Page 19 of Primal

“That has yet to be confirmed,” I correct her, pretending I don’t notice the way Canaan is subtly rolling his eyes.

She pauses, her hand on the door handle. “What do you mean it hasn’t been‘confirmed’? What the hell does that mean?”

Canaan pushes off the wall and joins his mate by the door, his big hand resting on her lower back. “Our Alpha has firmly planted his flag in the land of denial when it comes to Noa and the fact she claimed him,” he explains on my behalf, not bothering to suppress the judgement from his tone.Asshole. “Or that his wolf has claimed the girl, too.” I guess he’s just laying it all out there for his mate.Great.

A frustrated groan rubbles out of Rhosyn, her disappointed gaze scanning me over. “You and Noa need to talk because you’re both being absolutely ridiculous. Do you know how incredibly rare true scent matches are? You guys are letting denial cloud your judgment and by doing so, you’re all but spitting in the Goddess’s face.”

Followers of the Moon Goddess, like Rhosyn, believe her to not only be the creator of wolf shifters but also the one who chooses our fated mates. It’s their belief that she’s the architect of our destinies. I, myself, have never put much stock in the deity as I much prefer putting my faith in real people.

“Rhosyn,” I start with a sigh, but her irksome mate cuts me off.

“He's also worried about the consequences of shattering his treaty with the McNamaras.”

“I honestly can’t think of a better outcome than one where you end your engagement to that spoiled brat.” Rhosyn shrugs as she finally steps out of the room and leads us down the quiet hallway toward the den. Toward Noa. “Can I be there when you tell her to get her ass back to Canada? I promise I won’t say a word. I just want to see the look on Talis’s face when you break the news.” She looks back at me, a gleeful grin spreading across her face.

There are some moments where I’m thankful that Rhosyn didn’t present as an alpha female. The ruthlessness she shows as a beta would be multiplied tenfold if she had the disposition of an alpha, and I’m almost certain the pack wouldn’t have been able to handle her. That being said, her bloodlust makes her fiercely loyal, a trait I find admirable. Despite the occasional attitude, I’m thankful my friend found her and brought her home. The pack is better for it. My second sure as shit is a better person because of her influence.

We pass by the open-plan kitchen and main living area, both of which are blissfully empty. I don’t have the patience to deal with any lingering council members or Talis right now.

“Have you forgotten why I made that bargain in the first place?”

“Of course I haven’t.” She doesn’t turn around, but I can hear the eye roll from here. “I want our pack’s omegas protected justas much as you do, but I still think there has to be a different way to do it. A way that doesn’t require you to sacrifice your happiness and your whole fucking future.” Rhosyn stops before the closed French doors of the den and meets my eyes. “Make no mistake, Nick, if you take Talis as your mate, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing. You’ll be miserable with her as your Luna, and we all know it. And now Noa’s in the picture. If she’s your fated mate, can you really live with yourself if you walk away from her for someone else?”

I fully grasp the depth of Rhosyn’s question, but I can’t bring myself to answer it. Not right now. Not when my wolf has just alerted me to something imperative.

Beyond the glass doors before us, the cozy den is void of all life. There’s no sign of Zora or Noa. Wolf stirring restlessly within me, I step around Rhosyn and Canaan, and stride into the room. The strongest scent is the burning logs in the lit fireplace, and any traces of either female aren’t fresh. Neither one of them have been in here in at least ten minutes.

“Where is she?” I demand, the power of my wolf pushing into each syllable. The anger rises within me, joined by something else. Is that fear? The fact the female he’s enthralled with isn’t where he left her has a snarl building in my throat.

Before either of my friends have the chance to respond, I’m turning and charging toward the front door. I’m vaguely aware they’re both close on my heels murmuring harried words to each other, but I don’t care what they’re saying, not when I have no idea where my ma—Noa—is.

Slamming through the door, I discover two things at once that have my wolf’s low snarl ramping up into a thunderous growl. I recognize every car that sits on my circular driveaway. Each one belongs to a pack member. There isn’t any sign of Noa’s vehicle. She’s already fucking gone. The second thing I notice is the very woman who was tasked with watching overher. Zora sits on the hood of her well-loved wood-paneled station wagon, a joint lit between her fingers. From here, the distinct mixture of burning tobacco and her homegrown weed reaches my nose.

“Tell me where the fuck she is, Zora!” I don’t bother keeping the bark out of my tone. The force of it snaps her upright, her posture going rigid. At least the healer has the decency to look unnerved as I storm toward her. “Why would you allow her to leave?”

Dark, thin brows drawing together, she gives me a slight shrug that puts my already fried nerves on edge. “My apologies, Alpha, I wasn’t aware I was to act as her jailer. The poor girl got more than she bargained for when she came here today. As you can imagine, she wasn’t processing it well and wanted to go home. Who was I to force her to stay?”

My fingers rake through my hair as my eyes scan the surrounding area, as if there’s still a chance I might catch a trace of her. Canaan and Rhosyn turn to head back inside. My second has his phone to his ear, no doubt trying to get me answers.

“You didn’t think I might need to have a conversation with her before she left?”

The healer has the audacity to scoff at me, her dark eyes twinkling with a type of humor I don’t appreciate as she takes a small drag from her joint. It’s taking everything in me to not smack the damn thing out of her hand. “Oh, I very much imagine a conversation is needed between the two of you. I do believe there’re a few pertinent things you need to discuss. Like, for starters, the small matter of you being mates.”

My denial is instantaneous, a gut reaction that increases my wolf’s grumbling exasperation. “I don’t know if we’re mates.”

Zora sighs. “Noa said the same thing.”

I pause the slight pacing I’d begun doing and meet the charmer’s eyes. “What did you talk about with her?”

“Not much considering she was unconscious and then busy emptying her stomach for a large chunk of our time together, but we briefly discussed her sordid history with this pack—a history both you and I know isn’t completely factual. And then we talked about the lack of emotional awareness you men seem to have.” The glare aimed at me speaks volumes more than any words she could say.

“You said it yourself, Zora, Noa also isn’t sure of our…connection.”

“Noa’s wolf was bound by Thalassa before she ever had the chance to truly bond with her animal half. Her ability to interpret and connect with her wolf’s emotions and desires isn’t exactly up to par.” Zora puts her joint out on the hood of her car before placing both hands on her cocked hips. “What’s your excuse, Alpha? Why are you struggling to acknowledge the truth that is right in front of your damn snout.”

“I don’t know if it’s the truth,” I snap, turning away from her and starting back toward the house. Once I hear her start to follow me, I add, “We’re told when we meet our scent match that we will know without a shadow of doubt that they are our destined mate. I have doubts. I can’t say with complete certainty she’s meant for me, which leads me to believe there’s a chance she isn’t.”

“Well, what does your wolf say? He won’t steer you wrong. You should listen to him.”

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