Chapter 13
Reyna Cruz:
“What handsome man? There are handsome men in the woods?” Polline had been asking me that question ever
since I had returned home.
I replied with my mouth full of hash browns, stuffing my face with whatever she had served me. I was ravenously hungry, as if I hadn’t eaten in days.
“Is that why they tell us not to go to the woods?” Polline joked. “Daughter, you’re clinging onto his coat for way too long. Why haven’t you showered already?” As she brought it up, I realized she wasn’t joking. I had been wrapped in his coat and hadn’t even thought about changing or taking a shower.
“Right! I’d better go change before Turner sees me like this. I don’t want him to be too afraid of the outside world,” I hastily got up from near the kitchen counter and wiped my hands clean with a napkin, making sure no food dropped on his coat.
“By the way, you should have asked the gentleman to come over for a cup of coffee,” Polline sounded eager and
excited, but it was only then that I decided to share the rest of the story.
“Actually, I didn’t even thank him. I just ran back home,” I pouted, biting my lower lip, and she stopped flipping the pancake to give me a disapproving glare.
“Why?” she nearly yelled at me, showing her disapproval.
“I got too afraid of him,” now that I was back in the comfort of my own house, I was starting to realize how cowardly and ungrateful I had been.
“Because of his handsomeness?” Polline criticized my behavior.
“Ugh! Now I’m feeling guilty. But I had the roughest night, so all sorts of questions and alarm bells were ringing in my head. In fact, there was something about him. Something else happened last night, and since I couldn’t confirm what it was, I just didn’t feel comfortable leading him back to my home, which I share with you and my child,” I explained.
The way she shrugged and nodded made it clear that she understood my perspective.
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“Fine! Maybe I was being too dramatic. If it’s in your favor, you two will meet again,” she added, but I wasn’t so sure about that..
I had no plans to return to the woods at night, or even during the day for that matter. The woods were the last place I wanted to be..
The safe park for transitioning was the best. I was thankful to the rogue king for creating such secure environments. I headed back to my bedroom and rushed into the bathroom to remove his coat. His scent was overwhelmingly strong and had a peculiar effect on me. Just as I was about to step into the shower, I heard Nera waking up.
‘Mate!‘
She let out a cry, and I frowned, narrowing my eyes in her direction.
‘Are you alright?‘ I asked, pausing before getting into the shower to give her some attention. She appeared a bit disturbed. The fact that she had awakened calling for a mate made me feel a pang of sadness.
She must miss having a mate,
‘Where did he go?‘ she inquired in a soft tone, yawning and sounding like she was feeling much better.
‘We don’t have a mate anymore. Did you wake up in the past?‘ I chuckled a bit, not wanting to focus on the mate conversation and hurt our feelings.
‘I’m talking about him,‘ she continued to say with a very confident voice, and I took a moment to understand her,
‘Our second chance mate,‘ the moment she added that, memories from last night flooded my mind, and remembered the feeling of the mate bond with him.
My heart skipped a beat as she waited for my response.
‘Oh, no!‘ I exclaimed, realizing that the thing keeping me from staying wasn’t just fear, but the fact that we had
found our second chance mate.
‘Wait a minute,‘ she immediately yelled out as she read my thoughts.
‘I ran away from him and didn’t even thank him,’ I cursed, quickly opening the shower to step under it.
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had another mate to contend with.
‘But who was he? Did you even ask for his name?‘ Nera continued to pester me even as I tried to focus on the shower, hoping the tears of helplessness leaving my eyes would
go unnoticed.
‘I didn’t and I don’t regret it,‘ I mumbled.
I left the bathroom after getting cleaned up and dressed for the office. Previously, I wasn’t sure if I could continue doing this job, or if I should take a day off. But now, after the events of last night, I didn’t want to sit around the
house.
“I must get these thoughts off my mind,” I thought to myself, attempting to focus on the breakfast in front of me.
“Someone seems feisty,” Polline noticed my struggle to spread butter on the toast, a task that shouldn’t have been so difficult, and asked about my agitation.
“I’m just worried I’ll have to see that jerk again today,” I lied. The truth was that the problem had shifted. I no longer wanted to face my second chance mate. The idea of loving anyone again just didn’t sit well with me.
“So what? Avoid him and do your job. You’ve worked really hard to be here today. Don’t let him ruin it for you,” it only she knew what else was bothering me.
The reason I didn’t tell Polline about my second chance mate was that I knew she would suggest I find him and give him a chance–something I didn’t want to do.
“Can you please take Turner to the shopping mall because I might be late today?” I asked Polline while reading Jeffery’s message. He had informed me that they would be planning the rough idea for something today,
“Sure, you don’t have to ask,” she replied, but with a skeptical look on her face. I was worried she might sense my odd behavior and question my actions. By that time, I had already left for the office in my car.
Throughout the car ride, I couldn’t help but think about my encounter with my second chance mate last night. Was that why Nera suddenly felt an urge to transition?
If the Moon Goddess was trying to fix my life, she seemed to be going about it the wrong way. All wanted was peace and a happy life with my son.
Jeffery was waiting for me at the entrance, and after a brief greeting, he led me to the same office again. In the
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Chapter 13
elevator, I fidgeted with my fingers and wondered whether I should ask Jeffery about Hunter coming today or just wait until I got to the office to find out. I hated surprises.
“So, it’s you and I working on the project today,” I joked, and he smiled back, shaking his head. But the moment. he did that, I felt my heart sink in my chest.
“Alpha King Hunter has arrived early today. We were waiting for you,” with that single response, he left me bewildered. Why had Hunter come again? Why not just stay away and spare himself the difficulty of facing me?
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