His Mating Mark

by Alicia White

  * * * *

  Gabe watched Nicole, keeping his distance so that she wouldn’t know that he was following her. It had been three weeks since he had been able to touch his mate, and the wolf inside was clawing at him to run after her. It was hard to keep his distance. It had been that way ever since marking her. He couldn’t be apart from her for too long. He missed her, constantly craved her, and Gabe didn’t know what to do. He was slowly losing control. He tried to back off, wanting to give her space, hoping that maybe she was missing them as much as they missed her.

  Gabe usually switched days with Josh, each taking turns to watch her. The scent hadn’t returned, the man obviously keeping his distance from her home. It still troubled him though, thinking that some other shifter had been watching her.

  Today was supposed to be Josh’s day, but they hadn’t been prepared for her to leave her house. Josh had called him when she left and Gabe had driven into town to make sure that she would be safe. He knew that nobody would attempt to harm her, but he still wanted to be close by just in case she needed him.

  She stayed locked inside day and night. He had noticed small changes, though. She no longer locked the iron bars over the doors and windows around her house. She no longer sat in front of her fireplace with her shotgun lying across her lap all night. Some nights she cried herself to sleep. He could hear her as he sat on the ground outside her bedroom window. On those nights, he had wanted to go to her, hold her, and kiss each tear away.

  Nicole walked out of the store, and Gabe stepped back, leaning against the wall, hoping that she wouldn’t see him. She loaded up her groceries and climbed into her truck. Her eyes looked sad, and he cringed, feeling the same pain in his heart. She pulled her truck out of the parking space and drove down Main Street, heading out of town.

  Would she ever come to them? He knew that she missed them. Would she ever be able to overcome her fear? He pulled out his cell phone and called Josh, knowing that he was probably still outside her home.

  “Yeah,” Josh said answering his phone on the first ring, and Gabe shook his head. They had both been on edge lately.

  “She was at the grocery store. She’s headed home now,” Gabe reported.

  “Did she see you? Do you think she’s lost weight? She looked a little skinny. I don’t think she’s eating that much.” Josh sounded worried, and Gabe wondered how much longer they would both be able to last without her.

  “She didn’t see me. I don’t think she lost weight. I think she looks a little tired.” She had been in bed a lot, but she really didn’t sleep. Instead, she laid there staring at the ceiling. Sometimes she talked to herself and other times she cried.

  “What are we going to do? Are we going to follow her around for the rest of our lives? I can’t live like this anymore.” Josh sounded defeated, and Gabe hated that. After Josh had dropped her off at home, they still had hope. As each day passed, and the realization set in, they knew that Nicole wouldn’t be running to them anytime soon.

  “I don’t know, Josh.” He didn’t have the answer. “I’m gonna head home now. See you there.” Gabe closed his phone and walked down the side street to where his truck was parked.

  * * * *

  Josh sat on the ground, leaning his back against one of the trees that surrounded Nicole’s home. He stared at her empty house, wishing that he were home with Nicole by his side. He talked to both Addison and Harper after he dropped Nicole off at home that awful day.

  He pulled away from Nicole’s house, no destination in mind. He didn’t want to go home, didn’t want to talk to Gabe. Josh drove back up the mountain and ended up in front of Addison and Harper’s place. They were both relatively young still, early twenties, and finally lived alone away from their parents.

  He was really upset and he hoped that they hadn’t said anything that could potentially ruin his relationship with his mate. He got out of his truck and slammed the door. He tried to calm down. He didn’t want to punish anyone in their pack, but if they were the cause for Nicole running away, he might not be able to hold himself back. Josh went the front door and knocked, waiting for Addison and Harper to answer.

  Addison opened the door. “Josh, how are you? Is everything okay? Nicole, is she all right?” The concern in her voice helped to diffuse some of his anger. At least now he knew that they hadn’t caused problems on purpose.

  “What did you talk to Nicole about? Didn’t you hear Gabe’s announcement to the pack?” She shook her head, looking at the ground. “We hadn’t told Nicole that we were wolves.” Her head shot up, and her eyes widened. “We wanted her to meet the pack first. We thought then that she might have a smoother transition. We thought that maybe she would accept us, believe that we weren’t a threat.”

  “I’m so sorry, Josh. I honestly thought that she knew. I know that you and Gabe have been waiting for two years for her to accept you both. I thought, we thought that she knew.” She bit her lip, and Josh knew that she was telling the truth. “She seems really great, though. I’m sure she’ll come to her senses and run back to you and Gabe. We’re werewolves.” She smiled. “We’re the best at cuddling and quite loveable. Don’t worry, Josh, it will work out.” He scoffed, trying not to laugh. Addison and Harper were really sweet. He shouldn’t have even thought for a minute that they were responsible for Nicole running away.

  Josh closed his eyes for a minute, feeling guilty. They were responsible for this mess. They should’ve been honest right from the start. He heard the sound of Nicole’s truck getting closer and opened his eyes, watching her pull up the long driveway. She parked her truck, jumped out, grabbed her groceries, and walked quickly into the house. She shut the door firmly, and Josh pouted. He hadn’t had any time to see her. He had hoped to catch a closer glimpse of her.

  He heard her humming and felt completely confused. Why did she sound happy all of the sudden? What had happened to change her mood so drastically? They had been checking up on her daily, hoping for a sign, hoping that she would come to them. Could she be okay? Could she really be happy with moving on without them?

  Josh tried to swallow around the lump in his throat. He had only been able to sleep after his body was too exhausted to move. He worked all day, ran all night, and watched Nicole. If she didn’t want them, if she didn’t accept them, he knew that he would feel this pain in his chest for the rest of his life. It wasn’t only the man that felt connected, it was the wolf, too. The wolf craved its mate.

  He couldn’t stare at her house anymore. His strength was weakening, and he knew that if he didn’t leave now, he might break down the door and take her. He was becoming desperate, and his heart broke more each day she was away from them. He loved her. She wasn’t just their mate, she was the one woman meant to be theirs. Josh stood up, shook his head and walked away. “Don’t look back, don’t look back, don’t look back,” he chanted quietly to himself.

  Chapter 11

  Nicole put all her groceries away, ate a small meal, and started cleaning. She had so much on her mind, thinking about the event later that night and how things might unfold. She was a little nervous, even scared, but she knew that the alternative was a life without Gabe and Josh. Addison’s great idea was to join the pack on their nightly run. Obviously, she couldn’t change into a wolf, but showing up at their meeting spot would prove her intentions.

  She did want a life full of love and happiness. Even though they hadn’t been together long, she knew that if she let them go, she would always wonder. She hated living in the past, always questioning her decisions. The “what-ifs” of life, that’s what she called them.

  Nicole clicked the on button and started making clean lines with the vacuum on the carpet. Cleaning always helped her to think. The only way she would get her questions answered is if she talked to them. She had been feeling haunted for years, and she needed to break free and feel whole once more. It didn’t take long for her to vacuum the small cabin or to pick up the trash that she left lying around. She was burning time, waiting u
ntil she could take a shower and get dressed.

  She made her way to her laptop, knowing that she had plenty of time before the mountain would be covered in darkness. She had been trying to focus for a while but couldn’t seem to find the motivation she needed. She had been too depressed to write. She opened her laptop and stared at the empty document, wondering what she should write. Starting was always the hardest part, even when she had a fantastic idea, it was tough to begin.

  Nicole couldn’t think. She pushed her chair back and went into her bedroom. She started the bathwater, deciding to spend some time pampering herself before seeing Gabe and Josh. She wanted to be soft, smooth, and ready, just in case. She poured a generous amount of bubbles in the tub, and within minutes, the small space smelt like honeysuckle and jasmine. She took a deep breath, letting the scent calm her nerves before undressing and stepping into the hot water.

  Exhaling loudly, Nicole closed her eyes as the water reached her neck. She thought about all Addison had said and had to agree. At least this way she would be making the next step since they hadn’t contacted her once since Josh had dropped her off that day. Fear started to rise up inside her, and Nicole pushed it away. She wouldn’t let negative thoughts stop her.

  She grabbed the container that held her homemade honey exfoliant and scooped a large amount onto her hand. She sat up and moved so that she was sitting on the edge of the tub, giving her tons of space to rub the rough granules into her skin. She took her time, making sure that the oil penetrated deep. She wanted to be perfect, wanted her skin to feel amazing. She went through her normal routine, scrubbing, plucking, shaving, and finally waxing. The things women went through in order to make a serious impression on a man, or men, in her case.

  Nicole glanced at the clock as she finished getting ready in the bathroom. She still had a few hours to wait, but at least now, she was finally ready.

  * * * *

  Gabe sat in his favorite chair, sipping a beer. He had really tried to stay busy so that his mind wouldn’t wonder off to Nicole. It was hard to stop thinking about her and their short time together. Tonight was his night to watch her, and he planned to sneak over after the pack’s nightly run. He wondered how he would find her tonight. Would she already be sleeping? Would she cry herself to sleep again or would he find her sitting at her desk in front of her computer?

  The door slammed shut and Gabe looked up, seeing the scowl on Josh’s face. “How is our mate today?” He tried to make conversation, knowing that Josh must have a lot on his mind.

  “She seems happy.” His voice was tense, and Gabe cringed a little.

  “You want her to be sad?” he asked.

  “No, of course not, but hearing her whistle makes me think that she’s over us. That she’s moved on.” Josh fell onto the couch and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “She hasn’t moved on, and she won’t. We’re giving her space, hoping that she’ll come back to us.” He tried to maintain a positive attitude even though he wasn’t feeling that way on the inside.

  “I’m so sick of giving her space. Why did we agree to that? She should be here with us,” Josh said, and Gabe couldn’t agree more. Their house had become quiet. They didn’t want any visitors. He barely had the energy to meet and run with the pack, but that seemed like the only thing that made him feel sane. He needed to release his frustration, and shifting helped him deal with his emotions better.

  He downed the rest of his beer, barely tasting it. “I know.” He shook his head, trying to find the right words to say, to soothe Josh’s volatile attitude. They were both on edge, had been for weeks. At first, he thought that Nicole might come back, but he quickly realized that she was too afraid. She wouldn’t be able to cope or deal with the whole pack, not with the pack haunting her dreams. It was his fault, that night. He should’ve had the strength to leave her alone.

  “Damn it, I know that face. You’re blaming yourself again. Gabe, it’s not your damn fault. Forgive yourself and move on. Shit.” Josh was frustrated, and Gabe got up from the chair and walked into the kitchen, wanting another beer. “You bit her, big freakin’ deal. We’re allowed to, she’s our mate!” Josh yelled, and Gabe shook his head, grabbed another beer, and quickly downed the contents.

  Something needed to happen, and Gabe said a silent prayer, hoping that Nicole would come back to them. “Hand me one.” Gabe grabbed two more beers, shut the fridge, and handed one off to Josh. They stood there in the kitchen, and Gabe leaned against the counter, waiting for Josh to say more. It was the same way every time Josh came back home from watching Nicole.

  “I’m done waiting. Aren’t you? I don’t think I can take it anymore. Something has to change.” He downed his beer, slammed the glass bottle on the counter, and marched out of the kitchen.

  Gabe heard footsteps and lifted his head in time to see both Adrian and Evan walking into the kitchen. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to deal with any pack business, but he knew that he would. His responsibility was to take care of his pack and their needs. Having issues with Josh and Nicole didn’t take precedence over the rest of the pack.

  “Hey, guys, what’s up?” He tried not to sound depressed, but his voice gave him away and he cringed a little, hoping that they wouldn’t think he was too weak to handle whatever the issue was.

  “Harper snuck out again last night. She’s been running by herself. I’m worried, I don’t think it’s safe,” Adrian said, and Gabe knew the issues. Harper was young by pack standards, even though she was legally an adult. The pack rules remained the same. She was only supposed to run with other members. They hadn’t had any trouble in a really long time, but it was always better to be cautious. He also knew that Harper belonged to both Adrian and Evan. She was their mate, but for some reason they hadn’t claimed her.

  Harper was finally coming out of the depression she had been stuck in for years. He couldn’t blame her though. She had been so young when a lone wolf had come into town and instantly became obsessed with her. The wolf had taken her one night, and although he didn’t know the details, he knew that it had been bad. He was just so glad that Harper had gotten away and found him.

  “I’ll talk to her,” he told them. They had spoken about this issue in the past, and Gabe wondered if she knew that they were her mates and hoped to get their attention. Both Adrian and Evan were complete hard asses, though, and wouldn’t be provoked into claiming her.

  “She needs more than a talking to. She should be punished.” Evan glared at him, and Gabe shook his head and sighed loudly. Did they both not have a clue about women? Did they not know what had happened to Harper? They both hadn’t been in their pack when the incident had happened. He wasn’t going to tell them though. It was Harper’s secret to reveal. It must be a mate thing because when it came to Nicole, he was a complete idiot.

  “What would you suggest? Should I spank her? Should I force her to run with the pack? We haven’t had any problems. Most of the town here is pack, so technically she’s safe.” Adrian and Evan were both from a different pack, and when their Alpha died, the pack broke up. He didn’t know what kind of baggage they were carrying and it didn’t matter. They were both good, strong men who were respectful and always helped the other members of the pack. He knew that they would be good for Harper, once they all admitted that they were mates.

  “No, of course not. Don’t touch her!” Evan immediately yelled, but he quickly shut his mouth when Gabe arched a brow and crossed his arms over his chest. He never had actually planned to touch the girl, but still, he wasn’t sure what they both wanted him to do. “I–we–You shouldn’t allow her to be out alone. I mean what if something happened to her?” he continued, and Gabe shook his head.

  “I know she’s your mate.” Both of them immediately shook their heads, trying to deny the fact. “Why the hell don’t you just claim her?” Neither of them spoke, and Gabe had to wonder if Harper knew what she was doing. She had gotten their attention all right, and he didn’t plan on correcting her behavior. T
hese two needed someone with a little spunk, although he often thought of her as shy. Did she have a plan? Did she know they were her mates?

  “I’m not getting involved. She isn’t doing anything wrong.” Gabe pushed himself off the counter and left them standing in the kitchen alone. He thought about talking to Harper just to make sure she was okay, but other than that, he wasn’t going to get involved in any situation where mates were concerned. He had royally messed up with Nicole. There was no way he would try to give advice.

  * * * *

  Nicole was dressed and ready to go. She paced around her house, trying to calm her nerves as she waited impatiently for Addison to arrive. A loud knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts, and Nicole practically ran, pulling the door open. Addison stood there smiling at her. She was almost too excited to contain her joy at finally seeing Gabe and Josh. It had been way too long.

  “Are you ready?” She tilted her head, and Nicole nodded. “All right then, let’s go.” Stepping outside, Nicole zipped up her jacket and closed the front door. The sun was setting, and beautiful colors streaked the sky. She took a deep cleansing breath and followed Addison toward the tree line. “We’re walking,” she said before Nicole could even ask.

  “Um, okay.” She was a little scared but didn’t want to openly admit her fear. She walked into the trees, following closely behind Addison. The further they moved, the darker it became. Nicole looked up and stared at the treetops, trying to see the sky, but it was becoming harder and harder to see. Her vision was diminishing, and Nicole started to trip over the exposed tree roots. She hit the ground and quickly got up, hoping that Addison wouldn’t leave her behind.

  “Do you need help?” Addison asked, and Nicole shrieked, not realizing how close she had actually been the whole time. “Are you hurt?” she asked, her voice full of concern, and Nicole shook her head. “Okay, here, grab my arm, I’ll help you.” Nicole reached her hands up and felt around. She couldn’t see a thing. “Wow, I forgot how great our vision is compared to humans. Let me help you.” She felt small hands under her armpits that lifted her off the ground. Addison was a hell of a lot stronger than she looked.