Grayson groaned. “She can be a bit much, but don’t let her sway you.”
“I can’t think about anything that massive right now, Grayson. Let’s get through this mess before we think about us. In the meantime, we need to be careful.“
Grayson didn’t enter his office until later that morning. Soon after he did, Victoria sauntered in, dressed to be noticed in her tight, red cashmere sweater, skinny black jeans, and high-heeled boots.
“I saw the witch leaving your place with you this morning.”
What the hell? Grayson had dropped Aurora off near the base of the mountain, so they wouldn’t be seen.
He stood and leaned his hands on his desk. “Are you spying on me?”
Victoria rolled one shoulder. “I thought you said it wasn’t anything.”
“Once again, this isn’t your concern.”
“Of course it is. You’re my mate!”
“Damn it, Victoria.” He pounded his fist on the desk. “No. I’ve found my mate, and it isn’t you.”
Shit, he shouldn’t have let her get to him. He shouldn’t have reacted that way. It wasn’t like him, but he was sick of Victoria’s persistence—especially since he now found the one he truly wanted to be with.
Victoria recoiled, and she stepped backward. “What?”
“We don’t all find our mates in our pack.”
“Mate?” Her eyes bulged wide, and her mouth flew open. “You’re saying she’s not just a fling, but your mate?”
He rubbed his hand over his temple and through his hair. “What do you want me to say? You know how this works.”
“You’re picking a witch over me?” She pointed to her chest.
He sighed. “I only want what’s best for you, Victoria. I’ve told you before that we will not be together. You need to move on.”
Tears shined in Victoria’s eyes, and she averted his gaze.
He stepped out from behind his desk and touched her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
She sniffled. “I will be.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
She took a shaky breath. “No. You’re right. I need to wake up and move on.”
“I’m sorry.” He hated hurting her, hurting anyone. “Should we hug it out?”
Victoria forced a smile. “That probably won’t help things.” She glanced out the window. “I need space. Some fresh air.” She turned and walked out of his office, but paused. “I should be happy for you, Grayson. Soon, I hope I will be.”
Grayson returned to his chair and exhaled as he spun to face the mountain view. A part of him was relieved. He had been dodging Victoria’s affection for years. Maybe seeing him with another woman who he just confessed was his mate would finally convince her to look elsewhere for hers.
Soon after, Rafe entered his office. “What’s with Victoria? She rushed by me, looking upset. ”
Grayson rubbed the bridge of his nose. “She saw me kiss Aurora and—” He swallowed before admitting what he’d done to his alpha. “She also saw her leaving my place.”
Rafe arched his brows. “So your relationship has progressed.”
Grayson sighed. “It just—happened.” He frowned. “I told her that Aurora is my mate.”
“Shit,” Rafe said. “That must hurt.”
Grayson nodded. “Victoria said she needs space.”
Rafe grunted. “Let’s hope she runs it off.”
Grayson tapped his fingers together. “I apologize. I know I’ve complicated things.” He hung his head. “It was only one night. We won’t let it interfere with the negotiations.”
“I’m the one who suggested we find our mates. First, I see the trouble with Damon, and now you.” Rafe groaned. “I guess that’s a lesson to me that I’m better off unattached.”
Aurora
Aurora bundled up before she wandered through the village and attempted to distract herself from conflicting feelings. Last night with Grayson was amazing, but it was also wrong on so many levels. She pictured her aunt’s disappointment at hearing that Aurora had slept with her client, damaging the reputation of the network.
Would she be horrified? Ashamed?
Aurora exhaled. Her aunt’s reaction was just one of many things to think about—not only her future in Salem, but her future with Grayson. He said she was his mate. That in itself was mega, off-the-charts insane. He asked her to consider moving up here. Could she do that? Leave everything and everyone she knew to start somewhere new—and with a wolf pack, no less?
As she wandered by the quaint stores, she considered what it would be like to relocate here. What she loved most about the area were all the small business, and a lack of large chains. She explored many that were open to get a feel for the area and the people, including a pharmacy, clothing store, cafe, bakery, hair salon, hardware store, office and stationery store, and a bookstore.
Grayson had mentioned how he offered financial incentives to encourage small businesses to start up here. Now that the resort was flourishing were those incentives gone?
Aurora continued to picture setting up a small store here. Ugh, why? She shouldn’t think about fantasies like this. Her home was back in Salem. She couldn’t just uproot and leave everything because she’d spent one magical night with a shifter and was having some sort of identity crisis.
She needed to be rational. Think with her head and not how wonderful it felt to be in Grayson’s arms.
That was it. To finish this assignment without jeopardizing it any longer, she had to stay away from him. No more dinners with him, no more romantic walks to the village. She would only see him in his office and discuss matters on a professional level.
If he gave her one of his smoldering looks from behind his desk, would she be able to refrain from jumping across it and into his arms?
Possibly not. In that case, she would insist they leave the door open.
Grayson texted her that afternoon. Can we meet up for dinner?
Although she wanted to see him, she’d spent the last several hours convincing herself of what she had to do. We shouldn’t, Grayson, and you know why.
I do… But I miss you.
Her heart panged. The way he looked at her as if she was the only woman in the world for him was something she never thought she’d find.
She typed I miss you, too, but deleted it. No need to encourage what she was struggling against herself. Instead, she typed, We have to wait a little longer.
After a quiet dinner alone in her room, thinking about how she could have been spending it with Grayson and then spending the night with him, she regretted her decision. Although she knew it was the right one, it didn’t make the evening any less lonely.
It did give her time to think, though. Although she’d come to the mountains hoping to get her assignment over with so she could return to Salem, that was before she’d met Grayson. Now that idea filled her with dread.
It was time to make some decisions in her life, and that started with calling her aunt. After discussing the more recent developments with the assignment—leaving out the part about Grayson—she added, “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, Aunt Colleen, but I’ve decided that this is my final job as a mediator.”