Page 31 of The Runaway Mate

Ryan ran his hand through his hair and sighed. Almost unconsciously, he picked up a water bottle from a side table, unscrewed the cap, and set it down beside me. I stared at the bottle and then back at him as he turned away. He was oblivious to what he had just done. It was such a simple act but no one had offered me anything, not even a water bottle, for years. I had always been low down in the Pack hierarchy, here with Oliver as Alpha and in Cocrane. It would have been seen as weak for anyone higher up to offer something to me.

“Look, Mai, I don’t want to fight anymore,” Ryan began, but before he could continue, his phone vibrated on the coffee table. He glanced at the screen. His eyes narrowed, and the tension in the room seemed to ratchet up a notch.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, nodding at his phone.

He pocketed the phone and looked back at me, his face softening. “Nothing. Are we still on for dinner tonight, or have I messed that up?” His voice was casual, but the tension was humming beneath his words like a tautly pulled string.

I glanced at the water bottle in front of me. “Annoying as you are, dinner still sounds okay,” I said, forcing a smile. And it did. I wanted to get to know him again. To leave all my baggage behind for one night and just be me. Besides, he promised I could yell at him, and my wolf would kill me if I backed out now.

Chapter twenty-one

Mai

It was six thirty, and I’d heard Ryan arrive ten minutes ago. He was downstairs talking to Jem. I couldn’t hear enough to work out what they were saying, though, which I found annoying.

I’d spent the last two hours finishing the project I’d been working on, then emailing all my clients with my new phone number and a message saying I was taking time off for the next couple of weeks. I had some money saved up, enough to get me through a month without work if I was careful about it. It wasn’t what I had in mind for that money, but I needed a break, needed to sort my head out, and make a new plan. When I knew where I was going, I’d email them back and say I was open for business again.

I was dressed in a simple, turquoise dress that hugged my curves in all the right places. After Derek’s lesson, I’d called Sofia and dragged her away from the bar to help me shop. She’d insisted this was the dress for me. She was right; I loved it. It made me feel confident and ready to face whatever the night threw at me.

I opened my door to find Hayley waiting in the corridor. Her hair was up in an elaborate braid, but there were loose strands escaping, giving her a slightly disheveled look. The Hayley I remembered always had perfect hair and make-up. She had on a lot of make-up, and I mean a lot, but it couldn’t hide how tired she looked, like she hadn’t slept in days.

“Well, well, don’t you scrub up nice.” Her tone was even, but it had an edge to it.

She’d been nice to me last night, telling me I should stay, but this was the Hayley I knew.

“Thanks.” I kept my voice even as I walked past her, hoping that it was the end of our conversation.

“I bet you think you have it made now, don’t you? Finally, back where you belong, with everyone running around after you, making sure you’re happy.”

I paused at the top of the stairs, then pivoted and strode back to her.

“You told me to stay, Hayley. Just like you told me to run four years ago. What? You changed your mind again?”

“I… I didn’t tell you—”

“Don’t, Hayley. I’m not a kid you can manipulate anymore. You took advantage when I was at my lowest. You told me I should run.” A thought occurred to me. “Is that what the problem is? Ryan said that you told them I wanted to leave. And now you’re scared I’m going to tell Jem the truth, that you urged me to run?”

Her face paled, and I knew I was right.

“That’s why you were so nice to me when I got back. You were trying to figure out what I was going to say. What? Not enough patience to follow it through, Hayley? Now you’re going straight back to being a bitch again. What’s the plan this time? Make my life miserable, so I’ll leave and won’t have time to rat you out to Jem?”

“Go ahead,” she said, her voice wavering. “He won’t believe you over me.”

Maybe, but Jem would always wonder. I couldn’t do that to him or to the Pack.

I shook my head. “You can relax, Hayley. I’m not going to tell him. I’ve only been back a few days, but even I can see how messed up your bond is and how it’s hurting the whole Pack. Me telling Jem would only make it worse for everyone.”

I caught the relief that flooded her gaze before she could hide it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Mai!” Jem’s voice floated up from the bottom of the stairs. “Ryan’s here.”

Before I could respond, Hayley turned on her heel and walked away.

My stomach did a triple pirouette as I took a deep breath and made my way downstairs. Ryan was there, looking every bit as pant-wettingly gorgeous as I remembered, in smart black pants and a pale pink shirt unbuttoned at the top. His brown hair was styled to perfection, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked up and saw me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke; we just stared at each other in silence. All I could think was how much I wanted to run my fingers down his broad chest, kiss every line on his stomach, and finally touch what was hiding in his pants. Ryan broke my train of thought when he took a step toward me, his hand reaching out to touch my arm. A jolt of electricity raced across my entire body.

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