My stomach curled and I felt hot tears prick my eyes. I had to get out of here, this was s.tupid, I don’t know what I expected from him. I felt so worthless, so small and insignificant.
I brushed past her knowing I couldn’t trust my voice, and pressed the door to the elevator a few times when I finally reached it.
It opened and a girl with ruby-red curls was leaning against the glass wall without a care in the world, her eyes met mine after a long moment. Who was she? Besides Caspien only his Beta and Gamma and parents had access to this elevator. I was gone for a few months but I felt like I missed so much.
“Hi,” She gave me a half-smile that seemed genuine, “I’m Cali.”
“Rachel,” I nodded once stepping in and pressing the bottom floor.
“Sorry, have to head up first if you don’t mind,” The girl shrugged.
“That’s fine,” I replied trying to keep my voice even, “Are you mated to-?” I left it open trying to make conversation and figure out who she was.
“Holden,” She gave me a smile accompanied by a faraway look, a mix of complete infatuation and adoration of the made bond. Pain prickled through me. Was I not worthy of a mate?
“Holden,” I repeated with a f.orced smile, I was wondering when he was going to get his mate, he needed someone to tame him and by the look of her I bet she could, “He’s a lucky guy.”
“I think so too,” The door opened on Caspien’s floor and I tensed hoping no one else was waiting for it, she turned to me with a wink, “Nice meeting you, Rachel.”
“You too, Cali,”
I prayed to The Moon Goddess that I wouldn’t get stopped on Caspien’s office floor going down, and for once she answered my prayer.
“I haven’t seen you around here, and I was pretty sure I knew every attractive girl in this place.” A tall, dark brunette leaned on the bar next to me. Arrogant, bad pickup lines, gross.
I turned back to my drink swirling it around.
“Not one to talk? How about I buy you another drink, yours is almost gone.”
Before I could protest, he motioned to the bartender, who set a shot of something clear in front of me faster than I thought possible.
“-“
“Just call it penance for that pickup line,” He gave me a sheepish grin and I tried to smile back at him, downing the burning liquid.
“What the actual fuck is that?” I almost spit it out, it burned like h.ell.
“The first words you spoke to me, I can’t wait to tell our grandchildren that story,” He took his shot without even a flinch.
I snorted but smiled at him.
“Caden,” He held out a hand and I placed mine in his.
“Rachel,”
“Nice name,” He flashed me a brilliant smile.
“Going to have to thank my parents for that one; I didn’t choose it,” I raised an eyebrow.
“So what I’m hearing is that you want me to meet your parents?” He matched my stare.
I shook my head once, “What do you want?”
“The same thing as you,” His eyes softened.
“Which is?”
“A distraction.”
I sighed. He was right, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Why do you think I need a distraction?”
He motioned to the bartender again, “Really?” He turned his attention to me, dark green eyes studying my face, “You have that look. If you were just sad you would go home, curl up, watch a bad movie, cry, whatever you do, I’m not judging.” Another drink, thankfully not another of those shots, appeared before me and I nodded my thanks at the bartender.
“But you’re here, at a bar, alone. You want a distraction that you can’t give yourself. You want to numb the pain, or forget about it with alcohol or company.”
I took a sip and looked away from him, d.amn, he was f*****g right.
“You’re right,” I admitted, clutching the glass, “Thanks for the drink by the way.”
He gave me a two-finger salute and took a drink of his beer, “So, do you want to talk or want a drinking companion? Or I can just fuck off,”
“No,” I shook my head, I did need a distraction, “I’ll give you the short version. Ex-type person found his mate, didn’t have the decency to even text me, his mate of course is beyond gorgeous, and her son is apparently a blessed wolf.”
His mouth opened and then closed, “Blessed wolfs don’t get their gifts until they’re eighteen, how old is this ex of yours?” He looked me over as if seeing me for the first time.
“Almost thirty, his mate looked early twenties I doubt her son is eighteen,” I crossed my arms.
He paused for a moment, “Who is your ex?”
“Ex-type person,” I corrected him.
“Sorry,” He gave me a small small, “Who is your ex-type person?”
“It doesn’t matter, really,” I sighed, taking another drink, “And it doesn’t matter that he found his mate,” I waved my hand.
“But it does to you,” He raised an eyebrow setting down his drink, his arm brushed mine and the contact felt nice.
“It does, for a lot of reasons. It fucking hurts, but I can’t be mad.”
“You can be,” His green eyes were locked on mine, “For him not telling you at least.”
“You’re right, but the thing is, I don’t want to be mad.”
“No one does, but anger does help accomplish things.” There was a spark in his eyes, and I smiled back at him, leaning into where his arm was rested on the bar, wanting a bit of him warm touch. “I’m not trying to accomplish anything. Besides wallow, I guess.” I tipped my glass forward.
“But you don’t have to do it alone anymore,” He shrugged, “Wallow step one complete. Find drinking buddy, you’ve accomplished that” He raised his glass to mine and I clinked mine to his.
“Where are you from, Rachel?”
“Crescent Moon. I live in Italy now, Milan.”
“Fancy,” He whistled, “To both.”
We were at a werewolf dive bar, technically out of the city limits. I didn’t want to have to deal with humans today or anyone that didn’t understand the complexities of the mate bond, or lack thereof. I guess I was looking for someone to talk to, someone who didn’t know me and wouldn’t judge me-someone to be with to feel wanted and needed, everything that I wasn’t feeling this evening.
“And you?”
“Originally from Red Stone.” Not too far from here, but not close either.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.