Mated

Five

After dinner, the pack left the table, disappearing in the big home. James and Evangeline walked toward the front door.

"Hey," I called after him. He looked over his shoulder just as Eva grabbed a coat from the coat hanger by the door. He stopped and turned toward me but didn't speak.

"Are you going out?" I glanced past him at Evangeline who was now buttoning her coat. Although she did look very unthreatening with her thin frame and seemed very in tune with the pack at dinner, my wolf was still on edge around her so I maintained my distance.

"I'll meet you outside," she said and left us alone in the foyer. He just nodded his head, keeping his emerald eyes on me.

"Where are you two going?"

"Do you think because I let you live here you get to follow me around?"  His voice was hard as if he was angry with me, as if I had done something to him.

"I don't just live here, we're mates,' I replied, taken aback. "And I was just curious. I wasn't going to ask to come with you." And to make sure Eva isn't dangerous, I thought but didn't say out loud.

"Good." Then he lowered his head until his breath fanned across my face and the depth of his green eyes ripped me into a million pieces. "I'm glad we understand one another." With that, he grabbed a jacket and the door slammed shut behind him, rattling the frame. Heat burned my cheeks. He hated me. He absolutely hated my being here.

I found my way back to my room and closed the door quietly. Walking to the window, I peered out and looked for James and Evangeline. But there was no sign of them or his car.

With nothing else to do, I dressed for bed and moved the extra pillows to the other side of it. Grabbing my phone, I climbed under the fur blanket. I sighed when my body melted into the soft comforter. Turning on the phone I called my mom, missing her voice.

"Mom," I breathed a sigh of relief when she answered on the first ring.

"Hi, dear! A call on the first night—is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine," I rolled onto my stomach.

"So... tell me about the place," She urged.

"The pack seems nice. There's six of them and then James. They live here too. Oh, and we have a cook."

"Sounds like he's treating you well," I heard my dad call from somewhere in the back.

"Yeah," I mumbled. If only they knew.

"What have you done since you got there?" Mom asked.

"We just finished dinner and James left so I came to my room."

"Why didn't you go with him? You know, you're supposed to be bonding." Bonding? Bonding was the last thing James wanted to be doing with me. Right below speaking to me.

"He went out." There was a moment of silence and I knew my mother got the message.

"I'm sure he'll come around. Just give him some time, and a chance."

"A chance? I think it's the other way around. He needs to give me a chance."

"He'll come around."

"Yeah, I just needed reminding. I'm going to get some rest. Goodnight, love you both."

I didn't fall asleep until around one in the morning but woke shortly after when I sensed someone in the room. I opened my eyes and made out James' frame in the doorway, then he disappeared and my door clicked shut.

The next morning, I woke up to the aroma of warm bread and coffee. I climbed out of bed and made my way downstairs. The loud, booming voices of the pack were coming from the dining room.