Page 66 of Chev's Mate

He’s done so much good.

“I’m excited to leave,” he continues. “My people need me, and Echo has been training to take my position. She will do good, and I will have time to focus on you and my pack.”

I wipe my palms on my pants, drying the sweat.

“They aren’t firing you?” I ask.

Chev shakes his head. “No. I’ve requested to leave. My father hurt his back while chopping wood for me last week, and I realized it’s unfair of me to continue pushing my alpha responsibilities aside.”

Does this mean he’s going to be returning to the shifter lands? I can’t blame him for wanting to return home, but I’veselfishly grown accustomed to having him nearby. I’d never ask him to stay, but I’ll be devastated if he leaves. I don’t want to be apart from Chev. There are several portals he can use to visit me, but there’s a comfort in knowing he’s in Wrath.

“Tell me about your day,” he says, changing the subject.

I want to ask more about his decision and what it means for us moving forward, but I want to organize my thoughts before I do. My heart pounds, and I shake my head before giving him a recap of my day.

Chev hangs on to my every word, and my cheeks turn a bright shade of red. The remainder of my lunch passes in a blur, and before I know it, Chev’s getting ready to leave. He doesn’t seem pleased to return to work, and he lingers for as long as possible before making his way to the door.

I drop my head onto my desk the moment he’s gone, already knowing I won’t be getting any more work done today.

Chapter Twenty-Six

VANESSA

MY HEART POUNDS, and I clutch my papers to my desk as I step through the portal.

Chev has given his notice at work, and in less than one month, he’ll no longer be working here. I still don’t know how I feel about it, especially since his last month will be spent at the headquarters.

The council practically demanded it. They’re angry with Chev’s continued absence, and they requested he spend his last month in a place where he’s more readily accessible to Echo and the others.

I’m playing it cool, but I miss him. He didn’t have time to drive me to the Wrath facility this morning, and despite the ever-growing pile of work I need to get through, I’m finding myself heading to the headquarters for the first time in months.

The last time I was in this building was when I met Chev, and it takes me a moment to adjust after stepping through the portal. I forgot how loud and busy this place is. Several people hurry around, and I notice many throwing sly glances in my direction.

It won’t take Chev long to hear I’m here, and I hide a smile as I head toward my office.

The room is untouched, and I get to work while I wait. It takes less than an hour before my office door bursts open, and my smile grows as a glowing Chev enters the room.

“Can I help you?” I tease.

Chev crosses his arms over his chest, causing the muscles to bulge and steal my attention. I’m sure he’s doing it on purpose. I’d bet money that Chev has a praise kink. The moment that thought filters through my mind, I clear my throat and shake my head. Those are dangerous thoughts.

“I’m offended you waited until I quit to come into the office,” Chev says. He raises a brow and leans against the door frame. “I’m even more offended you haven’t come to see me.”

I shrug. I wanted to see how long it would take him to come to me, and I’m not disappointed. I also wasn’t sure he’d want me here. I know he’s been busy, and he’s gotten further behind on his work than he initially let on.

He’s been trying to do everything out of Wrath, but I assume it’s hard to work when surrounded by the Wrath trio and their children. I’ve heard stories of Chev having to cut a meeting short because one of the toddlers came to him crying after their parents told themno.

The children seem to have a soft spot for Chev. I like it. Hearing people talk about how good Chev is with children is comforting, and it has very inappropriate feelings stirring within me.

Our mate bond doesn’t have the same reservations toward men that I do, and it’s doing a surprisingly good job calming my fears whenever Chev and I are together. We’ve already done much more than I ever thought possible, but the bond is greedy. It wants intimacy, and it wants sex and children.

“Do you want to get lunch with me?” Chev asks.

I purse my lips and glance at the clock. “It’s still early.”

“Would you like to work from my office, then?” Chev pushes off the doorway. “I can bring in a desk for you, and we can share the room.”

He trails his fingertips across my desk, his movements smooth. A small part of me always expects him to be clunky, but he seldom is. Despite how awkward his words can be, the way he physically moves never is. He’s a predator through and through.

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