Page 27 of Awakened
“Oh wow. That’s awkward.”
“Eh. We haven’t been together since the 40s. He met his mate while fighting in France. Took me about a decade to bounce back.” She rolled her beer bottle between her hands. “I think I was one of the rare few to get a Dear Jane letter.” She smiled at me, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I can relate.” I took a big gulp of beer. When I looked up, all attention was on me.
“My fiancé found his mate, and I found myself here.”
All the women crowded around me, giving words of encouragement. Marie grabbed my beer-less hand and squeezed.
“It gets better, hun. I promise.”
An unexpected calmness washed over me, and I knew it was Marie. I leaned into her side and allowed myself to feel safe and protected. I’d never experienced an alpha’s influence. Aiden’s father rarely issued commands, and he was never the one to kiss it and make it better.
As I mulled over the differences in the alphas, the sliding door opened, and Sarah popped in with Brittany. She took a look around the kitchen and frowned.
“Ah, Sarah. Welcome to the share-your-life-story-and-get-a-hug kitchen! Care to join?” I said while gesturing to the group of women huddled around me.
Sarah came to the other side of the breakfast bar. “So, you got this one to talk?” she asked as she gestured to me with her beer bottle.
“Apparently, Marie and I have kindred love lives.”
Sarah looked between the two of us with an understanding smile.
Lightening the atmosphere in the room, Marie said, “There are worse things. Like being cursed by a witch.” She grinned, but there was something off about it. “Am I right, ladies?”
“Fuck you!” We all drank, and just like that, the conversation was over. I felt better now that they knew why I was there. Sharing my story with Bonnie, Marie, and all these pack members made me feel less alone. Knowing someone as cool and amazing as Marie also lost her love to the mate pull made it all seem less terrible.
Sarah and I chatted for another hour or so before we said our goodbyes, swapped numbers with some of the Amazons, and got in the car. The drive back was filled with Sarah telling me about the women I didn’t get to meet. There was a mayor, a mechanic, and a fellow marketing specialist. I knew she was keen to join from how she talked about the Amazons.
“All I’m saying is that this might be the right place for both of us. We could really be a part of something wonderful with the Amazons. I’m going to fill out my papers to leave Blue Moon. I’m doing this with you.”
I reached over and grabbed her hand. No words could capture how full my heart felt with her by my side. Tears welled in my eyes as I stared out the window, the reality of my new life crashing down around me. The good and the bad. It was all happening too fast.
SEVEN
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Ugh. Fucking alarm.
Before my feet hit the floor Monday morning, Sarah burst through the door carrying a big mug of coffee and a chocolate croissant.
“Oh, you beautiful angel of mercy,” I said as I grabbed the flaky, buttery goodness.
“It’s the least I can do on your first day.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Sarah slapped my arm, and coffee sloshed on my hand. “Whoops! Sorry, Les.” She jumped up and scurried out of the room, narrowly escaping my mumbled profanities and weak flailing in her direction.
As I enjoyed my coffee, I stared at the closed door to my closet, struggling to envision the perfect first day of work look. I wanted to be cute, which was not at all smart. I should be trying to be professional, not drooling over a certain hottie with abs who licked my neck not forty-eight hours before.
Zach was trouble.
I hadn’t even started at Rubin Black and was already distracted.
Frowning at the closet, I nodded.
Black. It had to be black—a black jacket, black slacks, and a white button-down shirt. It was serious, professional, and a little sexy—sexy in that Gillian Anderson onX Filesway.
