Why didn’t I just leave? I had an opening right in front of me and I didn’t take it. All night, I paced the bedroom floor, wondering if I should test Chase and walk out of the house. Would he stop me? Was it a test to see what I would do? Either way, I think it was smart to stay. I can’t leave yet, not until I speak to Evangeline. I may be impatient but I’m not an idiot. I have to bide my time.
Sliding the curtains back, I look outside and the sun beams into the room. Tonight, there will be a full moon. My gut clenches, and a longing I hadn’t felt in a long time tightens in my chest. It seems like an eternity since I’ve let my wolf take over, letting her run free. I miss the smell of the earth as I race along its floor. And I yearn to feel the magic take over my body. I try to conjure up the memories of what it’s like, but I always come up blank. It’s as if the bracelet took away everything.
A knock raps on the door, and the moment I hear Chase murmur my name, my heart speeds up. Stop it, Kara. What the hell is wrong with me? The butterflies in my stomach are back and I hate myself for it.
“Can I help you?” I call out.
Chase clears his throat. “I was wondering if you wanted to ride with me up to the winery.”
I march over to the door and jerk it open. Chase’s eyes are the first thing I see. They’re the color of the ocean with specks of silver. It takes every ounce of strength I have to keep myself from staring down at his body, all masculine and firm in his blue polo shirt and gray slacks.
“For what? To gloat?”
It’s so much easier to be angry and lash out than to show weakness. Last night, I broke down and Chase saw a side of me I never wanted him to see. I can’t let that happen again, even if a part of me does feel like I can trust him.
“No,” Chase replies, and I can see the truth in his eyes. He has a way of looking at me that makes me doubt everything. Chase is an alpha, a sexy and respectful one at that. I’ve never met anyone like him before. The last time I put my trust in an alpha, my heart got broken. It’s something that took over two hundred years to mend. Chase steps forward and leans against the doorframe. “I want your opinion on some things at the winery.”
“Why?” I snap. “I’m the competition.”
Chase shrugs, and a hint of a smirk spreads across his lips. “True, but I admire your brutal honesty.”
If he wants it, he’ll get it. “Fine. I’ll go with you.” He moves out of the way, and I head downstairs with him right behind me. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself in to,” I tell him, glancing at him over my shoulder.
His shoulders shake. “I’m a big boy, Kara. I can handle your criticism.”
We’ll see about that.
“Won’t you have guests at the winery today?” I wonder.
Chase opens the door. “The winery is closed on Wednesdays. We have it all to ourselves.”
A spark of excitement bubbles in my chest, but I snuff it out quick. I just hope I don’t have to deal with the mongrels in his pack.
When we get outside, he goes straight to the passenger side and opens the door for me. “Do you do that for everyone?” I ask.
He winks and moves to his side. “Only for beautiful women.”
Rolling my eyes, I slide in and shut the door. “Does chivalry actually work for you?”
Grinning, Chase closes his door and his sports car rumbles to life. “It hasn’t let me down yet.”
No wonder women fawn all over him. I’ve seen it not only with the women in his pack but with humans at the restaurant. Every time he’d walk by eyes would follow his every move. He’s probably had more lovers in his short thirty-something years than I have in over two hundred. My stomach burns with the thought but more so because it bothers me that others look at him. Why do I care?
Chase’s arm brushes against mine, and I hold my breath, hoping like hell my heart doesn’t give me away. Goosebumps fan out over my skin and I’m thankful my arms are covered by my sweater. It’s been so long since I’ve been touched by someone like Chase. I didn’t realize how much I yearned for that physical connection. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed being with someone.
When we get to the winery and restaurant, I stifle back a groan when I see who pulls into the parking lot right before us. Sierra. Dressed in skinny jeans and a bright yellow top, she gets out of her convertible and beams at Chase. I want to take her down more than anything, but unfortunately, I can’t which only adds fuel to the fire.
“Hey, Chase,” she calls out, waving her hand in the air.
Chase is already out of the car and walking over to her by the time I get out and shut my door. I may not have my strength, but I refuse to let her think she’s above me, so I stand beside Chase, loving the fact that she tries her hardest to ignore me. Her hand brushes down Chase’s arm, very slow and seductive, and it makes me want to rip off her fingers, one by one.
“Are you running with me tonight?” she asks him.
I want to hear the word no from Chase’s lips but that’s not what comes out.
“Of course,” he says. “It’s the full moon.”
Gritting my teeth, I keep my mouth shut, especially when Sierra glowers smugly at me. She knows I can’t shift into my wolf. I always look forward to the full moon, loving the way the energy and magic takes over my body, but right now I feel nothing. My wolf is lost to me, wandering around in some deep, dark pit she can’t find herself out of. It makes my stomach tighten in knots when I think about it.
Sierra bites her lip and smiles at Chase again. “I’ll see you tonight then.” She glares at me once more before heading into the bistro.
The last place I want to go is inside of the restaurant, so when Chase leads us to the winery building next door, I breathe a sigh of relief. No one else is in there which makes it even better.
“Did I sense a little bit of jealousy back there?” Chase teases as he opens the door.
I walk inside. “Don’t flatter yourself, Maheegan. You already know I don’t get along with your girlfriend.”
He chuckles. “Whatever you say, princess.” He strolls over to the other side of the room where there’s a wine cellar with rows and rows of wine. The glass room gives his guests a view of everything he has to offer. I’m not going to lie, it’s classy and elegant the way he has everything displayed, but I’m not about to tell him that.
Chase grabs a couple of bottles from the shelves and brings them over. Smiling, he nods toward the bar. “Take a seat. I want you to try these.”
I sit down and clasp my hands on the bar. “So, you want me to drink and give you my opinion?”
“Yep.” He uncorks both bottles and pours some in our glasses. “You tried my Pinot Noir the other night, but now I want you to try some of my whites.”
His Pinot Noir was heavenly. I have no doubt these others will be the same. Sadly, I know he genuinely wants my honest opinion which means I can’t lie.
Smirking, Chase slides one of the glasses over to me. Keeping my eyes on him, I lift the glass to my lips. “What the hell are you grinning at?”
Shrugging, he pierces me with his bright blue gaze. “Oh, nothing really. Although I can’t help but think that someone who’s against lowlife, gray wolves would be jealous of them.”
“Please,” I scoff, taking a sip of his Sauvignon Blanc, “I’m a royal. I don’t have a reason to be jealous of anyone.”
Chase stares down at my lips for a few seconds before meeting my eyes. “Maybe not, but I’m just telling you what I felt. I’m starting to think you have a soft spot for me.”
I shake my head. “You couldn’t be further from the truth.”
He leans over on his elbows. “Suit yourself. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
It’s my turn to grin smugly at him. I down the entire glass of wine and slide it back to him. “You’re right. I need more wine.”
Chase backs up and pours more into my glass. “You might want to be careful. Wolves can’t get drunk, but you’re under rare circumstances right now.”
It just so happens that’s the plan. The other night when I drank, I felt the effects of the wine; it was nice to feel numb for a while. Taking my full glass, I lift it up. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be just fine.”