Page 61 of The Wolf's Mate
Is it Rip’s? Of course it is. I felt him approach last night. Felt his desire but tried to cut off my mind and emotions from his. I just don’t understand his angle? What message was he trying to send me by coming on the fucking door?
And why do I feel jealous of an inanimate object?
Pushing the cum-stained door aside—I will be addressing this later—I continue down the hallway and stairs until I reach the front doors of the packhouse. Not wanting to be alone right now, and not particularly wanting to face my mate yet, I walk the short distance to Tallie’s house.
Although Tallie told me once that I didn’t need to knock, I could simply walk in, I feel too awkward barging in and knock anyway. There’s a scrape of chairs and—was that a sniffle?—before the doors open, exposing a red-eyed Tallie.
“Hettie,” she sobs and flings herself into my arms.
I stumble back, catching myself just in time, and slowly wrap my arms around her. “Uhm, are you okay?” Dumb question. If she were okay, she wouldn’t be crying in my arms right now. I’m not good with this whole friend thing, but I’m trying because I love Tallie.
“Let’s walk.” She wipes her eyes and loops her arm through mine. I’ve no choice but to follow.
“Sorry, I just needed some air.” She sighs. “You probably think I’m an emotional mess.”
“Of course I don’t, but do you want to tell me what’s going on?” I ask.
“Thorne told me about the meeting yesterday. I heard it didn’t go well.”
I try to hide my scoff but fail.
Tallie gives me a sympathetic look. “Well, Thorne is leading the group of wolves leaving tomorrow night, and we haven’t been apart from each other since we mated. Knowing he’s leaving the safety of our borders and traveling into rogue and Nephilim territory is terrifying. I know he’s capable of taking care of himself, but we are up against an unknown enemy. Anything could happen.”
My heart hurts for Tallie. I can’t even fathom the emotional roller coaster she’s on. Even though Rip and I are fighting, if he were to leave for an undetermined amount of time, facing who knows what dangers, I don’t think I would be as composed as Tallie. The terror of losing him would be too consuming.
“You should be with him right now,” I urge.
Tallie shakes her head. “He’s going over logistics with Rip and the others joining him. I’ll see him tonight.”
“Well, is there any way I can help you keep your mind off it?” The distraction would be for me just as much as it would be for her.
We pass the residential houses, moving closer to the town’s center. The wind has picked up, blowing my hair out of my face. Soft chattering from shopping residents rings in my ear, louder than I would think possible this far away.
“It’s frightening to see our town so empty,” Tallie interrupts my thoughts. “I guess people are choosing to remain in their houses today, knowing a change is coming.”
I frown. “Empty? It doesn’t sound empty. I hear—” I break off, looking at the shops. There isn’t the usual crowd moving around. In fact, I barely see any movement at all, save for a few people shuffling down the road.
“You hear what?” Tallie stops walking, pulling me to a stop as well.
“I hear…” I pause, waiting for the sound to come back. Nothing…nothing…
There!
The noise gets louder, but now it’s impossible to mistake it as chatter. It’s a call, just like before. Back when I found wolfsbane for the first time. Now that I know what it is, the same almost painful feeling of last time resurfaces, demanding I follow.
“It’s calling you, isn’t it? Wolfsbane?” Tallie bounces from foot to foot, hiding her excitement as well as a black panther in snow, which is to say, not at all.
“It is. It’s more intense this time. Tallie, we need to follow it.” I am already following the sound, pulling me toward it. I don’t get far though when a hand grips my arm, yanking me to a stop.
“We can’t. Rip doesn’t want anyone going out in the forest alone, especially not his mate.”
“He doesn’t seem to care what I think, only that I obey him like the perfect little wife he wants me to be.” Even as I say it, I regret the words immediately. I’m bitter, hurt, and, frankly, a little embarrassed.
“I’m sorry,” I murmur. “He’s your cousin, and I shouldn’t?—”
“Let’s make one thing perfectly clear. Yes, he’s my cousin, but I know he’s not perfect. You are allowed to vent to me. What he did was shitty. I will not make any excuses for him. He needs to apologize. I don’t think he expects you to be an obedient little wife, though. He just needs to be put in his place.” She smirks.
I try to nod, but the sound is getting incessant. My head thrums, and the start of the headache creeps in. “Trust me, I’ll give him an earful.”