Page 123 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

I felt like I was floating as I went through the Lodge, back to Olive and Sydney.

We picked up Aspen too before heading back to my place. There, the four of us stayed up late chatting and devouring the multiple different batches of coffee ice cream in my freezer. We tossed ideas back and forth about how I should explain my presence to Clay the next day. Fletcher got home around 1 AM, so Syd headed out then. Aspen went with her, leaving me and Olive alone.

Clay had texted me about a video call earlier, but since it was my last night with the ladies for a while, I messaged back that we could talk tomorrow.

I took one last bite of ice cream, stretching my legs out in front of me. “I should probably get to bed.”

“Probably. You have a wolf to woo,” Olive teased.

I snorted. “If it comes down to my wooing capabilities, I’m screwed.”

She laughed. “You’ll be fine. You wooed him once already.”

“With tattoos,” I pointed out.

“You have a new tattoo.” She gestured to my throat. “Perfect to woo him with.”

“Stop saying woo.” I pointed at her with my spoon.

“Woooo.” She dragged the word out, and I sighed dramatically, tilting my head back and closing my eyes.

“I hope he doesn’t reject me.”

“He won’t.” Olive sounded a lot more certain than I felt.

“What are you going to do while I’m gone?”

She shrugged. “Finish setting up my house. Get a job. Spend time in my wolf form.”

“I can send you Silas’s number. I’m sure he’d let you work in his studio,” I offered.

“Nah, I’m done with tattoos for a while. Maybe forever. I only did them because of dad, you know? I’ve never been passionate about ink like you are.”

“Where do you want to work, then?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe a bar? I bartended part time when I first moved away, and I liked it alright.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

“Exactly.” She flashed me a grin.

We chatted for a few more minutes before finally going to bed. My excitement made sleep hard to come by—but eventually, morning did come around.

twenty-three

CLAY

I paced the kitchen,shoving my hair out of my eyes for the dozenth time.

My mind was a mess.

My wolf wouldn’t stop howling.

I hadn’t slept since before Nova turned her sister. Eating was difficult too.

I was hanging on by threads—and the threads were the small interactions I had with my female.

When she hadn’t wanted to talk the night before, I’d fucking spiraled. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be coming back from that.

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