Chapter 0168
Avery Hawke
‘Look who’s here. Miss runaway,‘ Avery jeered into the girl’s mind. His whole body tingled from being near her. She stepped back, avoiding his gaze and turning around to look at her brother whose eyes were now on him.
“Look who we have here. It’s sergeant sneak,” the beta sneered.
That brought back his focus. He figured they must’ve reported his last night’s visit to this one. He was the Alpha’s second in command, after all.
Avery reminded himself that the reason he was standing here was because he meant to reject the girl. Or have her reject him. Whatever worked. She was the noble between the both of them. So maybe it was all in her hands.
Her eyes moved about as if she would rather look at the dog poop laying by the road than at
him.
Then she turned around to glance at Sara who was now rushing into the building.
Geoff had been the one driving when he’d spotted her walking out of that glass door with the beta. He’d barked at the man to pull over. As if he could solve his problem with her brother in
attendance.
“Care to explain why you were sneaking around the resort last night?” The beta asked.
The girl’s eyes shot to him. Embarrassment stirred, but he brushed it aside. Well, she would soon learn that his reason for sneaking wasn’t because he was lovesick for his mate, wouldn’t she?
“I’ll wait in the car,” the girl said. “Actually, I’ll just head straight to the site. I’ll be there for the next few hours.”
He knew without a doubt that the second part was meant for him.
He recalled how he’d panicked earlier when he checked the resort and couldn’t feel her nearby. He feared she’d returned to the city, but here she was.
As she walked past him, he decided they had to talk ASAP. Today. If he mindlinked her right now, Jake would pick up on that, and he would rather no one knew about them.
Except uncle Jerry, who saw her following him last night. At least, he didn’t know they were fated. There was no need to spill the beans there.
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Chapter 0168
+25 BONUS
“I’m waiting. Or didn’t you hear me?” The beta asked.
“I don’t CARE to explain, Mr. Carlisle. I don’t owe you shit!” He snapped.
The girl was still within earshot. He felt her glance around and decided to lie. He didn’t want her getting any ideas before they talked.
“But if you must know, I was there to see Elise. You know her, don’t you? Your Alpha’s mommy?”
Without waiting for a response, he started to make his way inside when he felt something pulled him back by the collar. The force was so great and sudden that he nearly lost his footing.
Anger rose inside of him. Jerking around, he yanked himself from the beta’s grip.
“You’re half–wolf, living in this town. That makes me your beta, kid. Show respect, yeah.”
Avery’s blood heated, and not because he just called him kid. So this town was a part of the Forest Moon now? Was that what they all thought?
“I understand you didn’t have anyone teach you basic manners while growing up. I’m happy to help there.” Jake’s voice grew gentler and more threatening.
“Jake, let’s go. You’re causing a scene,” the girl called out.
Avery felt more irritated that she was butting in. Did she think he needed her help dealing with this one? He stood up to his boss, the Alpha. And Mr. tough guy here didn’t ooze as much power as Nick.
Rearranging his collar, he spoke coolly,
“Touch me again, Mr. Carlisle, and I’ll cuff you!”
The beta’s lips lifted in an evil smile. He could feel the power pouring out of him too, but not like his boss. Handling him was easier since his presence was not as overwhelming as Alpha Dick.
Maybe I can take him.
That thought had barely formed when the beta lifted a hand to smooth Avery’s rumpled jacket.
“Where are the damn cuffs?” He muttered mockingly.
Slapping his hand away, Avery started to unclip the handcuffs from his belt when the girl reached for the beta.
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“C’mon, Jake. Let’s go.” She grabbed him by the sleeve and began pulling him away.
“I’ll see you soon, sergeant,” Jake called out.
“When I do, you’ll tell me why you were sneaking about last night.”
+25 BONUS
Ten minutes later, Avery arrived at the site. Sure enough, little Miss Carlisle was there. For her tour? Maybe.
He picked up her scent the moment he stepped foot inside the nearly completed park.
Men were hard at work. As he walked further inside, some greeted him with a wave. Others threw a few jokes. His eyes followed his senses and found her with Mr. Duncan and Jose.
Returning both men’s wave, he tried to keep his eyes off her. When he couldn’t, he decided there was no need.
‘Can we talk? I don’t have much time here?‘ He mindlinked her.
Moments later, she was standing in front of him while he ransacked his brain for the appropriate words.
‘Goddess, she smells divine.‘
“What did you want to say to me?”
“You ran away.” The three words fell out of his mouth before he could stop them. He hated the accusation in his tone.
“You felt the click and said what the f*ck!” She replied accusingly too.
“Because it was unexpected.”
“Is that why? That can’t be right. I think you were shocked that the Fate bind you with another when your heart is still with the Luna–to–be,” she said, shaking her head like she pitied him.
“Do you have any idea the danger you’re in? Nurturing feelings for the Alpha’s female? People have died brutally for far less!”
Was she worried about him or just jealous? If it was the latter, he’d say the mate bond was as crazy as he’d heard and read about.
He couldn’t help the smirk that lifted the corner of his mouth.
“What is this? Are you worrying about me or letting your jealousy show? Is it both? Don’t you
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Chapter 0168
think you’re being presumptuous?”
A feeling crossed her eyes that looked like hurt. He found himself wishing he hadn’t said that. She took a deep breath before speaking again,
“What did you want to say to me?”
“I think you know what.”
“Let’s pretend I don’t. Why don’t you tell me?”
“I can’t add you to the dramas in my life, Miss Carlisle. I want nothing to do with you, your family, or your pack. But you already know this.
So here’s what we’ll do. Meet me twenty–six days from now at the same spot in the woods. You can bring your witness. Let’s end this nonsense.”
He felt the lump in her throat as he spoke. Her bitterness was his own. But she kept a straight
face.
“You would agree that the Fate made a mistake. And if you hadn’t taken off, we would’ve concluded this whole thing the moment it began. But we already lost that chance, so…”
When he stopped speaking, she finished his sentence,
“So see you on the next full moon, Hawke.”
He nodded once. “Yeah. See you then.”
He didn’t finish the words before she turned away.
Forcing his feet back to his car, away from the noble she–wolf that was his mate, he cursed the
bond that joined their hearts.
