, Dominic’s pack was beautiful. His house was even more so. From the outside it looked like a cozy mountain cabin, but on the inside it wasalmost intimidating in its sleekness. The open floor plan was bathed in light thanks to the ceiling-to-floor windows on one side of the house. The furniture looked like something you’d find in the month’s “Best of” selection inLipstick&Claw.

Despite the beauty, I couldn’t help but judge the sharp edges of the furniture and the floating staircase leading to the mezzanine floor, not only for their impracticality but also the danger they posed for future pups.

“You can change anything you want. This was,” Dominic made a vague gesture towards the living space, “all Cassie. My late mate. She designed this house.”

“Oh.”

I wasn’t sure how to feel. I probably should have guessed we’d be living in the same house where the two of them had lived. I mean, we’d met only two days ago and he wasn’t exactly going around looking for a mate, so of course this is where he’d bring me. It was fine.

My eyes caught on a flash of red on the fireplace and I moved closer to see what it was – it was a photograph of my mate,smiling,which I still hadn’t had the honor to witness, with his arms around a redhead which I assumed wasCassie.

I knew vanity was a sin, and I was in no way being vain as I observed that Cassie hadn’t been better looking than me. I was simply being realistic. But despite thatfact,she was somehow more... vibrant. She looked alive. Joyful. Interesting.

In the photo, she was wearing a dress worthy of a princess and Dominic was in a tux. They were standing in front of an elaborate floral arch on what I assumed was their mating day. Before the ugly voice inside my mind could say anything, I turned to Dominic and asked where I could change and freshen up and he (of course) wordlessly led me up the killer staircase.

The bedroom we entered was furnished in a style that I’d describe as Spartan, and it was nothing like the rest of the house in terms of color and decor.

“What is it?” Dominic asked when he noticed me staring at the room.

“This room is very different from the rest of the house.”

“It was redecorated recently.”

I only raised my eyebrows to indicate a question. I was starting to speakDominic.

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