Chapter 13 – To Work
Rafe
Theresa snarls, baring her teeth when I don’t take her bait. “Who is it that you’re dating, Rafe? Is it that redhead I saw in all those pictures at Midwinter -”
I smirk, suddenly grateful for my failed relationship with Daphne as a way to get Theresa’s mind off Maryam. But still, I don’t want to outright lie or put Theresa on Daphne’s tail. No, Daph doesn’t deserve that. “No, not the redhead.”
“Then who the hell –“ Theresa storms forward again. I just lean back, letting her come, knowing that I’ve got the trump card that can end it all.
“Theresa, I met my mate.”
She freezes, the blood draining from her cheeks, her expression falling slack.
I clench my teeth, knowing that this is hurting her, hating to do that. It has always been just…so intense with Theresa. And even though I’ve known for a couple of years now that I have a mate, until I actually met Maryam it was very difficult to imagine anything but Theresa and I coming back to each other again and again, like…lodestones. Or compass needles always turning north, no matter how much they’re shaken up.
I mean, very intense, sexually adventurous and emotionally toxic compass needles. But sure. I guess the metaphor stands.
“No,” Theresa whispers, shaking her head, taking a step away. “You’re – you’re fucking with me, Rafe –“
“You know I wouldn’t do that, Theresa.”
“But…” She shakes her head again like she’s trying to clear it, to find the mistake in what I said. “But you – and me –“
I sigh, reaching out a hand, not at all happy to see her this upset. “Tess, please –“
“No, Rafe!” she snaps, suddenly livid despite her confusion. “I am not letting this happen! You are mine!”
I sigh and let my hand drop between us, realizing that this all just got ten times more complicated than it was before. Because once Theresa gets her teeth in something, she either gets her way or takes her pound of flesh with her when she goes.
“You are mine and I don’t know why you’re making up all this bullshit about a mate,” she snarls, stepping forward to glare up into my eyes. “Or if she is real, then I’m going to –“
I clench my jaw, glaring hard. “You will stand down, Theresa,” I growl, Alpha command singing through my words, pushed to the edge by this bare hint of a threat to Maryam. Theresa shrinks back, her body responding to my command on a visceral level, her eyes going wide. “If you even look at my mate the wrong way,” I whisper. “You will regret it. This is finished. I’m sorry that you brought it to such a graceless end.”
Theresa bares her teeth at me, even if she doesn’t advance. “Who is she!?”
I stay still, not giving anything.
Her head turns sharply to the side, very much like a bird of prey. “So, she hasn’t accepted the bond.”
My jaw clenches. Shit. Shit. Of course she figured that out – because if I had a bonded mate of course the entire nation would know immediately – I’d shout it from the rooftops –
Theresa smirks, seeing space here for her to act. “Sorry I lost my temper,” she says, standing straighter, her eyes going wide and innocent again. I blink, shocked again at how fast she can shift into a different mood. But I’m onto her now, after five years of this. “I just…care about you a lot, Rafe. It’s devastating to hear that…I’ve lost you. At least, for now.”
I swallow, not sure how to play this. “I’m serious, Theresa. We’re done. You need to –“
“Oh, we’ll see!” she says, giving me a pretty smile as she turns away. “After all, an unaccepted mate is just potential – not a bond.” She blows me a kiss and waves over her shoulder. “See you later, baby!”
I sigh, watching her go, and my wolf turns an anxious circle in my soul.
Is she right? My wolf asks. Is Maryam…not really our mate? Not yet?
I sigh, gripping his soft black fur in my fist before smoothing my palm down the length of his back. Don’t let Theresa get into our head, I say, shaking my own. That’s what she wants.
But my wolf howls, worried.
What happens if Maryam never accepts us?
Will we just be…alone? Forever?
I turn my eyes towards the nursing tent, curiosity and grief mixing in my soul.
Maryam
My group and I work through the afternoon and into the evening, getting everything ordered and set up. By the time we’re finished, night has fully fallen and most of the nurses have stepped out to go get dinner and hang out by the fire or take some time to themselves in their bunks.
But I’m still here, munching on a sandwich and organizing the little office space we set up, ensuring that everything is labeled and where it should be. I like things neat, after all.
Or, well. I like things in the clinic neat. My room at home is always a disaster.
But one can’t be picky. Nobody’s health is at stake if my bed goes unmade, but sterile syringes need to be kept that way.
“Are you all good here?”
I look up to see Claudia smiling down at me. I smile right back. “I think so,” I say, nodding eagerly and looking around. “Nearly done.”
“Okay,” she says, grinning. “Come and sit by the fire when you’re finished. It will be great to get to know everyone!”
I make a face and Claudia laughs. “What, you don’t want to?”
I roll my eyes and start to say something about not wanting to hang out with all those wolves, but thankfully I stop myself before I get very far. Claudia is a wolf, after all, and she’s been nothing but perfectly lovely all day. She tilts her head at my stilted words and I just sigh, shrugging.
“You’ll have to forgive me,” I say, gesturing towards my head. “I’m all a wreck up here. Long day. I think I’m going to relax instead.”
“Okay,” she says, nodding, understanding. “But we’ll hang out soon?”
“Count on it!” I say, waving as she steps away.
I take a little bit more time to put everything in its place, finishing my sandwich and my bottle of water as I do. Then I move towards the door of the tent, peering out into the night, wondering where the hours went and when it got so dark. I stop at the entrance, peering over at the fire around which many volunteers – the guards, nurses, therapists – cheerfully mingle. I nod, kind of pleased to see everyone getting along and having fun.
That’s the dream, isn’t it? Wolves and humans cohabitating, everyone just…friends?
God, could it really be possible?
“Did you see the sky?”
I leap nearly out of my sneakers at the sound of Rafe’s voice so close on my right, shrieking as I skitter away.
He stares at me for a moment in shock before he bursts out laughing as I pant, a hand clasped to my chest. “God damn it, Rafe!” I snap. “You scared the hell out of me!”
He grins, a little laughter still shaking through him as he shakes his head at me. “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just…thought you realized I was here.”
“I don’t have your extended senses,” I mumble, glaring and standing straight again.
He nods, understanding and apologetic even if he is still entertained. Then he looks upwards. “Seriously, though, it’s a really clear night. You shouldn’t miss it.”
I glare at him for a second longer, not ready to give in, before I turn my eyes upwards. My shoulders immediately relax. “Whoa.”
The word is an understatement. The stars spread out above us, gorgeous in their brilliant chaos, little pinpricks in a wide velvet swath of black. I stare in wonder, rather overwhelmed by the sight. I mean, I grew up in the North, where the sky is generally clearer than in the city down south. But out here, in the woods?
Just, stunning.
“It’s even better deeper in the woods, even this little bit of firelight is dimming the view,” Rafe murmurs. Then he glances at me. “Not that you should go into the woods trying to see it. Dangerous, and all.”
I shift my gaze to his face and frown. “Can you like…see it better than me? Even standing right here?”
“What,” he asks, looking up again. “Because I’m taller? It’s not that much of an advantage –“
I can’t help it. I laugh.
He grins and looks back at me with a shrug. “It’s been documented that wolves have better night vision than humans. So…maybe. I guess we’ll never really know.”
I nod, looking back up. “I’ll make a painting and you’ll make a painting. Then we’ll compare.”
“You’re too competitive. You’ll cheat and add more stars.”
I smile, thinking that he’s right. But then I scowl, hating that he knows that about me. “I’m not competitive.” A lie. But whatever, I’m much happier being a mystery to Rafe Sinclair.
“Okay, Maryam,” Rafe says, low and sarcastic, clearly not buying it for a second. “You keep telling yourself that.”
“What are you even doing here?” I ask, turning to him fully now and crossing my arms. “Stalking me?”
He quirks an eyebrow at me like I wish that was the answer. Then he lifts the gigantic rifle strapped across his body. “Guard duty? My job?”
I still glare, even if…okay, yeah, that checks out. “Well, I’m done in here,” I say, gesturing towards the tent. “So, if I turn off the lights and go somewhere else, do you follow me? Or do you have other people that you’re supposed to guard?”
He smirks at me. “Do you want me to follow you, Maryam?”
Almost on instinct, I roll my eyes. “I want you to go fall into a trash compactor, Rafe,” I snap, turning and starting to walk away. “That’s what I want you to do.”
His laughter follows me as I start to cross the camp.
But his laughter halts at the same time as my feet go still, my eyes flashing to the far edge of camp where two figures emerge from the darkness.
Rafe is almost instantly at my side. “Get behind me, Maryam.”
Again on instinct, I obey.