Page 18 of Resisting Fate

“I can’t see anyone wanting to keep it. The money can be put to use for the pack as well,” Max says with a nod.

“So, how’s Isaac?” Penelope asks. I look at her to find her staring back at me.

She must have known I was itching to ask but didn’t want my friends to see how desperate I was to know.

“He’s hanging in there, but I do think you guys need to talk. Sooner rather the later,” Ryker says looking directly at me, and in a tone that I couldn’t argue with, even if I tried. Wow, that must be that alpha voice I have heard so much about. The voice itself makes it hard not to follow his command.

“I talked to Penelope, and I planned on talking to Isaac. I’m just working on what I want to say,” I tell him.

“Good. He was looking pretty dejected when I left him,” Ryker admits. When I look up at him, I can see what he isn’t saying. Isaac is taking my leaving worse than what Ryker is willing to express. I will need to see for myself.

I let out a sigh and nod my head before getting up to leave.

“I need to leave,” I say softly. I can’t bear to think about Isaac in pain, so I make my way over to his place.

Chapter Six

Isaac

I flop down on my bed and fight the urge to go after Hailey. Staying away from her is going to be harder than I thought it would be.

My hands shift back and forth, and I swear I see fur come and go on my arms and legs.

My wolf is just at the surface, and I know what he wants to do. Go to our mate.

I hear a knock at the door, but I don’t answer because I have to concentrate on fighting the shift.

I’m about to lose when a figure stands in my bedroom door. I look up to see my mate standing there looking at me with wide eyes.

“Isaac? What’s going on? Your arms…” she says with a gasp when the change stops and my wolf retreats.

I’m still breathing hard when I look up at my mate.

“He wanted to go to you, but I wanted to give you space. I didn’t want to force you to look at me just because my wolf wanted to be near you,” I say with a tired voice.

Hailey swallows hard before sitting down on the bed.

“I think we need to talk,” she says softly.

I nod my head in agreement. “I think so too. My alpha pretty much demanded it,” I say with a chuckle.

“Yeah, Ryker pretty much demanded me to as well,” she says with a chuckle of her own.

“Do you want… are you… fuck, I’m not sure how to word this,” I mumble nervously.

“I was so sure what I wanted. I didn’t want to be your mate. I couldn’t picture a life with us together for the first few weeks, but then Penelope asked me some hard questions. I think if we don’t give this a shot, I will come to regret it. A part of me wants you, and it’s not just my wolf. I just don’t know how to move on from seeing you as the guy you used to be instead of who you are now,” she admits softly.

“I’ll try for the rest of my life to show you that guy is gone,” I tell her.

I mean it. If I could take back those days, I would.

“Maybe if we take things slow,” I add hesitantly.

“That would probably be best, though I think we need to share a bed but not have sex. My wolf is not wanting to be away from you right now,” she says with a blush coating her cheeks.

“We won’t be separated. I’m afraid that if you walk out this door, my wolf is going to shift and follow you anyways. I’d rather sleep in a bed instead of a porch,” I say with a sheepish grin. Hailey laughs at my words.

“Then let’s just get to know each other. We have a couple days before the official meeting where we meet the new pack members. Ryker says we have until Monday, so let’s hop into our bubble and try to find a way to make this work,” Hailey says.

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