Page 31 of Fractured Mates
Fuck. Have I been making a bigger deal out of this than I should have been the whole time?
No, my wolf says. We came here for closure and your family isn’t around, preventing that. I just need you to realize this might have nothing to do with you.
Kyler slides into the driver’s seat, and I take a few subtle, deep breaths. Once again, my wolf proves just how wise she is and how much I need her. I allow myself a moment of silence to accept what she’s said and realize I may have overreacted a bit. Still, I don’t regret coming here, and I’m not leaving until I know what the hell is happening.
It doesn’t matter that nothing has gone as planned or that I might feel even more lost than I did before showing up in South Carolina. I’m going to finish what I started and get the closure I feel rather certain that I need to move on with my life once and for all.
Now you just need to listen to me about Kyler, and everything can be perfect in our life, she muses with a slight laugh.
Now you’re pushing it, Wolf.
Her chuckle grows louder, but I’m relieved of having to continue that conversation when Kyler finally speaks.
“I got you some clothes,” he says. “I wasn’t sure how much you had with you.”
My head turns swiftly toward him. “Why?”
“Why would I do something nice for you?” he asks, a layer of confusion in his voice. “Has nobody done anything in your life just because they could?”
The fact that I have to truly think about and can still only come up with Roman and Cait taking me in and allowing me to process things in the ways I needed… Yeah, I might have more issues in my life than just needing closure from my family.
Instead of delving into my fucked-up head any more, I merely shrug. “A time or two.”
He doesn’t say anything else, and his hands tighten around the steering wheel.
“Did something happen in the store?” I ask since this is the first time he’s been so tense since finding me. I should be pleased. It makes it easier to stay away from him, but I also want to make sure there isn’t anything further to worry about.
“No.” His reply is clipped, and I don’t believe him, but also, I’m realizing that I never got around to interrogating him about his call with Maciah.
“What did Maciah want to talk privately about with you?” I turn a little in my seat to watch his face as I ask the question.
Though I don’t get the response I expect.
His lips lightly turn upward. “Me telling you would no longer make it a private conversation.”
I roll my eyes. “Did you really think I wasn’t going to demand to know what the hell is going on?”
“A man can hope,” he jokes, his body relaxing again. “He wanted to inform me that another protector named Cane is inside the pack and relaying information as he can. He hasn’t seen your family and it’s not his primary job to find them, but if they’re seen, the information will be passed along.”
That doesn’t seem like something that would need to be discussed privately.
“What else?” I press, still watching him.
Kyler’s brow raises as he glances briefly at me. “You really want to know?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”
“He wanted to make sure I hadn’t crossed any lines with you.” Kyler says the words so casually, but they immediately make me regret asking.
I want to ask what he said, but I also don’t want to have this conversation. Not when I still feel so conflicted about anything that has to do with this man.
“Not that you asked,” he adds cockily as I stare out the window, “but I told him we were maintaining a professional relationship. Hope you don’t mind me lying.”
The smugness in his tone has me wanting to backhand him, but I refrain from resorting to violence. Picturing my hands around his neck only leads me to conjure up other images that I’d rather not.
“He also asked me to find out if you remember anything about your pack that could be helpful in this situation,” Kyler says and this time, I have no problem giving him attention.
“Like what?” I ask.