Page 24 of Forsaken

“I’m here to see Sean. I thought I heard him.”

“Oh yeah, he’s in the back. He and Mr. Caproli do a rundown after every day. I’m sure he’ll be out shortly.”

I tap my foot. I don’t know why, it’s not as if I’m not used to waiting for him.

“You must be so excited to be back in town,” she says.

“Yeah,” I tell her. “Thrilled.”

“I’ll be excited to see you at the Winter Solstice festivities this year.”

“Me too,” I say dryly.

I was worried this would happen. I’ve been away for so long that it doesn’t feel like I fit in anymore. Everyone else went about their lives while I’ve been stuck at the academy, pining for someone who just has to sign his name on a dotted line for me to get out. Hell, I’d live with him as a nun if it meant I could escape from Greystone. Yet, somehow our society thinks this is the best way. It’s supposed to teach us about being better shifters; better mates.

Everything is about mates.

“It’s such a shame—”

I decide to stop her right there. “Hey, I’m so out of touch. Have you mated with anyone?”

Her face falls. “No, not yet.”

A pang of guilt hits me. Her revelation hasn’t made me feel any better about my own situation. At least one good thing comes out of it: she doesn’t talk to me again. She turns and moves back behind the desk.

Somewhere to my right, a door opens. Sean’s big laugh echoes around the lobby, and my back immediately straightens. Inside, my wolf’s ears perk up. I turn to find him exiting a room with his head facing behind him still. I see his awareness of me before he even confirms I’m here. His jaw tightens, nose pulling back just the slightest bit. I instantly recognize his scent. To me, he smells like fire—something spicy and hot.

He turns slowly, and I pull my shoulders back. “Hi, Sean.”

He inspects me from head-to-toe, stopping at my hair for a while. “Hey, Mia.” He checks his watch. “Is it that time?”

“It is,” I say, wondering if he made me wait for him on purpose or if he really didn’t care enough to make sure he was on time.

Mr. Caproli gives me a sour look before marching into an office. He’s done some work with my parents before, so he knows who I am, but he must not be worried about keeping up the acquaintance anymore.

Inside, I begin to panic. It’s what I always feared. Even if Sean did take me back, do I even belong here anymore? Will I always be the shifter her mate didn’t want?

There are other rejected mates in Daybreak that came back, but none of them were gone as long as I have. Everyone here must think I’m persona non grata.

“Let me grab my stuff,” Sean says.

His deep voice rumbles through me, and the flicker of recognition that we’re a mated pair flames to life. It’s not as all-consuming as it used to be, though. The longing was so strong when it first happened that I thought it would break me. To be honest, a part of me was glad that Sean stopped coming to so many meetings. After each one, I feel like shit. It’s like being next to something you can never have and trying to be okay with it. It’s stronger than a want, though. It’s a need. A clawing, desperate sort of need.

He turns and disappears down the long hallway. Neither Daisy nor Mr. Caproli pay me any attention as I wait for him. In a few minutes, he comes waltzing back out. He’s unbuttoned the first button on his black polo and untucked it from his khaki pants. He appears more casual now, and it sets me a little at ease as he walks forward.

I stand there awkwardly. I’m usually already in the room when he shows up. He just goes right for the couch, plopping down opposite me, avoiding eye contact. Right now, however, we’re eye-to-eye. I’m on his level. I stare at him, practically daring him to do something different.

He stops in front of me, gesturing toward the door. “You ready?”

I nod, turning to leave the office. I glance at Daisy and find her staring. She looks away as soon as I catch her, but I’m sure she’s already texting my would-be friends. None of them kept in touch with me after I got sent away. There were a few who sent condolence texts, like they were somehow grieving with the person who died, but that was it.

I walk out, my sneakers hitting the cement. Behind me, the door rattles closed, and I turn to ask Sean where we’re going, but he’s already marching down the sidewalk and around the side of the building. I follow him, holding tight to his heels. When we move out of view of the street, he whirls on me. “Just what the fuck do you think you’re doing coming into my work, Mia?”

Recognition spears me in the face. There he is. There’s my supposed mate.

11

“There you are. For a minute, I thought my mate had been body snatched by a nice guy.”

---