Chapter 14

I couldn‘t sleep. I knew my body was tired, but my mind wouldn‘t shut down. I kept thinking about my
mate. I swear, while he was showing me around the pack house, I couldn‘t keep myself from yawning
and I felt like I would fall asleep already and that was why Riley insisted that we head up so I could
sleep. I was hoping he would invite me to his room, but he didn‘t. I wouldn‘t deny that I was
disappointed, but what could I do?

So here I was, alone in this room, trying to console myself by smelling his scent on the shirt I was
wearing and hoping for sleep to take over.

But the moment he left my room, I couldn‘t relax anymore and sleep never came. I guessed having him
around was calming for me and my wolf. And now that I couldn‘t smell him, I found it hard to sleep in an
unfamiliar place.

Or perhaps it was because I had no idea what we were to each other at this point.

We didn‘t talk about it. So I didn‘t know if the two–month deal was off or if it was still in place.

Although he told me he didn‘t leave me on purpose at the cave, it still didn‘t mean that he wanted me.
So I have to guard my heart. I couldn‘t fall for him if I had to leave after two months.

But who was I kidding? I didn‘t even spend 24 hours with him, and yet, I didn‘t want to be far away from
him already. Would I be able to survive if, after two months, he asked me to leave?

Or maybe I could try? Make him fall for me within the next two months.

But it seemed impossible. I’m just me. And he‘s Riley What‘s to like about me? I‘m no one. Even my
own family didn‘t want me. I wonder if my mother survived childbirth, would she end up liking me?

My eyes watered as I closed my eyes, clutching the blanket against my chest as I coiled my body.



‘‘Stop Nadia! You‘ve been through this torture for years, and I thought we were moving on?‘’ My wolf,
Arrow, snarled at me.

She hated it when I wallowed in self–pity. But she would never understand, she‘s so beautiful and I‘m
just me,

‘‘Stop or I will leave you alone.’’ She threatened me, but I knew she would never dare leave me.

I shoved the blanket off and rose from my bed, I knew sleep would be impossible right now. I had better
do something else to occupy my mind, because with my mate in my thoughts, I was sure I would never
be able to sleep tonight. Riley told me he would take me tomorrow to the center of the territory where
we could shop

for some basic clothing that I could use. But then what would I wear tomorrow when we go to the
center? Definitely not his clothes!

And I haven‘t met the Gamma Female. I wondered why she didn‘t come to let me borrow her clothes.
Maybe she didn‘t like me or to share her things. I wouldn‘t blame her. I was basically a stranger here.

I let out a sigh and went inside the bathroom. I grabbed my used clothes from the hamper and headed
for the door.

Riley showed me the laundry room in the basement. I could wash the clothes I came in with so I have
something decent to wear tomorrow. I carefully walked through the corridor and threw a longing glance
at his room. How I wish I was cuddled next to him instead of my cold pillow.

I let out a sigh as I tried to disperse any thoughts of him at the moment and continued to walk down the
stairs. The pack house was already quiet and the lights were already dimmed. It was already midnight
and, as he told me earlier, no one sleeps here aside from him and his Beta and Gamma, although he



would allow anyone from his pack to use the pack house as an ; emergency shelter or home if
necessary.

Clutching my clothes tightly in my hands, I made a swing to the right when I reached the basement.
The light was on in the laundry room. Did we forget to turn it off? I stepped inside the room at the same
time a female came out of the small storage room inside the laundry room.

Her lips curved into an immediate smile as she halted her steps.

“Hi! You must be Nadia?” Her voice was so soft and sweet that I couldn‘t help but feel at ease, even if I
was just meeting her for the first time.

I bit my lower lip and nodded my head, not taking my eyes off her. She extended her hand, a friendly
smile still on her face.

“My name is Jenny. I‘m Gamma Sebastian‘s mate. It‘s nice to finally meet you.”

“Hi! It‘s nice to meet you too.” I took her hand and shook it. I saw the way her eyes gazed at m y
clothes as we let go of each other‘s hands.

“I see you have clothes already. Beta Dominic asked me to lend you some clothes, but I was away the
whole day with the Gamma. We were on the other side of the territory, and we had just gotten home.
So I‘m so sorry. But if you need more, I can grab some for you.”

“No. It‘s okay. I understand. And I have clothes now.”

“And I‘m sure the clothes you are wearing are more comfortable, right?” She winked at me, a playful
smile plastered on her lips.

I chuckled and looked at the loose shirt I was wearing.



“It‘s actually big. These are the Alphas‘ clothes.”

“You should call him Riley.” My brows furrowed at her statement.

“Is that how you call the Alpha here? Just by his first name?”

Her eyes widened as her mouth shaped into a big ‘o‘ before she answered me. “No! No! We call him
Alpha. It‘s just that you‘re his mate, you‘re his equal, so you need to be comfortable calling him by his
first name.”

“Oh!” I smiled and nodded my head.

“I still have to get used to it. I never really encounter any Alphas in close proximity so this is still all new
to me.”

“One step at a time. I‘m sure, soon you‘ll be calling him by his name especially when you‘re hell mad
at him.” She giggled before she took the clothes in my hand.

“No. It‘s okay, I can wash those.” I tried to take it back, but she wouldn‘t let me.

“Let me help you.” her hand raised and her finger pointed to the two washing machines at the corner.

“Those two, those are the Alphas.” She then turned to the other side and pointed to the machines
there.

“The next two are for the Beta, and the last two are for me and my mate, the Gammas. And then on the
next room, those are for the guests or for anyone staying over.” I nodded my head.

“I was in the wrong room then.” I felt my cheeks burning. I was glad I met her otherwise I would have
used the machines here.

“No. Not all.” She moved forward and went to the Alpha‘s machine and opened its door.



”You‘ll be using Alpha Riley‘s...”

“No!” I cut her off as I tried to gently take my clothes from her hands.

“I don‘t think the Alpha would like that.”

She took back the clothes in my hand, like a game of tug of war, as her forehead creased, but she
wasn‘t scowling. Rather, she looked amused.

“Trust me, he will be more pissed off if I let you use another machine.”

She then placed my blouse and my underwear in one machine and my jeans and socks in the other
one before placing laundry liquid and softener on them. I didn‘t argue anymore. If Riley got pissed off, I
would point her out.

She looked feminine, but I felt like she could hold herself way, way better than I could when facing an
angry Alpha. I smiled despite myself, as I pictured my mate being pissed off again before Jenny‘s voice
snapped me back to reality.

“Can I ask you something? You don‘t need to answer if you‘re not comfortable...”

“Sure.” I smiled at her before biting my bottom lip. I wished she wouldn‘t ask personal questions that I
wasn‘t ready to share with her.

“Do you like him? Do you like the Alpha?” I swallowed the invisible lump in my throat as my mouth
opened, only for me to close it again. What would I say? Should I tell her the truth or should I protect
my heart? But before I could decide what to tell her, her eyes flecked white, letting me know that
someone had mind–linked her, so I stayed quiet and darted my gaze to the machines humming as they
washed my clothes.



“Alpha Riley is looking for you. He‘s coming here...” I opened my mouth, wanting to ask if she knew
why Riley was looking for me, but before I could do so, big footsteps echoed around the basement and,
in seconds, Riley came inside the laundry room.

I couldn‘t describe the expression on his face. Was it relief or sadness? And then everything went fast,
and the next thing I knew, my face was slammed against his chest and his arms were around my body,
hugging me tightly while his lips were pressed against the crown of my head.

“What happened?” I asked him in a soft voice, still contemplating if I should hug him or just let my arms
on my sides. He didn’t answer but I saw Jenny slip out of the room leaving me and Riley alone.

“Are you okay?” I asked again, confused about his actions. He was hugging me tightly that if I wasn‘t
enjoying the sparks running through my body, I would try to get away from him. But instead, I let his
body warm and calm my senses.

“I‘m okay now.” He answered in a deep hoarse voice. “What are you doing here?” He held my arms
and withdrew from hugging me.

“I want to wash my clothes. I don‘t have any clothes to wear if we go to the center tomorrow.” I tilted my
head to gaze at him.

Slowly, he began to smile before his hand cupped my cheek and brushed his thumb against the corner
of my lips “Let me know if you‘re ready to move into my pack so I can initiate you. It will be easier for m
e to reach you if I can mindlink you.”


62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda