Page 27 of Protected Promise
I groaned. “Another party?”
“This one will be different, I promise. Totally laid back.”
I set her down as Jackson approached. He looked entirely unaffected by our closeness. I wondered if I would ever feel like that with Kaitlyn. Looking down at my gorgeous mate, I really couldn’t imagine it. I didn’t want any other male touching her and from the look on her face she didn’t particularly like me embracing Tobi either.
I made a mental note to keep my hands to myself. I was too comfortable with Tobi, she was like a sister to me. Jackson had always known I was no threat to him, but having met him after they bonded probably helped that a lot.
I took a step away from Tobi. She gave me a curious look but didn’t say anything. Out of respect for my mate I would try to remember to keep a distance from my friend.
“So Kaitlyn, what’s next?”
“I don’t know yet,” she said. “I’ve applied for several positions in Florida, I’m just waiting to hear back. I’m sure something will work out.”
My jaw locked and I tried not to let my fury show. “Florida?” I said between gritted teeth.
She looked up at me and nodded.
“Jackson and I will be in Canada this summer apparently.” She smacked me. “Thanks for pulling the Alpha card and not telling me.”
“I pulled no such thing. We just wanted to surprise you. Are you mad?”
“No, not at all. I can’t wait to see everyone and go on a real run again.”
“Real run? But we have trails that are safe all over campus,” Kaitlyn said.
“Not like back home. There is nothing more magical than a run in the Canadian backcountry. You can’t even imagine it, Kaitlyn. Woods and solitude for as far as you can run in any direction. It’s so amazing. You should come visit sometime and check it out.”
Kaitlyn quirked her head at me as if she were studying me.
“Kaitlyn?” Tobi asked.
“Oh, yeah, it sounds great,” she said noncommittally.
I would give just about anything to know what she was thinking.
One of the things I had learned while joining the Grand Council was that while my Pack may be very small in numbers, our territory was possibly the largest in the world. Even I often took for granted the enormity of raw nature there.
“Damon and Karis had to run back to the house to do something,” Jackson said. “But we have been given specific orders to escort you to lunch, unless you have other plans already. I saw that Sawyer is in town.”
“I briefly spoke to him already. He didn’t mention anything about it. Besides, I’m not exactly the only Longhorn graduating today. I’m sure he’s busy making his rounds and will probably hold a banquet or something, but none of us are required to go.”
Sawyer, the Alpha from Longhorn down in Texas. I’d been studying up on my Packs for months and was well aware of his territory. His pack was formidable, but I had noted how he softened from irritation by my actions to concern when he discovered my connection to Kaitlyn. I didn’t think he would be an issue. He was older and had never mated. Perhaps he had his eyes set on my mate, but even if that were the case, I didn’t think he would intervene with a true mating.
I had learned a lot about true mates since Tobi found Jackson. Kyle Westin had helped with that a great deal. His pack was very pro-true mates, though I’d discovered not all Alphas agreed on that. Some feared that a true mate weakened a strong male. I could understand that fear now because I doubted there was anything I wouldn’t do to protect my mate. Could I make the best unbiased decision for the rest of my Pack if that were the case? The thought of leaving the Pack to be with her had already flitted through my mind. It was a concern, for sure, but also something I knew I wasn’t going to be able to determine just through what-ifs. I also knew that while my heart may be broken for the remainder of my life, I couldn’t turn my back on my people, not even for her.
Today was supposed to be a day of celebration for Kaitlyn and all she had accomplished. Our mating would have to be put on hold for that. Worrying over whether or not she would accept me and what little I had to offer her wasn’t going to help anything at all.
For today, I would stand in the shadows as she took the spotlight.
“Come on, Landon,” Tobi said grabbing me by the arm and dragging me with them.
I shook her off as quickly and discreetly as possible and then lightly brushed against Kaitlyn. I could feel her body quiver against mine and knew I was right. Her wolf was on edge because of Tobi.
Without using words, I placed my hand on her lower back and directed her to my car when we reached the parking lot.
“I don’t know where I’m going, so Kaitlyn can direct me,” I said trying to act like it was no big deal, but Tobi wasn’t entirely buying it.
Damon walked up and whispered something into Jackson’s ear, too low for my sensitive hearing to catch.
