Page 6 of Promise & Artem

“I’m going to be happy dancing for weeks, but what do you mean what happens?”

“What happens to me?” At her confused look, Rio continued, “What if you find your happily ever after first and I’m stuck on my own searching for my forever guy? I don’t want to do that kind of thing alone.”

“I wouldn’t let you be alone, babe.”

“Oh please, if you find your truemate, you wouldn’t want to keep looking with me for my truemate. I mean if I find my guy first I wouldn’t want to go anywhere.”

“Nice,” Promise said with a chuckle. “I swear I wouldn’t let you be by yourself if you didn’t want to be.”

Rio sighed. “I was thinking I’d go searching with the girls.”

Promise’s brows lifted. The girls, as everyone called them, were three Angel Mates—Brenna, Dakota, and Kendall. Angel Mates were supernaturally perfect mates for wolves and when they turned twenty-one, their nature kicked in and they’d leave their home pack to find their truemate. When they were mated and had kids, their sons would be alphas and their daughters would be Angels. The girls were waiting for Brenna to turn twenty-one in the fall.

Promise was a little hurt that Rio didn’t want to go with her on their adventure, but she understood that Rio maybe just wasn’t ready to leave home yet. Maybe Promise had more of that wanderlust in her than her sister did.

“I understand.”

Rio lifted luminous eyes. “You’re not mad?”

“Never! You’re my very best friend, Rio. Thick or thin, hell or high water. I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life. None of the guys in the pack are my mate, and helping Mom heal Remy’s mate really renewed my desire to get on the road and find my guy. I don’t want to sit around and wait for him to wander by on chance.”

Rio smiled. “I’ll miss you.”

The two hugged and Promise felt the sting of tears at her impending departure. She wasn’t sorry she was leaving, but she was sorry to go. She could just feel in her bones that it was the best choice for her life. Somewhere out there, her mate was waiting for her, maybe hoping that she’d show up or maybe even searching for her himself.

“I need to get on my way. Help me carry my stuff out?”

Rio nodded and lifted the duffel. “Okay, how many shoes did you pack? You are coming home at some point, right?”

“Well, yeah sure, to pack and move with my truemate when I find him. Honestly? I don’t think I’ll be back to live in Allen anymore.”

Rio stared at her for a moment. “Oh. I guess you want to be prepared for anything.”

“Yep. You never know what kind of shoes you might need.”

“Even the sexy black kitten heels?”

“You know it. And the black dress to go with them.”

“I hope you find your mate soon.”

“Me too.” They walked out to the car and put her things in the trunk.

“Bathing suit?” Rio asked.

“Yep.”

“Pajamas, flip flops, makeup, curling iron?”

“Yes, times four.”

“Charger for your laptop?”

“Ah, crud.” Promise hustled back into the trailer and grabbed the cord still plugged into the wall. She took one last look around the trailer and walked back out.

“You can move in here if you want, you know,” she said, looking at Rio.

“Why would I?”

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