Page 35 of Mated To My Boss

I spend hours at the store, going through supplies I never knew I needed, and getting to know Hannah. At the end of the day, I gather she's not related to anyone at IronFang, which I like.

She's also very easy to talk to and a great listener, which is why I end up telling her most of my problems with my mate as we walk home.

"That's a lot," Hannah admits after hearing my tale. "I wouldn't be too hard on him, though. I think he's sort of like me."

"In what way?"

"When you're a loner, it takes a while for you to let anyone into your space and it doesn't matter who they are. He may feel like he's losing his identity."

"I never thought about that," I admit. "I've been so focused on what the mate bond means to me that I haven't fully considered what it might feel like from his perspective, especially for someone who's built their life around independence. It's not just about love, it's about identity too."

“It's alright. He seems to like you though, but he's probably just worried about what having a mate means to him.”

"I think you're right. Would you like to get drinks or something? I haven't really had someone to talk about this stuff with."

"I'd love that," Hannah replies, beaming.

As we make plans, I realize how much I've changed in just these few months.

I came here to learn to see Nate again, but I've found myself along the way—friends, interests, a clearer sense of who I am beyond just being someone's mate.

Whatever happens with Nate, I know now that I'll be okay. That certainty feels like its own kind of strength.

Chapter 13

NATE

The sound of my ringing phone pierces my ears. I pick up the device, frowning deeply over my interrupted sleep. “This better be good,” I groan, battling the bright light from the screen.

The only thing I see is an unfamiliar string of numbers. I answer the phone only out of curiosity. “Hello?”

“Nate, it's me.”

My ears ring when I hear the e alpha's voice. “Grant? What's going on?” I glance at the phone again before pressing it back against my ear. “It's the middle of the night.”

“Yeah, but that's when information usually reaches me,” Grant remarks in a casual tone. “I just got some news and I figured it would be important to you too.”

“What's up?”

“It's about the pack you asked about. The guys you left.”

Sleep vanishes from me in an instant. “What about them? Is it about Madeline? What happened?” The only thing keeping me calm is the lack of urgency in Grant's voice. Even though it's not morning yet, his tone sounds like he's calling for a friendly chat.

“You know a hunter's attack caused them to scatter, right?”

“Yeah, I got that part.”

“It's more than that, Nate. Those attacks weren't simply against a random pack. The hunters coordinated their efforts and had been surveilling them for some time. There's a good chance that some of the hunters recognize the surviving members individually.”

“Fuck.”

Why wouldn't Madeline tell me this? Does she even know?

“The extra intel is that they smell like gasoline along with gunpowder. That's all I've got for you though,” Grant says. “Make sure you keep an eye out for anything suspicious. We may not know the entire scope of what's going on. I've got to go.”

The call ends, but my worries persist. Various possibilities swirl in my mind. Madeline has always behaved oddly, and even nowI can't discern what she’s withholding from me and which parts of what she has said are true.

There's every chance she's oblivious to just how deep the hunter attacks went, but there could still be more I need to know.Madeline … what're you hiding?

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