Page 29 of Ruined Wolf

“I was. I am,” he said, smiling at me before turning back to Nova. “I had to pop home for something, and I ran into Nova here. We were just having a little chat.”

Nova looked up at me. There was something in her eyes that I couldn’t quite read. Fear maybe, or anger. Definitely anger. I winced. I had some serious making up to do if we were going to be friends.

“I was here to see Maverick. I forgot he wasn’t going to be in the office today.”

“Well, as you have determined, he isn’t here,” Ethan pointed out. “But thank you for reminding me that I really should remember to lock my door when I go out. Anyone could break in.”

Nova nodded. “Yes, it would have been awful if someone were to have broken in and done some damage.”

Ethan nodded, eyeing her, and I glanced between the two of them. “Am I missing something?”

“No, nothing at all, Ash,” Ethan said, smiling at me again. “Are you two going somewhere? Nova doesn’t look too well.”

I looked at her and realised he was right. She was deathly pale and had one hand across her stomach, as if she were feeling nauseous. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and her hair wasn’t as shiny as normal. She looked exhausted.

“Ethan’s right, Nova,” I murmured gently. “Can I take you home? You look like you need a quiet day.”

To my surprise, she nodded. “Yes, I don’t feel that good actually.”

Ethan looked over his shoulder. “Do you have the truck, Ash? She shouldn’t be walking that far.”

“Yeah, it’s just parked round the corner. Are you okay to walk that far, Nova?”

“Of course,” she replied. “Can I borrow your phone, Asher?”

I took it out and handed it to her, and she set off without a backward glance at Ethan.

He grinned at me. “She even has you wrapped around her little finger. Hope her mates don’t get too jealous. See you later, Ash.”

I nodded, not gratifying his remarks with an answer. Maverick might have some respect for the guy, but I didn’t beyond his position. The guy gave me the creeps, and I never quite felt like I could trust him. I turned and headed down the street after Nova.

She was talking into the phone, and I realised she was calling in sick to Eleanor. She nodded, even though Eleanor couldn’t see her, and I smiled at the sight. Even sick, she was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. She ended the call and passed the phone back to me.

“Thanks. Are you sure about giving me a lift home? I don’t want to put you out.”

I looked down at her. Her words had seemed measured, careful, and I realised she was trying not to say anything that might upset me. The anger I’d seen in her eyes was gone, and I had a sudden thought that it had been meant more for Ethan than me, but that couldn’t be right. Ethan hadn’t done anything to her.

“Nova, stop worrying about me and let me take care of you.”

She frowned but nodded and let me open the car door for her, climbing up into the seat. I jogged around the truck and slid behind the wheel, pulling out and heading towards the edge of town.

“I’m sorry about last night,” Nova said suddenly in a small voice.

I glanced over at her. “If anyone should be apologising, it’s me. Hell, I should be on my knees, begging for your forgiveness.”

She looked at me in surprise, her white teeth sinking into her luscious, pink bottom lip.

“I shouldn’t have pushed you, shouldn’t have asked you to... I knew what you wanted, and it wasn’t that, and I do need to apologise.”

I sighed. “Look, I don’t blame you. There’s a pull between us, I know that. It would be stupid of me to believe anything else, and it’s strong, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. You have your fated mates, Nova. If we were meant to be, you’d have marked me by now, or I’d have marked you, and that hasn’t happened. The pull between us is just physical, and I think it might fade eventually. We just need some space.”

“You want me to give you space? I’ve been trying, Asher, but...”

“I know.” I didn’t say how much it had hurt to keep away from her, or how much I’d craved the sight of her and the sound of her voice. No. Focus, Ash. “I’ve taken an apartment in town.”

She looked at me, her eyes wide. I waited until I turned onto the forest road before I continued.

“I’m moving out of the cabin. It’ll give you three more space and time to yourselves. I don’t want you tiptoeing around me, Nova. You need to feel relaxed and happy in your home, and me being there is making things awkward.”