Page 36 of His Place in the World
Angus wished his mate would never stop touching him.He needed to feel connected to Del, even though he knew he was doing the right thing.Wakefield wasn’t for him, and it had never been.He’d always be grateful for what Angela and the pack had done for him, but he also couldn’t wait to start his new life in Rosewood.He could have done this without Del, but he was glad his mate wasn’t going anywhere.He just had to get over the last hurdle, and he’d be perfectly fine.
The problem was that his last hurdle was Angela-shaped.
“This is Wakefield?”Del asked as he drove into town.
“It is.The pack is just outside, although it’s so close that it might as wellbethe town.Most pack members work and live here, anyway.”
“It’s bigger than Rosewood.”
“Well, Wakefield pack has more members.”
There was a moment of silence before Del asked, “Do you think Angela would cause a war between our packs to get you back?”
Angus wouldn’t deny he’d thought about it, but he doubted she would.“The most important thing in her life has always been the pack.She wouldn’t put all of it in danger just for one person, especially not one who wasn’t born here.”
“She values you.”
“She does, and she gave me a job and allowed me to learn many things I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.That doesn’t mean she can’t see that no matter how valuable I am, she can find someone who is even more so.I’m already training someone to replace me, and if they follow what I’m teaching them and keep up to date with the latest technologies, the Wakefield pack will be fine.”
“As long as she doesn’t try using this against us.”
Angus was worried, even though he didn’t think Angela would do anything that warranted that.He also felt just a bit guilty.The Wakefield pack had given him a lot and had kept him safe for years, and he was thanking them by leaving.Many pack members would have something to say about that, but that was the thing Angus least cared about.
His mouth went dry when Del drove into pack territory.He noticed a few guards, and he had no doubt Angela would know he was arriving by the time he reached the small building where their offices were located.She’d always refused to have an office in her home, and Angus understood that.He wasn’t sure it made sense considering she was always working, but it wasn’t his decision to make or to argue.
Sure enough, when Del parked in front of the building after Angus gave him directions, they both noticed Angela standing by the front door.She wore jeans and a sweater and had her arms crossed over her chest.She didn’t look angry, exactly, but something was clearly wrong.
And that something was Angus.
He climbed out of the car and hesitated.She had to know why he was here, and he’d half expected her to start yelling at him as soon as he arrived.He was glad she wasn’t, but it made him apprehensive.
“I expected you, but I didn’t expect your mate,” Angela said when they reached her.“I should have, though.It makes sense for both of you to come back.”
Angus frowned.“Does it?”
“He’s your mate.Where you are, he is.He followed you home.”
Angus’s stomach sank.Did she really believe that, or was she trying one last time to convince him to stay?“I’m not home,” he told her.
“Of course you are, and there’s work to do.I want to know everything you found out about the auctions and the entire operation.”
She turned around and headed inside the building before Angus could explain why he was there.He and Del looked at each other, and Del shrugged.
Angus wasn’t alone.Del would be with him every step of the way, but Angus was the one who had to deal with Angela and tell her what was going on.Del wouldn’t do it for him, no matter how much Angus wanted him to.He just wished this entire thing was over already, dammit.
Angus sighed and followed Angela inside.He knew she’d be in her office, so that was where he headed.Sure enough, she was walking around the desk to sit in front of her computer when he stepped into the room.
“I’m not staying,” he declared.
Angela stopped moving and stared at him.“You mean you want to go home for a bit?”
She had to know that wasn’t what he was saying.“I mean, I’m here to pack my things and permanently move to Rosewood.”
The silence in the room was so thick that Angus could almost feel it against his skin.
“You’re a Wakefield pack member,” Angela eventually said.
“For now, but we both knew I wouldn’t stay here forever.I even told you that I wanted this to happen when you agreed to let me stay in Rosewood.”
