Her aunt didn’t reply for several heart-pounding seconds. “Aurora, we’ve all had difficult assignments. I know the wolves are tough, but—”
“No, it’s not this one assignment. It’s something I’ve been feeling for a while. I need to go out on my own and find a path that’s right for me.”
“I see. What do you want to do?”
She sighed. “Maybe I should keep my options open. Live and work someplace new.”
“Are you coming home?”
The idea of leaving Grayson and going back to her unfulfilling life in Salem burned her soul. After knowing someone as amazing and considerate as him, how could she ever go back to a life without him in it?
“I’m not sure.”
“Let me know when you decide. You always have a home with me and the coven.”
“Thank you, Aunt Colleen. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Aurora.”
After the end of the call, Aurora exhaled. That had been something weighing on her chest for some time. It was a relief that she finally explained it to her aunt. All she had to do was finish this one final job and then her future was hers.
Grayson
The early morning sun drifted like patchwork through clouds. Grayson aimed his skis downhill for the first run of the day, seeking distraction before he went to work. It didn’t help. He skied tight turns through moguls, which took all his concentration. Once he navigated to wider trails between a section of pine trees, the hotel where Aurora stayed came into view.
After Aurora had turned Grayson down for dinner last night, he chose to go hunting in wolf form. It pained him too much to yearn for her, knowing she was nearby, but being unable to get close to her.
Hunting for rabbit only warded off the longing for so long. Once the thrill of stalking and capturing prey subsided, the anguish returned.
Grayson didn’t return home until late that night. When he opened the door, he caught a hint of her scent remaining. It lingered on his sheets. He held the pillow and inhaled her fragrance, a sweet torment because he couldn’t have the real thing in his bed.
That morning, he’d attempted to shake off the brooding and head into work, but it clung to him like the first flakes of snow clinging to trees.
The next few hours ticked by—until an unexpected surprise changed his outlook. Aurora stepped into his office, changing his mood like the sun breaking through a formation of clouds.
“Aurora.” He couldn’t keep the awe out of his voice.
He stepped out from behind his desk. Her fragrance wrapped around him, as comforting as a warm blanket in front of a fire after coming in from the cold. He closed the door. The last thing he wanted was for Victoria to see them together.
She bit her lip. “We should keep it open.”
“Why?”
She rolled one shoulder. “It would be better.”
He exhaled and lowered his voice. “I don’t want Victoria to see us. She’s been keeping an eye on us much too closely—and she’s not happy about it.” He stepped behind Aurora and lifted a strand of her silky hair. After it fell through his fingers, he pushed her hair aside to kiss her neck.
She stepped away and turned to face him. “That’s exactly why we shouldn’t be doing this.”
He raised a hand to caress her cheek before he lowered it, barely able to resist the urge to touch her. “We’re alone in here. No one can see us.”
“Still.” She shook her head. “We talked about this already. We can’t sneak around—especially now that people are getting hurt. We need to keep our distance from each other.”
His wolf moaned. An ache spread like wildfire. “You don’t want to be with me?”
“I do.” Her lips tightened into a determined line. “But not like this.” She gestured around them. “Maybe when this is all over, we can find a way to make it work.”
Grayson sucked in a breath through constricted lungs. The air felt too thin, the oxygen lacking. His mate was pushing him away.
Is this how Damon felt when Sophie had run from him? It felt like Grayson’s insides were made of glass, and someone had come along and smashed them all with a sledgehammer.
“Grayson? Are you okay?”
He blinked at her.
“You’re not saying anything.” She watched him from worried eyes.
You’re my mate and I don’t want to lose you.
He ran his hand over his jawline. “I know you’re right—but I don’t want you to be.”
“I’m sorry. I know this may be difficult with the whole mate aspect. Trust me, it isn’t easy for me either. But there’s a reason you asked me up here, and we must focus on that before we can consider anything else between us. It’s the right thing to do.”
The right thing. That’s exactly what he should be doing—not pining for his mate. He swallowed the desperate yearning, forcing himself to get his head straight. He was beta of a wolf pack, and their safety should come first.
“You’re right, Aurora.” It took all his strength to formulate the next words. “I won’t touch you unless you tell me it’s okay.”
Her expression turned dour. She appeared to be just as unhappy with that statement. “Good.” She pursed her lips. “I came here for a reason. To tell you some good news.”
“Oh?”
Her eyes brightened with hope. “The Sacco pack is ready to discuss the proposal.”
Chapter 10
Grayson
Something didn’t feel right. Although Aurora was excited by the progress, Grayson couldn’t shake the sense that something was off.
It’s just the anxiety caused by your mate denying you, he told himself.
That made sense. Nothing had felt quite the same in his body or mind since Aurora first stepped into his office, and he’d been adjusting to the wild, animalistic urges since he’d first caught her scent.
He walked Aurora to the border, searching for any indications that something was wrong. There was no movement on the snow-covered grounds before them or in the forests beyond. No scents out of the ordinary. The mountain air smelled fresh with the hint of the morning dew still lingering. The sky itself was a bright blue overhead while dark gray clouds hovered in the distance.
So why the unease?
It had to be him and the distress of parting with his mate.
She beamed at him. “Wish me luck.”
Instinct drove him to take her hand. “Don’t go, Aurora.”
She furrowed her brows. “Don’t be silly, Grayson. That’s why I’m here.” She squeezed his hand. “This is a good thing.”
When she released his hand, his fingers lingered, unwilling to let her go.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She glanced at their surroundings and then kissed his cheek.
His skin tingled with heat. His wolf rumbled with pleasure. “I’ll wait here,” he declared.
She tilted her head. “It might be awhile. I can come to your office when I’m done.”
His jaw twitched and lips tightened into a hard line. “I’ll wait here.”
Hearing his words, he knew he sounded crazy. What was he turning into—a possessive, paranoid shifter?