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Chapter Five
Miles
“Why didn’t anyone tell me having a mate would be this incredible?”
A chorus of grumbles surrounds me as we continue to work. No one answers me aside from the knowing grin Mason throws my way before he dumps another load of firewood onto the pile. We make sure it’s full for every full moon meeting.
“It’s easy now.” Derek growls as he drags a large branch over to Roper, who is running the chainsaw. I’m sure it’s an excuse to remain his usual quiet self and ignore us all, especially me.
But I know Roper loves me.
Long ago, he declared he would never find nor have a mate. He saw what his old man put his mom through and vowed to never do the same to a woman. I can’t wait to see the day when a woman comes along he can’t help but feel drawn to. It’s going to pull our quiet man out of his comfort zone.
It’ll be great.
“Just wait until she finds out. Then you’ll have something to worry about.” Derek continues.
I know what he means. When a werewolf finds his mate, and he’s positive she doesn’t know, it can be a struggle to break the news, and then you risk losing her.
“I’m not too concerned with that.” The connection between Alexa and me is strong enough to weather anything. I already know that. Our date last week went amazingly well. I’veseen her a couple more times since then, but we’ve mainly just talked on the phone due to conflicting work schedules.
She’s funny, sweet, and gets my sense of humor. Something not everyone can handle or appreciate.
That includes these guys.
“I would be.” He drops the thick branch, wipes his brow, and crosses his arms before aiming that ever-present glare at me. “You don’t know how she’ll react, much less believe you. Andthen, when you go to show her, she might freak out. You’ll never see her again.”
Why is Derek such a Debbie downer?
“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Mr. Positive,” I quip.
“He has a point.” Roper grunts, his seldom-heard voice replacing the chainsaw. “Mates mean nothing.”
“You know where some of us stand on that.” I point at him. His dad claimed his mom was his mate, but then he left her with such ease my dad and the other older guys in our pack began to wonder if he lied about it. A werewolf can fall in love and marry a woman who isn’t his fated mate, but there’s so much more between two people when they’re meant to be together.
He doesn’t respond, only goes back to start the chainsaw and get back to work. We’re used to his surly behavior.
“Get back to work, Casanova.” Mason picks up my gloves and slaps me across the back of my head with them. “Then you can go after your girl and leave us alone.”
“I thought you were in the puppy love stage as well?” He’s actually seen Rylie more recently than I have Alexa.
“Who says I’m not?” His back is presented to me as he heads over to grab more wood.
“He doesn’t go all lovestruck on us like a certain Pretty Boy does.” Derek snorts.
I miss Brandon.
Me too.
“You guys are just jealous.” I ignore the pinch in my chest at the words and the death glare Derek gives me. I feel great having Alexa in my life, and I can’t imagine what it would be like if she were to reject me. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that I could potentially become an ever-lasting asshole like Derek.
He didn’t used to be the way he is now. In fact, growing up, he was just like me. Always happy-go-lucky and cracking jokes, Derek found Annabelle when we were kids and then lost her when she moved away with her mom to escape her ass of a dad. To this day, I still believe he should have gone after her no matter what her dickhead of a dad told him. But I’m rarely taken seriously.
“Both of you, back to work,” Mason barks.
“Yeah, sure thing,boss.” He halts momentarily at the term. It’s one he doesn’t much care for. Technically, he is the boss as well as the alpha, but that doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely.
“Just remember to take it easy with your wolf being so close to the surface,” he warns.
