A Mate's Bite

8

Her hand went to her abdomen, and she couldn’t help but smile. A tiny version of Nate had been one of her daydreams down the line. Like way, way down the line in about five years after she’d convinced him to marry her by tying him up to her bed until he agreed they belonged together. And of course, she’d get him to agree by giving him lots of s*x. Maybe that was for her own benefit, but she was sure he’d enjoy it too.

There was no doubt her infatuation with him was a tad out of control.

“Well, you’re off the hook.” She smiled at Jordan.

“You know,” Jordan pouted, “I feel kinda sad that it was negative now.”

Laughter bubbled up Karla’s throat. “We’re never happy are we?”

Nate Wolfe sat in his truck, staring at his cell phone. He’d tried to think of ways to apologize to Karla for not seeing her just yet. Tried and failed. He could never come up with the right words. He knew she wasn’t the type of person to be played with, but with the crazy schedule he kept lately, it was hard to get the time in to see her in person. Most nights, he parked his truck outside her house and sat there, wishing he was inside with her.

A knock sounded on his window. He already knew who it was. He motioned for Kelvin to get in the truck.

“What’s up?”

“You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’re stalking my sister.” Kelvin laughed.

Once he’d bitten Karla and marked her, he’d spoken to her brother and explained the situation. Ever since then, Karla’s brother showed up nightly to sit in his truck. Sometimes they’d talk. Other times they sat there, watching Karla’s house for a few minutes before they both left.

“How are you?” Nate scrubbed a hand over his face. He needed a shower and a bed. He’d spent most of the day deep in the forest, hunting down some of the rogues Caleb’s uncle had hired.

“I’m okay.” He motioned toward Karla’s house with his head. “It’s her I’m worried about.”

Nate frowned. “What’s wrong?”

He’d asked Ellie and Jordan to watch her for him. The farther he went into Caleb’s land, the harder it was for him to get back at a decent time to see her. Usually, it was late, and she’d be asleep. Instead, he sat outside and comforted his animal with the knowledge she was near.

His wolf missed her. He missed her. Her smile and sparkling eyes. Messing with her and riling her up. Her scent and the feel of her body under him. f**k it. He missed his mate. And though he hadn’t yet claimed her, he’d marked her. She was his. All that stood between them was a bite and it would seal the deal. But he wouldn’t rush her into that. They had time.

“She sounded strange on the phone today,” Kel said.

Nate didn’t like the sound of that. “I’ll ask Ellie what’s going on.”

Kelvin nodded.

Though they’d been friendly for years, it was Nate and Karla’s new relationship which spurred him to become closer to her brother.

“See you tomorrow?”

Kelvin grinned. “Same time.”

Nate waved him goodbye. Then he started the truck and went home. Frustration turned his muscles to stone. He’d been avoiding Karla. Not on purpose. Well, not really. He’d been unsure how to approach her about their future mating. While it was clear they were connected physically and mentally, it was her emotional distance that bothered him. He didn’t know how to reach her. A soft growl worked up his throat. He wanted to tell her to trust him. To open up and tell him whatever was bothering her, but she’d probably just stare at him with her beautiful but skeptic eyes and clam up.

He found Ellie sitting in the darkened living room, waiting. Since Jordan and Aric mated, they lived in Jordan’s house together. His sister, Ellie, was the reason he’d been able to meet Karla. She was Karla’s friend since college and recently joined his mother in the matchmaking ranks. Ellie cared for his friend Caleb, who was currently fighting for the rights to his own pack. Ellie’s concern for Caleb meant she waited up until Nate or Jake came home to reassure her he was fine.

“How’d things go?” She eyed Nate’s torn shirt with concern. The wounds from their fight tonight had already healed, but his clothes were still bloody.

His clothes were another reason he hadn’t visited Karla when he’d been injured. The last thing he wanted was to worry her.

“We went closer into Caleb’s uncle Rocco’s side tonight. But there are many caves and places to ambush. It was like taking a step forward but ten steps back. Things look pretty bad. He’s gotten a lot more rogues to work his security than we expected.”

Ellie bit her lip. Her concerned expression pushed him to sit next to her and hug her to his side. He hated that his sister suffered because Caleb wasn’t around. But with Caleb trying to gain the rights to his pack back, he needed to focus on his land and the enemy. Caleb’s uncle Rocco was bent on destroying the pack.

“We’ll help him as much as possible, little pup.”

She met his gaze with her watery one. “You need to talk to Karla.”

“I will. Things have just been crazy—”

“No. You need to talk to her.” She pushed back to give him a serious look. “This is important.”

“I’ve been trying to run a business and help Caleb hunt,” he said in a rush. He knew Ellie wasn’t trying to sound demanding, but when she put it that way, it sounded like he’d been deliberately ignoring Karla.

“I know that. But Thirsty Wolfe will survive a few days without you, and so will Caleb.”

He swallowed down the fear trying to make its presence known. “What’s wrong?”

“She needs you. And I understand you are helping Caleb get his pack back, but she’s priority to you. You know that.”

Shit. Something was definitely wrong. “I’ll go see her tomorrow.”