Page 82 of Pit Stop

“Yeah, but I mean, look at you. You’re so out of my league.”

“I feel the same about you.”

Skye stares at me, and I lean down and nibble on his collarbone, feeling his sigh of contentment pierce my chest.

“Well, then we’re even, I guess. I just want you to know that you deserve more from your mom. She doesn’t treat you well. She wasn’t saying nice things. And I know that we won’t be together much longer, but you’re always welcome in our family.”

I should lean up slightly and kiss him, but I don’t want him to see the wetness in my eyes.

He can already feel the sadness sliding through me.

“I get why you always hang around now. I’m sorry if I ever made mean comments to you. I didn’t know, and honestly, Mav, my family loves you. None of them mind that you’re always there.”

That apology. I wasn’t expecting that.

I sniffle slightly and swallow. “Thanks, but Forest is still pissed we’re mated. Not sure he’ll ever forgive me for that.”

“Yeah, well, we didn’t know it would happen. It’s not like we planned it, but still. It feels nice to know what it could be like with someone. At least I have something to aspire to.”

I open my mouth to tell him he doesn’t have to aspire to anything, that we could keep this bond and make it work, but I feel his heat flare again, his slick wetting my dick as he gasps in desperation. I know that right now, my goal is to keep him happy, to make him feel safe and satiated.

Everything else can wait.

And if we’re meant to be together, then so be it. It will all work out in the end.

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

SKYE

This heat happened soonerthan expected, but it doesn’t last as long as the others. It’s two whole days of frantic fucking and whispers in the dark. I learn so much about Maverick and his past, about how he became who he is.

He’s had a rough life, struggled so much, learned the hard way how to take care of himself, but here he is. Better for it.

A good man, despite it all.

When I come out of the heat, my body sore and satiated, I’m met with news I don’t really want.

Sage has gotten the invite to the pack up north, and the shaman is waiting for us to arrive. He has an opening in his schedule, but we need to arrive as quickly as possible. They said to prepare to stay for two days.

I don’t even have time to really come to terms with what this all means before I’m packing and being shoved into a van with my dad, Sage, and Forest. Of course, Maverick is by my side the entire time, his fingers restless on his lap as my dad navigates the highways. It’s going to be a long drive, at least ten hours before we arrive.

My ass is sore, and I find it hard to get comfortable.

I’m snappy with everyone, but as the hours drag on, I realize that it’s because I’m sad. Upset that this is the beginning of the end.

I don’t want it to be over.

And yet it has to be. Right?

My head lands on Maverick’s shoulder as the voices of my siblings and my dad echo around me. I can feel Maverick’s hand tighten on mine, and I nuzzle in closer, unable to pull myself away. I get two more days with him before this is broken, before we go our separate ways.

The summer is almost over anyway. I need to head back to school, and Maverick has a life to live as well. This was never meant to be. Not long-term anyway.

“An hour more. Wanna stop and eat?” Forest asks, looking over his shoulder from the passenger seat, eyeing me and Sage.

“Sure, but please stop somewhere I can actually eat, and don’t be an asshole about it. I’m not eating meat,” Sage replies.

---