by Creator
Chloe opened her mouth to respond, but Michael held up a hand to stop her.
“Let me finish. I’ve reacted badly and I’m sorry. I let my baser instincts take over on several occasions and that was wrong of me. If I could take it back, I would. I’d give anything to have you back at home with me, Chloe.”
“What are you trying to say, Michael?”
“I’m trying to say that I want to be a father to our child. I want to be there for you. I want to be the guy you rely on, the one you come home to. Can you give me another chance?”
“Well now, isn’t this touching?” drawled a voice from the doorway.
Chloe jumped up from the table. “Ramsey! You’re back!”
“Maybe I should have stayed a little longer, given the two of you some more time together.”
Chloe hesitated. “Ramsey, I…”
“I was only gone for a day, Chloe.”
“You don’t understand.”
He shook his head and pushed away from the doorway. Turning his back to her, he walked out of the house.
Chloe reached behind her blindly and sank into her chair. Stunned, she felt numb. “What just happened?”
“I can’t say I’m sorry for that,” Michael said. “Maybe now you’ll have no choice but to give me another shot.”
Chloe didn’t say anything. She got up and walked out the door, hoping to see Ramsey. She knew Michael wanted another chance, but right now she needed to talk to Ramsey.
His SUV was still parked in the driveway. Unless he shapeshifted and ran home, there was a good chance he was across the street. Chloe walked across to the garage and hoped she was right.
When she stepped into the first bay, Hunter slid out from under a car.
“Is Ramsey here?” she asked.
He looked her over from head to toe, trying to decide if he was going to answer. “I think he’s in the office.”
Chloe nodded her thanks and made her way to the office. Ramsey sat behind the desk with his head tipped back and his eyes closed. His face looked strained. His jaw was tense and Chloe knew he was clenching his teeth.
“You’re going to give yourself a headache,” she said quietly.
“What do you want, Chloe?”
“I wanted to explain what you heard a minute ago.”
“I think it pretty much explained itself,” he replied.
She shook her head. “After everything I’ve been through today, I think I’ve earned the right to be heard.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I woke up to an empty bed. I burrowed into your side of bed because it still smelled like you and I cried because I didn’t know when I would see you again. All I knew was that some woman
you’d dated had called and you’d left for an emergency in another state.”
She reached for a chair and sat down. “I found my guard dog lying beside my bed, which it turns out wasn’t really a guard dog. When I left work today I was held at knife point, but my guardian managed to tackle the man until the police arrived.”
Ramsey came around the desk and knelt at her feet. “Are you okay? You weren’t injured?”
“No, I wasn’t injured. Although, I did run up the stairs at Kiera’s when I found out my guard dog was really Michael, who it turns out is a werewolf.”
“So you know.”
She nodded.
“And you’re okay with it?”
“As okay as I can be. It isn’t every day that you discover make-believe creatures aren’t so make believe after all. Although, it might take me a while to get over the fact that I changed my clothes in front of Michael this morning.”
Ramsey’s jaw clenched. “Michael is not the wolf I left to watch over you.”
“I figured he probably wouldn’t have been. I’m guessing he ran the other one off somehow. But that brings me to the conversation you heard when you got back.”
Ramsey started to stand, but Chloe put a hand on his shoulder.
“Michael was apologizing for all of things he’s done over the past few weeks. He was asking me for another chance. But you didn’t stick around to hear my answer.”
“What was your answer?”
“I didn’t give him one since I had to come find you.”
He looked at her intently. “What answer would you have given him?”
“That he’s already had a second chance. I’m not sure he deserves a third one.”
“He’s the father of your child, Chloe. If you wanted to give him another chance, I would understand.”
Chloe looked away. “Do you know what it was like waking up without you this morning?”
Ramsey sighed. “Chloe, I have to go back to Colorado tomorrow.”
She looked at him to see if he was serious. “But why? You just got back!”
“I came back because one of their psychics said there was trouble here at home. I’m guessing that would be the ordeal you went through today. But the issue they wanted my help with isn’t over yet. I have to go back for a few days.”
“Then take me with you.”
He shook his head. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” she asked.
“Because I have to pose as the mate to one of their women.”
Chloe paled. She pushed at his shoulders and stood. Backing away from him, she turned and walked out of the room. He’d had the audacity to be angry with her for listening to Michael and yet he’d been pretending to be mated to someone? She might have just learned about werewolves, but she knew enough about wolves to know that being mated was serious.
She heard Ramsey call her name, but she kept walking until she reached the Victorian. Running inside, she grabbed her purse and keys. Hurrying back outside, she jumped into the SUV and sped out of the driveway. She saw Ramsey standing in the middle of the street in her rearview mirror, but she didn’t care.
When she reached the house, she gathered her things and moved everything back into the garage apartment. It was obvious to her now that Ramsey didn’t care for her half as much as she cared for him. If he did, he wouldn’t have been able to even pretend to be with someone else. Even if he’d been ordered to go, surely he could have told her something, anything to keep her from worrying. It was best if she was on her own after all.
***
The next morning, Chloe went through her regular routine of getting ready and going to work. When she arrived at the office, Matt was waiting by her desk.
“Why didn’t you call me yesterday?”
“I didn’t think about it. The police took my statement and arrested the guy.”
Matt shook his head. “It isn’t safe for you to be here by yourself.”
“But you hired me so you wouldn’t have to be in the office all the time,” she said.
“I’m not allowing either you or Cassie to be here alone. I’m hiring a security guard for this whole shopping strip. You could have been seriously injured or killed.”
She nodded. “Thankfully I had Michael the werewolf around.”
Matt crossed his arms. “So they finally told you.”
Chloe sighed. “Yeah. I didn’t take it too well and passed out, but at least I know the big family secret now.”
“Are you going to give him another chance?”
“Technically he had another chance. He’s had two. I’m not sure I’m ready to give him a third one.”
“Does that have anything to do with Ramsey?” Matt asked.
Chloe looked at her computer screen while she checked her emails. “That’s not a good name to mention around me right now. Actually, I’m taking a break from men. I’ve decided that the good ones are taken and the rest are scum.”
Matt chuckled. “Ramsey and Michael are both good guys.”
“Yeah well, Michael seems to have issues with his temper getting out of control and Ramsey is off pretending to be someone’s mate in Colorado. I’m not feeling very forgiving toward either of them.”
Matt turned serious. “He’s pretend
ing to be someone’s mate?”
“So he says. Of course, a woman kept calling the house from Colorado before he left to help with their emergency. She’s probably the one he’s been mated to for the emergency,” Chloe said bitterly.
“Did y’all talk about it last night?”
Chloe shook her head. “I left him at the garage and I moved my stuff back into the apartment last night. I don’t even know if he went home and I don’t really care right now. I’m too damn angry.”
“Chloe, you do realize that you’re part of their pack now, right?”
She stopped scanning her emails and looked at him. “What?”
“You’re part of their pack – the Ashton Grove pack. Which means you’re going to have to choose a mate, and soon. Gabriel probably hasn’t pushed the issue because things were going so well between you and Ramsey, but if you’ve moved back out he’s either going to tell you to pick someone soon…”
When Matt trailed off, Chloe got nervous. “Or?”
“Or he’s going to find someone for you. Especially since you’re pregnant. It’s going to be important to make sure you and your baby are taken care of. He might choose Michael or Ramsey, or he may choose someone else entirely. If Michael isn’t the wolf that was chosen to guard you, he might select your true guardian.”
Chloe didn’t like any of those options, but if she had to pick she’d prefer to choose her own mate. The question was, who would she pick? Michael had already struck out twice, Ramsey was off doing heaven only knew what, and she didn’t know anyone else. She was screwed.
Chapter Eighteen
Chloe decided to bite the bullet and confront Gabriel. When her shift was over at work, she drove over to the garage. She didn’t recognize the mechanic on duty, but he was kind enough to tell her the alpha was working in the back.
“Gabriel, can we talk?” she asked as she stepped into the office.
“Is everything okay?”
“No, not really. Ramsey is off playing mate to someone else, Michael is his usual charming self, and I’ve just been informed that I’m part of your pack. Now what in the hell is going on?”
Gabriel groaned and closed his eyes. “I take it I have Matt and his big mouth to thank for this one.”
“Yep, now start talking please. I need answers.”
“Yes, you’re part of the pack. There are certain women throughout the world who are destined to be mates to werewolves. You happen to be one of them.”
“So what does that mean exactly?” she asked.
“Since you’re with Ramsey right now, nothing. Just let things progress naturally.”
She bit her lip. “I kind of moved back into the apartment.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
Chloe threw her hands up in the air and started pacing in the small space. “What was I supposed to do? He starts getting calls from some woman, runs off to help said woman, then informs me he’s pretending to be someone’s mate. How would you react?”
Gabriel grunted. “Good point.”
“So I packed my stuff and moved back into the apartment last night.”
“What did he say when he came home and found out you’d left the house?” Gabriel asked.
Chloe stopped her pacing, a pained look on her face. “He came home?” she whispered.
“You didn’t know?”
She shook her head. “I just figured he’d gone straight back to Colorado when he didn’t react.” She sank into a chair. “I guess that answered my question of whether or not he really did care about me.”
“You might be jumping to conclusions, Chloe.”
She shook her head. “No, he would have at least said something. He didn’t even acknowledge that I was gone.”
Gabriel sighed. “What do you want to do? You’re six months pregnant, and you need a mate.”
“I don’t care,” she said softly. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
Gabriel saw the pain in her eyes and knew her heart was breaking.
“You may not like my decision,” he warned her.
“I’ll do whatever you want,” she answered quietly. “The man I love would rather pretend to have a mate than be mated to me. That doesn’t leave me many options.”
Gabriel’s heart was breaking for her.
“So be it. I’ll have Kiera and Cassie plan the wedding. I think it would best if you were married before Ramsey returned. You can’t live on his property after he gets back from Colorado.”
Chloe nodded numbly, only half listening. Her heart was broken and she wasn’t sure she cared what Gabriel had decided. Nothing mattered at the moment.
“Not even curious as to who the groom is?” Gabriel asked.
She shrugged. “I guess.”
“It’s the father of your baby.”
Chloe sucked in a breath and stared at Gabriel wide-eyed. He wanted her to marry Michael? She hadn’t expected that, although, she probably should have. Michael was, after all, Gabriel’s brother and the father of her child. To him, it probably seemed like a logical choice. She only hoped he wasn’t making a huge mistake.
“Is that a problem?” he asked.
“What about his temper?” she asked, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I would be lying if I said he didn’t scare me.”
“Chloe, I promise he won’t hurt you or the baby. Believe it or not, Michael cares a great deal about you. I think he’ll make a good husband for you and a good father for the baby.”
She nodded, having no choice but to believe him. “If that’s what you think is best. When will the wedding be?”
“Friday. I’m expecting Ramsey back on Saturday.”
“How do you know Michael will agree to this?” she asked.
“Has he not been trying to get back together with you?” Gabriel asked her.
“Yes, but the only time he mentioned marriage it was only for convenience. I don’t think he’d really thought it through. He doesn’t seem like the marrying type. I have a hard time picturing him tied to one woman for the rest of his life.”
“Trust me, he’ll agree.”
Chloe hesitated.
“What else, Chloe?”
“I don’t know much about the rules about being someone’s mate.”
“It’s pretty much the same as being married. Why?” he asked.
“I guess part of why I’ve been hesitant with Michael is that I’m worried I won’t be enough. He’s never dated anyone seriously. How can I trust he’ll keep his wedding vows? And does he even have to?” she asked quietly, embarrassed to have voiced her fear aloud. It would break her heart if he cheated on her.
Gabriel walked around the desk and put his arm around Chloe. “He’ll have to keep his wedding vows, and even more important, he’ll want to keep them. As his mate, you’ll be the most essential thing to him.”
Chloe nodded. “That’s good to know,” she said with a small smile. “There’s really only one thing I ever truly wanted – to be loved.”
Gabriel gave her a brotherly squeeze. “You’ll be loved, honey. You’ll gain a husband, two sisters, and two brothers. You’ll have so much love, and so much family that you’ll want to run screaming some days.”
Chloe laughed. “That will be a nice change.”
“Now, why don’t you go home and start packing your stuff. I’ll go tell Kiera the news. Tomorrow the two of you can meet with Cassie to get a wedding dress and get everything set up.”
“Can a wedding be done in two days?”
“With Matt and Cassie behind it, it can be done in twenty-four hours. Trust me you can still have the wedding of your dreams.”
Chloe nodded. “Then I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“If you need help packing, just let Lucas know. He’s the mechanic you passed on your way in. I don’t want you lifting anything heavy and hurting yourself or the baby.”
“I promise I’ll be careful.”
***
Thursday afternoon Chloe felt like she was ready to dro
p. She had found an elegant wedding dress. She hadn’t even known they made maternity wedding gowns, yet Cassie had helped her find one. Afterwards, they’d ordered a cake and were now walking through the aisles at the florist’s shop.
“I don’t know much about flowers,” Chloe admitted.
“Is there a particular kind you like?” Cassie asked.
“Roses smell nice, but other than that I don’t know.”
“What about carrying some pink roses?” Kiera asked.
“Or pink and white?” Cassie offered.
“Why don’t the two of you find something and just surprise me? If I don’t get off my feet soon, I think I might hit the floor,” Chloe said as she rubbed her stomach. “Besides, I’m sneezing like crazy in here.”
“There’s a bench right outside of the store,” Cassie said.
Chloe nodded. “I’ll be outside then.”
She left her two friends discussing flowers and went in search of the bench. When she stepped outside, she saw it just to the right of the store. Sitting down, she sighed in relief. Her feet and her back were killing her.
A shadow loomed in front of her and Chloe looked up. She was surprised to see Michael.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Looking for you.”
Her face looked pale and strained. “Is everything okay?”
“Can I sit down for a minute?” he asked, indicating the bench.
“Of course.”
“Look Chloe, I know what happened yesterday. And I know that Gabriel chose me because I’m the baby’s father, but I wanted you to know that if there’s someone else in the pack you’d rather be mated to I’d understand.”
“Michael, I…”
“Ramsey should be back in a few days. I’m sure we could wait for him to come home.”