Page 32 of Unforgivable Fate

Griffin’s face heated and he was glad he couldn’t blush, “Barrett might’ve mentioned that.”

“Mmhmm. I’m sure he did.” Darius chuckled, “Anyway, switching my loyalty and allegiance was big for me. Switching packs, leaving behind the only family I’d ever really known, it was a lot to accept and I thought I needed time to come to terms with all of that before I sealed the bond with Leo.”

“If what you’re getting at is that I should give Nova however much time she needs, you don’t have to worry. I don’t intend to push her into anything she isn’t ready for.”

“No. Actually I was going to tell you the opposite.”

Griffin was taken aback, “What?”

“Push her. Keep pushing her. Don’t let her get away with avoiding you. Don’t let her forget you’re there and you’re waiting for her, not for a second.”

“Seriously?”

“That’s how Leo got to me.” Darius shrugged. “He refused to back down or give up. It’s not in his nature and in the end that’s what convinced me I could rely on him to have my back no matter what else changed in my life. Giving in to the mate bond was scary but once I accepted it, it was the best thing to ever happen to me.”

“Man, just being here, in this pack, in this place, knowing my fated mate was here and that fate sent me here? That’s already the best thing to ever happen to me.” Griffin admitted.

“But sealing the bond, making her your mate and your wife, making this place your home and being part of this family, it’ll make it even better.” Darius put a big hand on his shoulder. “Fate put you together for a reason. Remind her of that.”

“Thanks.” Griffin nodded, “I appreciate everything you’ve done to welcome me to the pack.”

“I believe in you.” Darius pulled his hand away, “Don’t make me regret it.”

“I won’t.”

Darius tilted his chin towards the square and Griffin turned to see Nova coming from the opposite direction. He looked back towards Darius but the man had already walked away and was talking with the Enforcer who had been leading the exercise in his stead. Griffin turned back towards the square and watched as Nova stopped in front of a little house that sold the vegetables the couple grew in their garden on the front porch.

He watched her for a long minute, contemplating the advice that Darius had given him. Nova must have felt his gaze on her. His wolf was practically chomping at the bit to get closer to her. He imagined that despite her own misgivings about him that her wolf was putting up no such protest. Nova knew he was there but she didn’t glance over and look at him, steadfastly ignoring him just as she’d done for the past several days.

Enough.

Griffin swiped his face with the hem of his shirt, hoping to get rid of whatever dirt and sweat lingered there, and then he stepped off the grassy knoll where the Enforcers were training and into the square. Darius was right. He couldn’t continue to let Nova ignore him and hope she would come around before the full moon. He had to show her that he wasn’t going anywhere and now was as good a time as any.

“Nova.” He raised his voice just enough to carry across the square and knew she heard him when her back straightened. “Nova, hey.”

She turned to face him slowly and though there was still wariness in her eyes when he moved closer to her he saw something else there too. Heat. Desire. The flash of awareness wasn’t one-sided after all. The mating heat was getting to her as well. She looked him over from top to bottom and he nearly groaned when she licked her lips as if she was imagining licking the sweat from his skin.

Focus, he grit his teeth and reminded himself. He wasn’t going to maul her in the middle of town square no matter how she looked at him. Not even if his pride did take the opportunity to bask in the attention she’d finally decided to bestow on him. His wolf prowled beneath his skin but he held his beast at bay and tried to offer only what he thought was a pleasant smile.

“Hey yourself.” Her smile was warmer than it had been the last time he saw her and that made his heart beat faster.

“What’re you up to?” he asked inanely and watched her eyebrow quirk.

“Just running a few errands.” She motioned behind him towards the group of men training, “I didn’t know you were working out with the Enforcers.”

“Darius invited me to join them.” He shook his head, “Not join them as in, become an Enforcer just… join them in their training sessions. He thought it would be a good way for me to meet some of the guys in the pack and let them get to know me. Obviously I didn’t mean that Darius made me an Enforcer. That would be crazy. I’ve only even been here a few days and…”

He cut himself off when Nova smirked. God he liked seeing that smile on her face even if she was laughing at him. He took a deep breath and tried to remind himself that he had spoken to women before, to this one in fact, and he needed to calm down.

“Sorry, I was rambling.”

“It’s okay.” She shrugged, “I knew what you meant.”

“Oh, good. Good. I didn’t want you to think I was forcing my way into a position of authority in the pack or trying to get in good with….”

“Griffin.” Nova cut him off with an amused shake of her head. “It’s okay.”

“It is?”

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