Destin POV
The last thing I expect is for her to listen and actually shift in front of me. When she does, my mouth drops open in shock, but I clamp it shut before she can see. She is crouched on the ground, mumbling cuss words under her breath. I do my best to stifle my laughter, but I think I am failing.
Glancing up from the ground, she groans loudly. "Can you please give me something to cover up with?"
I drop my ax on the ground. "Why did you shift back if you didn't want me to see you naked?"
Her teeth grind together. "Jasmine did not give me a choice."
I pull my shirt over my head and toss it in her direction. "Next question. Why are you here?"
"Once again," she sneers. "My wolf is making decisions without me."
She covers herself with my shirt and slowly gets to her feet. I have never seen her messy before. Her knees are covered in dirt, and some mud is smudged across her cheeks. I don't know how it is possible, but she is more lovely covered in dirt. There is something different about her. I study her closely, but I can't put my finger on what is different.
"What's different about you?" I blurt out without thinking.
She rolls her eyes. "I only lost twelve inches of hair."
Wren flips her hair over her shoulders and looks around. Of course, I should have noticed such a drastic change. Maybe if I spent more time with her, I would have noticed right away. I bet Charlie noticed right away. I shake the thought from my head. This isn't about me. While I did love her long hair, this new style suits her.
I am lost in thought when she walks past me. Her shoulder brushes against my arm and brings me back to the present. She is halfway down the lane when I catch up with her.
"Where are you going?" I shout after her.
"Back to the Gravestone Pack," she growls. "Or maybe back to my parents. Trust me. I don't want to be here any more than you want me here."
She pauses at the end of the lane, looking to the right and left. There is an empty feeling in my gut. She is thinking about leaving the Gravestone Pack because of me. The trust is, I don't want her to leave.
"It is late," I say, reaching for her. "I will take you back to the pack house tomorrow."
She spins around and slaps my hand away. "I know you don't want me to be here. Let's not pretend like you do."
"Kitten," I whisper. "Why are you here?"
Her fists ball up at her sides, and she grunts. "Because men are stupid, and I don't have the time to deal with either of you."
"Either?" I cock an eyebrow. "Who else is pissing you off these days?"
"Charlie," she admits. "He tried to make me feel guilty about going into a playroom with you, even though nothing happened, and you are my mate."
Jealousy rears its ugly head. "Why were you with Charlie?"
"He took me on a date, if you must know," she snaps at me. "It isn't like you are taking me on any."
"Dates?" I question. "You want to go on dates?"
"It would be nice," she shouts. "I am literally the most eligible she-wolf in the country, and that is not me bragging. That is a simple fact. And since I found out you were my mate, I haven't accepted one date. A girl gets lonely."
My jealousy is quickly replaced with guilt. Once again, she is right. I have stolen a year from her, making her wait for me.
"Please come back to the cabin," I beg her. "I don't want you walking around at midnight, in my t-shirt, covered in mud."
Her face flushes brightly, and she attempts to wipe the mud from her face, but it only makes it worse. Extending my hand, I try to help her, but she backs away.
"Don't touch me," she whimpers. "The sparks from the mate bond hurt too much."
"Fair," I sigh.
She stomps past me, and I follow her back to the cabin. My eyes betray me and focus on her ass. It is rounder than I expected it to be, and I find myself wondering how she would fit in my hands.
Wren pauses at my cabin door. She is sure to put enough distance between us so we don't touch. That simple act is enough to make my heart ache. If she doesn't reject me soon, I won't be able to stop myself from falling more in love with her than I already have.
When I open the door, she refuses to walk in. She is studying her legs in the dim light of the doorway. "Are you planning on sleeping outside?"
"I am filthy," she mutters. "I don't want to mess up your floors."
"My floors have seen worse," I assure her. "Come inside."
She shuffles into my cabin, and her tough girl façade breaks down. Her arms are wrapped tightly around her body, and her eyes are cast to the ground.
Stepping in front of her, I lift her chin. "You can use the guest bathroom. It is upstairs. First door on the left."
"Thank you," she replies.
I watch her ass as she races up the stairs, but I look away when I can see the milky white skin of her ass cheeks. I am not some creeper, but I want to run after her.
Someone banging on my door keeps me from chasing after her. It is Charlie. I am sure of it.
When I open the door, he has a purse in one hand and a bottle of liquor in the other. He smells like he split his drink down the front of him, but the bloodshot in his eyes tell me otherwise.
"Exactly how much does a werewolf have to drink in order to get drunk?" I ask him in frustration.
"I am not drunk," he slurs.
"Why are you here?" I seem to be asking that question a lot tonight.
"She is here," he says, leaning against my doorframe.
"Go," I warn him. "Go, now, and I won't tell her you followed her."
"I don't want to stay," he shouts. "But I brought her stuff."
He thrusts the purse in my hands and stumbles down the front steps. I should stop him. Even a werewolf shouldn't drive drunk, and even if I am angry with him, I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened.
Before I can call him back, he face plants in my frontyard.
"Fuck you, Charlie," I snap as I drag him back into my cabin.
He is fighting and snarling, but thankfully, he is too drunk to shift. I shove him down onto my couch and press a finger into his chest.
"You don't move off this couch unless you have to puke or piss. Got it?"
"Fuck you, Fae," Charlie snarls.
His bark is worse than his bite. He falls back onto the couch, and his eyes shut immediately. "Goodnight, Alpha," I snort before heading up the stairs.