He continued pulling me until we reached the front door. "Where are we going?" I asked. He knew my apartment was at the back of the property.

"We have plans," he said, his voice tight with anger. He led me to his car and opened the passenger door. He looked at me expectantly.

"Liam, I don't understand. I thought we were going somewhere quiet to talk," I said.

"Talking can wait; we're going somewhere," he said, lifting me into the passenger seat and buckling me in before closing the door. He got in on the driver's side and pulled out of the parking lot.

After a few minutes, I realized he was heading toward the edge of town, in the direction of the wolf territory. My stomach plummeted, and my face went pale.

"I'm not taking you back to the pack. Don't worry," he said, as if reading my mind.

"Can't you just tell me where we're going?"

He sighed. "I know a place. There won't be other wolves there, I promise. I just can't stand the way that guy looks at you."

John? I didn't understand. John probably still saw me as some helpless girl who couldn't start a lawnmower.

—

About a year ago…

Oh Goddess, this was the worst idea yet. I'd convinced the old man we could save money by my cutting the grass and tending the flowerbeds instead of hiring a landscaper—bringing them in every few months instead of every two weeks. But now, here I sat, struggling to start the mower.

I'd read the instructions five times, but they remained indecipherable. Frustrated, I sat down in the grass. Maybe I could get Amy to call her husband; surely he knew how to start a lawnmower.

"You look like you could use some help, miss," a voice said from behind me.

I turned to see a man, no older than thirty, standing behind me. He had a friendly face and a muscular build, but he was definitely not werewolf-sized.

"I was just thinking that," I said, standing up. "Hi, I'm Azalea. I don't think I've seen you around here before."

"Probably not, since I just moved to town. Someone at the store mentioned the Inn's lunch is amazing."

"Well, I don't know about 'amazing,' but it's worth a try!" I said, smiling.

"In that case, I have a proposition," he said. "How about you join me for lunch at the Inn, and then I'll help you with that lawnmower? What do you say?"

"Sounds like a plan. Follow me; I'll get us a good table," I said, leading him inside and seating him at a window overlooking the patio. "I'll be right back," I said, going to the kitchen.

I washed my hands and told Amy to bring two specials to our table. Returning to John, I found him already seated.

"So, Miss Azalea, what's a pretty young lady like you doing with a lawnmower?" he asked.

"Well, I work here. And I may have convinced the owner we could save some money if I handled the lawn sometimes."

"That's awfully nice of you. But it didn't look like you were getting very far."

"Yeah, that's the problem. I can't get the mower started."

"Lucky for you, I think I can fix that. I have some free time and wouldn't mind helping you mow."

"Oh no! I couldn't ask you to do that much. If you could just show me how to start it, I'd be grateful."

"My pleasure," he said.

Just as our food arrived, Mr. Greyback walked by. "Aren't you supposed to be working?" he asked gruffly.

"I'm on my lunch break. Don't you worry; the lawn will look great before the end of the day!" I retorted.

"And who's this?" he asked.

"This is—oh, I guess I never got your name!"

"John Henry. I just moved to town."

"No one moves here," Mr. Greyback grumbled, walking away.

John chuckled. "Well, my work brought me here, and I found this town charming."

"Hmph," the old man muttered.

"I'm sorry, don't mind him. His wife died a few years ago, and he's been grumpy ever since."

"So, he's your boss?"

"Yep. He's a sweet old man, just a bit rough around the edges," I said with a giggle.

We finished lunch and went outside. John patiently showed me how to start and maintain the lawnmower. Without his help, I doubt I would have finished.

—

We drove farther toward the wolf territory. The longer we drove, the worse I felt. I tried looking out the window, but it didn't help. Liam soon turned onto a dirt road.

"Um, h-how much longer?" I asked quietly.

Liam turned to look at me for the first time since leaving the Inn. Feeling nauseous, I saw his eyes widen as he slammed on the brakes. Within seconds, he was out of the car, opening my door (the engine still running), and helping me out. I felt vomit rising.

Liam had me lying face down over his arm as I vomited. He held my hair and rubbed my back. It felt comforting. Soon, I was finished. My eyes were watering. Liam continued rubbing my back for a few minutes before helping me sit up.

Looking at his worried face, he wiped away my tears. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"I feel better now," I said.

"I'm really sorry. I forgot you get motion sickness. I shouldn't have brought you like that," he said.

"Oh, it's okay. How would you remember? You probably haven't thought about that night since it happened," I laughed weakly. The truth was, I thought about it more than I cared to admit.

He looked pained. Sighing, he asked, "Do you want to walk from here? We aren't far."

"Um, sure," I said, not eager to return to the car.

"Okay, one sec," he said, returning to the car to turn off the engine and grab his keys. He came back, closing both doors. "This way," he said, pointing down the dirt path. I nodded and gestured for him to lead.

He offered his hand; I hesitated. I didn't want to get lost in the woods, especially so close to wolf territory. I also didn't want to give him the impression I needed him. Once we resolved this mate bond situation, he'd return to his life, and I'd return to mine. There was no harm in taking his hand this once.

I hesitantly took his hand, earning a huge smile. We set off. Liam was so tall and walked so quickly that I was practically running to keep up. After a few minutes, he slowed down. "Sorry," he said. "I'm used to people keeping up with me."

We soon reached a large clearing with a small pond and waterfall. Large trees and flowers surrounded it. It looked like a movie scene.

"Wow," I breathed, dropping his hand and walking toward the pond.

"Do you like it?" he asked nervously. I nodded. He grinned. I sat by the pond, listening to the waterfall. Liam sat beside me.

"Sometimes, I need a break. It's quiet and calming," he said.

"It's amazing. I wish I had a place like this," I said, watching the waterfall.

"We can come here anytime, Azalea," he said, looking at me. I met his gaze.

"Liam, what did you want to talk about?" I asked, trying to change the subject. His kindness was too dangerous.

"Right," he sighed. "Where to begin? Our mate bond was never severed." He paused, watching me. My heart stopped. How could that be? He'd rejected me!

"I know; I rejected you. But you never accepted the rejection. You never said, 'I accept your rejection,' so the bond wasn't fully broken," he explained before I could speak.

"But I did what you asked! I didn't hate you, and I stayed in the human town!" I panicked. If the bond wasn't broken, I was still his mate. What if he forced me to the pack? I couldn't survive that again.

"Azalea, please, calm down," he said, taking my hand. I pulled away and stood.

"I can't be your mate. I don't even have a wolf anymore. I have traitor blood, and everyone hates me. I'd make a terrible Luna. You have to do it again. I'll do it right this time," I said, panicking.

"Azalea, please listen. Yes, I rejected you. I thought it was right at the time. I'm not so sure anymore. My uncle thinks you may still have a wolf, and the mate bond could bring her out," he said. He took a step closer.

"Rejecting you was probably the worst thing I could have done. I thought the Moon Goddess made a mistake. I see now I should have protected you. I was young and stupid. Azalea, you aren't a traitor because of your parents. You were a child, innocent. I don't want to reject you again," he finished, stepping closer. He was inches away.

I looked down, speechless. He didn't want to reject me? He lifted my chin, making me look into his eyes.

"Say something," he pleaded.

"You don't want to reject me?" I asked.

"No, I don't."

"Then what happens now?"

"That, I don't know," he said sadly. He cupped my face, wiping away unseen tears. "Seeing you cry is killing me. I'll do anything to stop it," he said.

I leaned my head on his chest. I didn't know what to do. He didn't want to reject me, but I could never be his mate. I would never be good enough for an Alpha. We stood like that before he embraced me.

His arms felt so good, like where I belonged. He was warm; the sun was setting, and it was getting cold.

"Are you cold?" he asked. I nodded, still nestled against him. He picked me up.

"Let's go back. I'll carry you," he said, heading back toward the path.

"No, I can walk," I said, trying to get down.

"If I put you down, you'll be cold again. And you don't have wolf senses, and it's dark," he said. I couldn't argue.

I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, he was buckling me into his car.

"It's okay; you can sleep," he said. He closed my door and got in himself. I drifted back to sleep.

I woke up as he lifted me from the car. "Where are we?" I asked.

"Back at the Inn. I'll take you to your apartment." I nodded, letting him carry me. He carried me around the building and through the backyard to my apartment.

"Where's your key, Azalea?" he asked gently.

"Flowerpot," I mumbled.

He held me in one arm and found my key. He unlocked the door, and we went inside. He carried me to the bed, laying me down and covering me with blankets.

"Look, I have some things to take care of. But I want to see you again. Call me tomorrow night, and we can talk?" he asked. I nodded.

He grinned. "Great. Talk then." And he left.

Something inside me wanted him to stay, to hold me. But I knew that was selfish. He had things to do. Just because we had a mate bond didn't mean I was anything to him. After he left, I got his hoodie from my closet. Tonight, I needed extra warmth.

Liam

I left her in her tiny apartment and returned to my SUV. I couldn't stay. I was a mess; that's not what she needed.

Everything about her turned me on. But then she'd look at me, and I'd get lost in her eyes. Every time she cried, I wanted to kill whoever was responsible—then I realized I was that person.

At least she let me carry her home. I got back in my car, filled with her scent again. I'd turned the heat on for her, and the car was warm with the smell of delicate flowers.

Driving back to the packhouse, her scent drove me crazy. Once in my room, I knew I needed a long, cold shower.