Page 5 of The Runaway Mate

She crouched down in front of me and looked me straight in the eyes. “You gonna tell me who we’re killing?”

And that was why I loved Sofia. It didn’t matter that four years had passed since I’d last seen her or that I hadn’t been in touch since then. She had my back, no matter what.

“He’s not relevant. I escaped, and I have no intention of ever seeing that motherfucker again.”

She stared at me for a beat, then nodded. “Okay, but you just say the word, Mai, and I’ll bring the shovel.”

God, I’d missed her. My eyes started to well up, and I looked away before I embarrassed both of us.

“So,” Sofia said, as she stood up and glanced around my apartment, “this is still the same shitpit.”

“Yeah, I guess Jem moved out and didn’t look back.”

Sofia shook her head. “No, Jem moved out, and he and Ryan threatened the Pack with instant death if anyone touched this place. They wanted it to be just like you left it in case you ever came back. Man, they are gonna blow when they find out you’re here.”

“That’s not going to happen,” I said, breathing through my mouth and wishing the pain would fuck off already.

“Mai, you’re delusional. Ryan has been looking for you for years. He’ll find out you’re here sooner or later. You need to prepare yourself; you can’t run from him. Not again.”

I scoffed, “Wanna bet?”

“Jase told me your plan. Stay off the radar, right? Heal up, then ship out again. That’s a dumb-ass plan, and you know it.”

“Really? Seems like you and Jase just brought me enough food to last a month. I have everything I need right here; I don’t need to leave the apartment. No one but you two know I’m here. As long as neither of you snitch, they’ll be none the wiser, and I can clear out in a couple of weeks.”

“Brilliant plan. Except you forgot one thing, Mai,” a deep voice said from the doorway.

I turned, and all the breath left my body. Ryan was here.

Chapter five

Mai

Ryan. My Ryan. My heart stopped. He was here. Was he real? His eyes bore into mine, pinning me in place. And suddenly, I was transported to that day four years ago when my entire world shattered.

Four years ago

It was just after my eighteenth birthday. I’d promised myself that I would wait until I was twenty before I told Ryan that he was my mate. Mates recognize each other; our wolves recognize each other. There is no escaping it. But for some, it took longer than others. I didn’t think he knew, not yet. He’d never made any moves, never given any indication that I was anything other than Jem’s little sister. I’d watched him date others and stamped down my jealousy with the knowledge that I was his only true mate, and one day, he’d be all mine. That and slitting Karen Eastley’s car tires, stealing all of Macy Daring’s left shoes, and filling Nancy Hampton’s car with popcorn and whipped cream. It took her and Ryan two days to get it all out and it stank for months afterwards, long after she and Ryan split up.

There was something about Sarah Conley, though. She’d been sniffing around Ryan for weeks. Sarah worked as an assistant manager at the bank in town. She wore sophisticated skirts and tight blouses and had flawless make-up. I could barely afford my second-hand trainers. Jem let Hayley control all our money, and new clothes for me weren’t a priority, not when they were trying to buy snitches in Oliver’s enforcers. Sarah was everything I was not. I was skinny, short, scrappy, had bad hair that hadn’t been cut in two years, and dressed in Hayley’s old jeans and T-shirts. I had no life plan other than to get to graduation, so I wouldn’t need to hear Brock Madden calling me the “skanky trashcan bitch” anymore. Sarah had a job, money, her family had power in the Pack, she was curvy in all the right places, was well-liked in the Pack, and would make Ryan the perfect mate.

Sarah started slow, brushing past him too close when she walked by him, then moved up to lingering touches on his hands, his arms, his chest as she talked to him. My wolf watched every move, and it was all I could do not to let her loose and rip Sarah’s throat out. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I’d put up with his other women, knowing I was too young, that I wasn’t ready for a relationship. What was so different this time?

It happened at the Alpha meet. Once a year, all the northeastern Packs got together to discuss issues and build alliances. Sometimes, this was on neutral territory, but some years, a Pack hosted. This year, Oliver had volunteered the Three Rivers Pack to host the meeting. Everyone was on their best behavior, trying to impress and not cause any trouble.

At the first evening welcome party, the whole Pack was instructed to be there and make nice with the other Packs. There could be no hint that things were anything but perfect. Sarah was there, of course, and she was dressed to kill in a tight, dark blue dress that left little to the imagination. She kept close to Ryan all evening, whispering in his ear and trailing her fingers down his arm. It was a clear message to everyone there. She wanted him, and she was going to stop at nothing to get him.

I felt my wolf clawing at my skin, begging to be released. I was shaking with rage, and I knew that if I didn’t get away from them soon, I would lose control. I headed to the door, but Brock Madden and his crew were there, and Brock was watching me carefully. I knew he wouldn’t let me just slip away. I turned, heading for the fire exit on the other side of the bar. I kept my head down, pushing through the crowds. Until a hand gripped my arm, stopping me in my tracks.

“Not leaving so soon, are you?” Brock’s voice whispered in my ear. “I thought you and I could have some fun later.”

My stomach turned. Sweat was starting to run down my back with the effort of keeping my wolf under control.

“Fuck off, Brock.” I yanked my arm back.

“Aw, don’t be like that, Mai.”

I ignored him, turned, and slammed into Oliver’s chest.

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