Page 40 of You're Not My Mate

“Yep, I don’t know if we should take Graham to the cages,just in case, or maybe keep him here. I think with the two of us, we can make it work. What do you think?” She licked some cream off her finger.

“I want to tell the pack,” Rocco said.

Rose stopped. “About what?”

“You and me. I want the whole pack, the club, the beta team, everyone, to know that you and I are mates, and we’re together.”

“Rocco?”

“I know I messed up, and that’s not good, but you and me are good together. Can’t you feel it?”

Rose stared at him. “But, once we do that, there is no turning back.”

“Are you telling me you want to turn back?” Rocco asked.

“I wasn’t the one that rejected you in the first place, Rocco. You did all of that on your own. I’ve just had to deal with it all,” Rose said. “It hasn’t been easy. My wolf didn’t like being rejected and there were times she wanted to hunt you down, hurt you, and also mate with you. It was complicated.”

“I fucked up.” He moved closer to her and took hold of her hands, locking their fingers together. “And I messed it all up.”

“They’re kind of the same thing,” Rose said.

“And I want to make it right. Not for Graham or anyone else. I know this is for life,” Rocco said. “Regardless of what happens.”

The truth was, he didn’t want Graham to die. In the few short days he’d been around him, he’d come to really like the bastard. It was going to be hard to watch him go, if it even came to that.

For the first time since hearing what Milton did and the harsh reality of what it meant, he was clinging onto the tiny ray of hope. That was all he wanted—a tiny ray of hope that it was going to be okay.

Rose stepped toward him and placed a hand on his cheek. “Then we tell them.”

****

Graham was out with Rocco, heading toward the clubhouse as he’d opted to go with him to break the news. Rose had decided to stay back. She didn’t want to see the pack’s reaction when he told them. She knew it made her a coward, but she just couldn’t handle their judgement right now.

Working her way around the garden, she checked on her brassica plants, to make sure they were doing okay in the plummeting temperatures. She loved gardening, it was a nice way for her to relax, but she tensed up as she sensed someone close. Getting to her feet, she spun around, intent on using the tiny shovel in her hand, only to stop when she caught sight of Draco. He looked slightly crazy, but she knew he was prone to tendencies of crazy.

“Draco,” she said.

“I, uh, I need your help.”

“What?”

He ran fingers through his hair and she saw the blood on his hands. “Draco, is everything okay?”

“Look, I know I’m not known for being the sanest of wolves. Lose a mate prematurely, and trust me, it will do that to you, but I promise I’m not on edge, and I’ve not done anything stupid, at least not yet.”

This had to be the most she had ever heard Draco talk.

“But, it’s … I need you to see it, rather than tell you. You’re safe. I’m not crazy. I’m not going to kill you.”

Rose couldn’t help but look at the blood. “Do I need to bring my cleaning supplies?”

“No, you just need to trust me and come with me. I promise I’m not going to hurt you.”

There was something in his voice that made her believe. Without a second thought, she put her tools down, dusting off the dirt, and then following him out of her home and toward the main forest. She loved living in the cabin at the edge of the forest because she was not close to the pack, while also being very close to the pack. Most pack loved to be close, but Rose liked to be near, not too close. Again, this was one of those elements that made her a little odd. She didn’t need company every second of the day, nor people touching her all the time.

They moved to the opposite end of the forest, and Rose frowned as they came upon a much older cabin. She’d explored the forests for many moons in her time but couldn’t recall ever stumbling across this old cabin. The scent was confusing her.

Draco stopped at the doorway and he spun toward her. “You need to stay calm. Don’t make any sudden movements.”

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