Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“Dude. You’re going moon mad from being apart from your mate. Have you even tried to work things out with her?”
The sense of drowning returned. I stared blankly at Johnny.
“Sam?”
“What?” I snarled.
“Why haven’t you gone to see Clio? It’s been days, man.”
I glared at him.
“Wes said Joy, Audrey, and Becky visited her last night and said she seemed like she’d cooled off. He said he texted you that. So what’s the deal?” Johnny stopped squirting mustard on the bread and looked me in the eye.
What was the deal? I didn’t fucking know. All I knew was that I was drowning in a sea of frustration and grief.
“Are you…mad at Clio?” Johnny asked tentatively.
My brows slammed down. “No!” I growled although I realized it wasn’t completely true. Maybe some part of me had been a little insulted by her lack of faith in me. The twelve-year-old in me who’d wanted his family to lean on him in the crisis but whom no one had valued. That kid who still believed no one saw how much he was capable of.
Fuck. Just like Clio, I was living in my past.
“I just–I don’t know what I can do. She doesn’t see me. All she sees is her ex.”
“Sounds like she’s scared of getting hurt again.”
Fuck. My mate was scared. My mate was scared, and some part of me was mad at her for it? How did that make sense? I needed to be there for her.
Right fucking now.
I snatched up the sandwich Johnny had made and took a giant bite. “You’re right. I’m an idiot. Can you cover for me again this afternoon?”
Johnny grinned. “You know I always have your back, right?”
I nodded. “I do.”
He slapped me on the shoulder. “Then why the fuck are you standing here? Go tell Clio what’s in your heart.”
I pushed off the counter. “On it. Thanks, Johnny.” I held up the sandwich but hoped he knew I meant thanks for everything. The food. Covering my ass. The runs. And especially, the talk.
“Good luck, man.”
“Thanks.” I took a deep breath as the fog in my brain lifted.
Mine, my wolf snarled.
That’s right, I told him. Let’s go claim her.
I grabbed my Stetson and ran out of the bunkhouse and to my truck. It was time to put my mate first.
32
CLIO
* * *
I drove to the stable and parked. I didn’t see Sam’s truck anywhere. Shit.
Shit!
I climbed out and grabbed the axle. Maybe he was in with Spirit. I peeked in the stable, but it was silent except for a knicker from a horse.
Circling around the building, I didn’t see anyone.
All was quiet.
A glance up at the main house–the alpha’s house–and I debated going to search for him there.
“May I help you?”
I jumped a foot and spun around.
Wes had snuck up on me. Damned shifters.
“Shit, you need a bell or something.”
He smiled. “Joy has said that once or twice.”
His dark gaze dropped to the trailer part then frowned. “I didn’t know we had anything to fix.”
I opened my mouth, suddenly feeling very foolish. Why didn’t he mention Sam? Why didn’t he ask how I was? Why–
“Oh, um, it’s for Sam’s trailer. He said the axle was broken when I was here last. Needed it fixed to go to the Missoula rodeo later in the month.”
He studied me. “Right. I’m sure he’ll be happy to have it repaired.”
I licked my lips and got up the nerve to ask. “Is he here?”
“No. Haven’t seen him since this morning.”
A wave of disappointment knocked me down, and I wanted to cry. I’d been so motivated to see Sam and tell him how I felt, but now that he wasn’t here, my heart hurt.
“Oh, um, okay, I guess I’ll fix it and let you get back to your work.”
“You know the way?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah.”
He cocked his head. “Let me know if you get lost.”
Lost? I was already lost. Lost without Sam.
33
SAM
* * *
I slammed on the brakes and parked in front of the shop. I came in pretty fucking hot and my tires squealed. Ernie looked up from whatever he was working on under the hood of an SUV in the first bay, eyes wide. The sliding door was open and jazz came from a radio.
He came out, wiping his hands with a rag he pulled from the back pocket of his coveralls. “Hey Sam, everything okay?”
Glancing around, I took a deep breath. Clio’s scent was in the air but not overly strong. “Where’s Clio?”
I tipped my chin up and glanced at the apartment windows above, as if I could see through them. As if she stood in one like she had the night I’d picked up my truck. I’d wanted to go to her then just as fiercely as I wanted to now.
“She’s at the ranch.”
My shoulders slumped. My wolf howled in frustration. She wasn’t here.