Page 35 of Tracking His True Mate
Despite feeling like a wimp, it seemed like most of the pack was either already back or was just arriving. Some wolves were actively changing into their clothes in the open, which wasn’t unusual, either. Something told me that theywere Tumblewild’s single werewolves. Mated wolves had to deal with jealous partners who didn’t appreciate others viewing intimate areas.
I scanned the crowd for Trace. My heart drummed in my chest when I found him leaning against a tree, chatting and laughing with Jess. My wolf was distracted, still riding the high from the run, but I could feel the mixed emotions just fine. I had told Jess I was okay with them being friends, so why did the scene unfolding before me hurt so much?
I swallowed the emotion, reminding myself of the plan I had hatched while in Flagstaff. I needed to talk with Jess again. She very well might be my ticket back home.
I slowly approached my mate, making sure to keep my eyes warm and unthreatened. I knew the moment he scented me because he straightened, trying to make the exchange between him and Jess look more transactional than friendly.
I wasn’t fooled. They had been friends for years, and it was clear that they were both enjoying the conversation before I showed up.
Trace’s eyes met mine when I gently touched his arm. He searched my face for signs of jealousy or anger. He seemed confused when there was no trace of those emotions on my features. He would have reacted completely differently if the situation had been reversed. Hell, all the mated werewolves I knew would, so his confusion was warranted.
“Hi, Jess,” I said, smiling at her. She, too, looked worried about my reaction to the two of them laughing and talking alone. “It was nice spending the day with you in Flagstaff. We should hang out again soon.”
She smiled and agreed, which caused Trace to narrow hiseyes. He could probably tell that I was up to something, but he couldn’t work out what it was. I cleared my throat, thankful again that our connection wasn’t complete.
“Are you free tomorrow? Do you want to come over for breakfast?” It felt odd to invite someone over to a house where I still felt like a visitor myself, but I needed to talk with her as soon as possible. And as long as I could keep my hands off the handsome alpha, I should still be able to prevent him from being able to access my thoughts by morning.
Her eyes flickered to Trace, asking for his permission without using words. He shrugged, still confused and more than a little wary.
“Sure,” she said finally. “I’d love to.”
Chapter 14
"I'm sleeping alone tonight, Trace," I said flatly. We were at a stand-off in the hallway, and he was blocking me from walking past his room. The alpha growled at my defiance, and it took all my resolve not to take the words back as soon as I uttered them.
The desire to submit to him was growing; I couldn't deny that anymore. But my need to put some distance between us was an even more pressing demand. I needed to have a clear, unreadable mind in the morning if I wanted any chance of succeeding, and if I was alone with him tonight, odds were good that we would end up consummating the relationship.
"You were the one who said we need to take this slow. You didn't want to pressure me into anything after biting my neck in a moment of weakness, remember?"
I felt like a heel throwing his words back at him. I had been so ready to fuck his brains out, and his ability to pump the breaks was the only reason I still had any agency at all. I should be thanking him for wanting to take it slow. Maybe one day I’d get the chance, but for now, I needed to focus all my energy on escaping.
Trace closed his eyes and considered my words. I didn't need telepathy to know he was arguing with his wolf. The creature wouldn’t understand any reason to be apart from his mate. Taking things slow wasn’t even a concept for him.
“I know that’s what I said,” he grumbled. “But that was when we were both too horny to keep our hands off each other. After the run, we should be able to control our wolves.”
I snorted. “Yeah, great hold you have on him right now.”
He sighed. “Fair point,” he admitted. “He doesn’t want to let you out of his sight, and neither do I. I don’t know what you’re up to, but I don’t like it, Mariam. I’m not stupid enough to believe that you really want Jess to come to breakfast tomorrow, either, so don’t even go there.”
“Why wouldn’t I want her over for breakfast? Aren’t you just friends?” I asked as innocently as I could manage.
He scowled at me. “Of course, we’re just friends. I would never betray you.” His defensiveness quickly turned to curiosity. “But you don’t seem jealous, and that is…odd.”
“Why should I be jealous? You just said I have no reason to be.” I shrugged, puzzling him even more.
“Of course, you have no reason to be. But…if you had been chatting with a male werewolf tonight, I would have reacted…differently. Any shifter would.”
“Maybe we aren’t true mates after all,” I offered.
“No, you know better than that,” he said, pulling me to him. He kissed the top of my head and tucked a stray curl behind my ear. Sighing again, he relented. “One night. You can sleep apart for one more night, since we didn’t have much time to spend together today, but starting tomorrow, you are in our room every night. I’ll cancel all my meetingsif that’s what it takes to make you more comfortable with our bond.”
He released me before I could capture his lips with mine and stepped to the side to allow me to pass. As I walked by, his hand swiftly met my ass.
“Ow!” I said, jumping away.
“That’s a reminder of what’s to come, mate.” Trace’s voice was low and seductive, and I felt hot wetness pool in my underwear. His nostrils flared, scenting my reaction from several feet away. I turned and ran the rest of the way to my room, not trusting myself to stay with him any longer.
I propped the chair against the door and hurried to the bathroom, the only door in the bedroom with a lock. I clicked it in place and prayed that he wouldn’t try to follow me. At least, the part of me thinking clearly hoped that he wouldn’t. The other part of me wanted to leave and go to him myself.
