"Well, hello to you too.”
She froze.
Slowly, Paige turned. Her heart jumped into her throat at that voice. She didn't dare blink as he came into view. A broad chest, wide shoulders, and the familiar scent of Tristan swirled in the air.
Down, girl.
Her wolf was ready to lie down for a belly rub.
If she blinked he'd disappear, right?
His skin seemed darker, more tanned, he hadn't shaved or maybe he was going for the scruffy look. And those dark chocolate eyes.
"No," escaped her lips before she could stop it.
He stood there, confused.
"No?"
She said it again. "No."
Wait. Why? Why did she say it at all? She said it because she couldn't do this again. He wasn't supposed to be here.
His too-perfect lips slowly spread into a smile.
"Okay. But, I didn't ask you anything yet." Tristan said.
Paige could physically feel her neck burning and then her face. Great. Now she was probably the color of the aisle she despised.
Swallow me up right now, earth. Do it.
Why was he here?
"How have you been?" he asked.
She blinked. Tristan was talking. She could see his lips moving. But the electric buzz of anger had her wolf trying to come out and fight the man who broke, no, shattered her heart.
"I. Good." Well, heck. It's like she couldn't remember how to speak now. Great. Way to make him really know what he missed out on. She cleared her throat and tried it all over.
"I am good. You?"
There, that was normal enough.
"Good," Tristan said.
"That's good." What does one say to the love of your life after two years of nothing? No word. No letter. Nothing. It's like he'd died and was now returning from the grave. What could she say that could express the pain and hurt?
"I'm back," he said.
Her eyes flew wide.
"Thank you, Captain Obvious." Oh, good. There was the anger.
"Yeah. Sorry,” he said, hooking his thumbs in his jean pockets. She couldn't help it, her eyes drawn to look at what those hands framed. Damn it, if she didn't just gawk and then wonder at the bulge beneath his jeans.
Nodding, she tried to swallow. Oh God. She couldn't remember how to swallow. Stopping, she tried again. Maybe her throat was swelling shut. Maybe she was allergic to something. Maybe she was allergic to love and romance. Finally, after another attempt she got her spit to go down.
Awkward silence filled the space.
Paige looked him up and down, noticing what was in his hands. Diapers and a couple of toys.
All the air had disappeared as she tried to take her next breath. Paige reached up to her chest. This is what a heart attack felt like, right? She was dying? Maybe this was her life flashing before her eyes.
Pathetic, stuck on the outside of the valentines aisle, lonely.
Everything slowed down as Tristan lunged forward.
A whoosh of air filled her lungs and her legs suddenly forgot how to stand. Before she met the unforgiving floor, Tristan's arms wrapped around her.
"Paige? Paige, are you okay?"
Focus. Focus, Paige.
The fuzzy disconnected sounds of the present slowly cleared as she realized how stupid she looked.
"I. Yeah. Sorry. Must be low blood sugar."
He nodded, but didn't let her go. Paige probably imagined it, but she thought maybe he'd just tightened his grip around her. With whatever strength she had, Paige attempted to wiggle free, but he didn't let go.
Tristan's face hovered far too close to her own.
"I don't know, Paige. That isn't normal. We can head to the pack doctor? Have him check you out."
Blinking back whatever emotions she still had, Paige ignored him. She knew what was wrong. He'd moved on and had a baby. What had she been pining over?
"Paige? Are you okay?" said a female voice.
Breaking the connection between her and Tristan, she slowly turned her head to see a friend, another blast from the past staring down at her.
"Maddie? You're back too?" Paige asked.
Maddie nodded. "Yeah. But, not for long." Maddie looked to the side, and that's when Paige noticed the massive man next to her. He didn't look overly excited about life, but damn. Maddie had caught herself something hot. Why didn't she have that luck? Instead, Paige was an idiot and had saved herself for this traitorous male.
Paige tried to push him off. He didn't let go.
"Tristan, I'm fine. Let me go."
He studied her and something in his stare made her feel vulnerable.
All she wanted was to feel numb.
"Okay. I'll let you stand up. But I'm not letting go until I know you're okay."
She scowled. "Fine."
Paige righted herself while her wolf panted, whining to be closer to Tristan. Of course she remembered him. She wanted him. Instinct told her wolf that he was who they were meant for. Only, somehow Tristan didn't seem to know the same.
"Oh, how -" Paige broke off as she swallowed back a tear. Okay. She'd be fine. Try again.
"Maddie. Who is, your- well, him. Did you get married?"
Even a witch could find her match. Wolves were supposed to be good at this mating thing. Ha.
"Yeah. Sort of. Kind of. I mean yes," Maddie said.
"Sort of?" Paige asked.
Why was everyone coming back into her life today and bringing with them their happily ever after? This was a stupid day, wasn't it?
Maddie's head bobbed, her eyes focused on the giant man next to her. Happy. Content. That's what that look was.
Paige watched as he took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips. She smiled for him. They were both lost in each other.
Well, hell. This sucked.
4
Tristan couldn't look away from Paige. God, he'd missed the way she'd blushed. The way her cheeks always burned brighter than the rest of her face. He loved how her ears joined in and grew brighter and brighter until she finally tried to hide behind her hands.
Tristan stood there, one arm still wrapped around her waist. He'd tell her whatever the hell he could. Anything to stay in contact.
The gifts for his sister were somewhere on the floor, and right now they could stay there. This felt right. He'd missed her, even if he hadn't wanted to. Twenty seconds around her and all the old feelings broke down through his shattered soul.
His wolf snarled in anger, and his pants were growing really fucking uncomfortable. Yeah, that's right. He should suffer for being an idiot.
Tristan's glance flicked between Page and the guy next to the witch, Maddie.
He didn't like the way Paige looked at him. Maybe it wasn't just him that she looked at though. Fuck, even Tristan felt a pang of want from the way this guy looked at Maddie. Like his entire world was her.
Tristan adjusted his stance. Yeah, he was jealous at the fact they were probably going at it like rabbits and satisfied.
His wolf was constantly on edge and it came from the fact they, he and his wolf, couldn't satisfy the soul-deep need for their mate. He'd been trying to find some kind of satisfaction for the last two years only to wake up just as frustrated as he was the night before.
Tristan smelled the air around them and could pick out Paige's scent. Calm and need somehow came hand in hand as he stood with her near, his wolf fighting to take over and push aside Tristan's human nature to do what was right.
"So, what did you mean by sort of?" asked Paige again.
Right there was some kind of conversation going on. Tristan couldn't think around Paige.
"We are mated," said the male.
Paige looked from one to the other, and Tristan was certain he felt Paige's body slump into him. Why though? Why did matings bring out the strangest behaviors in females? Like when Paige tried to fuck up her future two years ago. God, that night still sucked. His mother telling him to walk away. Telling him she wasn't good enou
gh, telling him that the other male was better for her. Anger at his mother, at the other wolf, and anger at himself for leading her on when he'd known she was spoken for.
"I'm so happy for you, Maddie," Paige's tone strained.
He knew that tone. Paige was choking back her feelings, and for the life of him he didn't know why. What was wrong?
Tristan expected to waltz back into town and see her happy - without him. Instead, confusion filled him.
"Thanks, Paige. I'm glad I got to see you before I left," said Maddie.
Tristan shrugged. The women were getting all sappy. He gave a curt nod to the guy. This guy was a goner. He could see it clear in the shifter's face.
He saw this happen a million times with shifters. One minute they're all carefree and the next they're devoted and whipped. This guy had it bad, and you know what, good for him. He'd been happy to watch Kian and Ethan find their mates, but the same shit happened there, too. One minute going out drinking and the next they were content.
Tristan squeezed a little tighter around Paige. She was what he wanted. Finally. No, it was what he was finally willing to fight for. Yeah, he was an idiot.
Tristan sucked in a breath, feasting on Paige's scent. She always made him think of a field of wildflowers tucked within the mountains and mixing with crisp clean air. She was his air and without her, he'd only been breathing through a straw.
Damn it to hell. He was here to see his family. Not to torture himself. He'd blown it. His mother had made that clear over their glorious little lunch. The woman was harsh, but she was his mom.
Fuck. Tristan realized he was coveting someone else's mate. Odd, though. Paige smelled the same as what he remembered. Pure.
Maybe she wasn't mated yet and his mom had misheard. Even out of respect, he doubted his mother would have ever gone to Paige's mating ceremony, so maybe she just didn't know.
He should let Paige go.
He should back away.
He should do a lot of things, but instead of listening to reason he really, really didn't give a fuck. He’d win her back.
They, he and his wolf, had left her behind and regretted every day. Could he win her back? Was it too late?
"I haven't seen you around here? What did you say his name was, Maddie?" Paige's voice brought Tristan out of his self-destructive state.
"Kal. Kal, this is Paige. We know each other through Ellen. Anyway, I just came back to make good with my mom. So, now it's off to Kal's home."
Paige nodded, her muscles still rigid. Why wasn't she relaxing into him? Memories of how things used to be pissed him off. He'd been the one to leave, he couldn't be mad. But he was mad.
Right, she was supposed to be mating someone else. Awkward, since he was about to do something rash. If you were dumb enough not to mark your intended, was it really his fault for stealing her?
No. Tristan wasn't that guy. He wasn't an asshole. Right? No. He was a good guy. He'd left so she could do the right thing. He left so she could mate whoever she'd agreed to. Someone without his mom, that was for damn sure.
Reluctantly he pulled away. Paige wasn't going to fall, the pretense to stay close gone. He mourned that.
"Where is his home?" Paige asked.
Tristan was missing an entire conversation. Of course he was, because all he wanted was to get into Paige's pants and mark her. Claim her.
"He, it's. Well. Kal's a dragon shifter, believe it or not."
Paige and Tristan's looks mirrored each other. He was positive.
"Dragon?" Tristan asked. That had his attention.
Maddie smiled. Pretty woman, but not like his Paige. "Yeah. It's a long story. There's so many things we just don't know about this world." Maddie shrugged and smiled.
Thank God this guy was a mated fool, because Tristan sure as hell wasn't trying to fight anything dragon and winning. Wolf shifter trumps a lot of supernatural things, but he doubted dragon was one of them. Better news though, at this exact second no one stood between him and Paige.
Yup. It was official. He was getting what he deserved, what he wanted.
"Alright. Well, nice meeting you. Paige was light-headed. Probably need to get her home."
Kal and Maddie waved, as Tristan ushered Paige out of the way.
"Hey, wait."
He growled at her. "No. No more waiting."
He couldn't stand here any longer. A deep breath filled his nose with the familiar scent of her, devoid of any other. No one had claimed her, yet.
"Oh. But..."
Tristan found an empty aisle and pulled Paige in. Pressing her back up against the paper products, he encased her in a prison between his arms. "Tell me, Paige. Who has laid claim to you while I've been away?"
He ground his molars together.
"What?"
He wouldn't kiss another man's mate, he wouldn't be able to. If she were mated and unwilling, she wouldn't allow him to. But instead he sampled her neck, a sweet hint of something new. She was aroused because of him.
He lowered his head, sniffing at the crook of her neck, searching. No scent of another. No marks from another. What kind of wolf wouldn't have taken something so sweet, at least once? If it were him, he wouldn't be able to keep his hands off of her, let alone wait to mate her. The need to have her almost winning last time, was now becoming unbearable to fight.
Friends. Best friends. That's all they were allowed to be. His mother hated Paige. She claimed it was because Paige was a tease, that she had been promised to another pack and was playing with him. How could she never have mentioned that though? Something was wrong, and it all came back to his mother.
Regret. He should have talked to her. Should have fought for her.
Closing his eyes, he listened to the beat of her heart. Letting the rhythm drown out his past mistakes. Fuck. She smelled so good.
He nuzzled her neck. Releasing a grip on the shelf to run his fingers through her hair.
She sighed. Her hands suddenly running down his back, his muscles tensing under her touch.
Fuck, what was he doing?
Pulling away, he intently watched her. Trying to read her. His tongue darted out, running along his bottom lip as he fought against what he knew and what he wanted.
His wolf wanted her. Tristan wanted her.
Shit.
He couldn't ruin her future. Could he? Should he? He wanted her. She wanted him. He was willing to give up everything to have her. Only, he'd fucked it up and he shouldn't do this to another male.
"You deserve to be happy."
In one quick motion Tristan released her and without another glance sprinted for the exit, barely holding in the shift long enough to get out the door.
He needed to run. Clear his head.
He needed to decide what it was worth to cause pack political issues.
He needed to think if she was willing to walk away from her own pack, because stealing someone’s female wasn't accepted.
Yeah, he needed to get out of here before he ruined her life.
5
What had just happened? One minute Paige was ready to be kissed and then, well hell.
That. Was. It.
Paige refused to let him do this again. No. This was Valentine’s Day, and it was about damn time she got what she wanted.
Tristan was an idiot and she should hate him. Stomping through the store, she followed his scent. Lucky for her she was an excellent tracker and would find his sorry ass.
"Miss?"
Paige paused. What now?
"Yes?"
A clerk looked at her.
"Uh. You. That ice cream? Did you pay for it?"
She looked down at her hand. Damn. "Here. No. I don't need it. So sorry."
Thrusting it at the poor clerk, she ran out the door dead set on finding him.
She followed the scent as far as she could, and realizing he'd shifted, her own wolf whimpered to get out.
Giving in, she got to the edge of town and let instinct take over. He headed out to th
e woods. Good. Privacy for when she caught him.
At least she hadn't liked her outfit.
The second her paws hit the ground they pushed forward. His scent was all male. Why had he stopped? The scent of his own need strong and driving her wolf to find him. He could run, but he couldn't hide. Paige wanted him, wanted him for good.
She tried to shake sense into her wolf, he'd had baby things. But if he'd been taken he wouldn't have looked at her like that. That wasn't Tristan, even if he'd once been a coward.
As she rounded a tree, the edge of the forest passed in a blur, nothing else except him. She slowed as his scent grew stronger. Her wolf whined. He was close. In the thick of where his scent was the strongest, she circled. Where was he?
"Looking for something?" His male voice came from behind. Spinning around, she shifted in one quick movement.
"Yeah. I'm hunting for idiots." A confidence she'd never felt before filled her. Instead of letting him have all the power, for once she was the one in charge. This was her hunt.
He chuckled. "Funny. I don't see any around here. But, I'll let you know if your mate comes by."
She bristled. "What are you talking about? You said something equally dumb back in the store. Who has claimed me? Who gave you that kind of information?"
His smile fell. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm not mated, and I have no intention to be. Who told you I was?"
She took a step forward slowly, taking in the sight of him. Sure, they'd run together before. Sure, they'd gone on hunts together, but damn. She'd always tried to give him the same courtesy as any other shifter. Don't gawk. Right now, though? Screw it.
She'd gawk.
"Tristan. You seriously think I'd settle? Do you think I could ever be with anyone else? You know as well as I do that there is only ever one true mate for each of us. Well, I thought that. Who were the diapers for?"
A lump settled in her throat. Waiting.
As she approached, Paige could hear his heartbeat growing quicker. Licking her lips, she flicked a quick glance to his growing shaft.
"My sister."
Relief flowed over her. Thank God.
How To Lose A Wolf: Holiday Story (Move Over Fate Book 4) Page 2