She looked like she’d walked herself back to the Compound. With a grin, I lifted her again, my hands likely leaving dirt streaks on her clothes. She shifted in my arms, and I froze. She made a small noise and settled her hand against my chest. Again, I had to focus on breathing.

She was mine. She’d figure that out. I just needed to give her some time and find a way to give us a chance to talk. When she didn’t move again, I started out, closing the distance to the Compound.

There were still a few males wandering about, but no one paused to speak with me when I entered. A few cast worried glances at Gabby. Probably the leaves. I stopped to drop her shoes near the entry. I planned to put some mud on them too. Then, I padded my way to her apartment. It was easy to find. Now that I had her scent, I could trace it anywhere.

I shifted her to one side so I could tap on the door. Sam opened it right away, a surprise lift to his expression at the sight of Gabby in my arms.

“Is she all right?” he asked. His gruff voice gave away his concern.

I nodded and stepped forward. I didn’t want to have a conversation while I held her. If she woke up now, in my arms, looking like a mess...well, it wouldn’t be good.

Sam quickly moved out of my way. I strode into their apartment and followed her scent to the bedroom. As gently as possible, I shifted her in my arms and pulled down the covers then tucked her in.

She didn’t know it yet, but I’d take care of her, always.

Chapter 3

I stood outside, working on the truck, and every time the main door opened, I tensed. The sun had risen a long while ago. Each passing hour made me more nervous. What would I say to Gabby when she did appear? Should I apologize right away? No, it was better to gauge her mood first. The leaves might do the trick.

It wasn’t until well after the sun rose that the door opened, and her scent drifted into the yard. My palms started to sweat as I listened to her step onto the porch. When she stopped, I swallowed hard, and glanced her way. She had lifted her face to the sun and closed her eyes. Leaves still clung to her hair and dirt streaked her face, making her look wild. My chest grew tight. Mine. She was mine.

I wanted to hold her again. Touch her face. The need made my skin ripple. Shifting my focus to the truck, I located another bolt and quickly set the ratchet. It took two tries. The rippling faded but my nerves didn’t.

The sound of her movement had me inhaling deeply as I waited for her to cross the yard. Her annoyance and confusion salted the air. But no anger. That was good.

She didn’t say anything until she stood next to the hood.

“We weren’t officially introduced last night. My name’s Gabby. Gabrielle May Winters.”

I straightened and turned toward her. The sun glinted off her hair as she stood there with her hands in her pockets. She was such a tiny thing, looking up at me, studying me with her wide brown eyes. My response died before I opened my mouth; being so close to her robbed me of what I’d been thinking. Instead, I wondered if she liked what she saw. Last night’s reaction made me doubt it.

“Sam said that your name is Clay.”

She’d talked to Sam about me? My pulse leapt. That was good, right?

“Listen, Clay, I know you think I’m the one for you...”

The direction of her thinking made it hurt to breathe. I knew what she was getting at. She didn’t believe she was my Mate. She continued as if she hadn’t just verbally kicked me between the legs.

“I don’t have a sense of smell to depend on, like you do. Although the Elders say to trust the instinct of werewolves, I don’t trust blindly. I really want to go home. If I asked to borrow someone else’s car, would it live?”

I turned back to the truck to hide my pain. According to what I’d heard, she’d been living with Sam for years, learning our ways. Why couldn’t she understand that I wouldn’t give her up? Without seeing what I was doing, I lifted the ratchet.

“Ok. I’ll take that as a no,” she mumbled.

Her understanding made me hopeful, and I turned back to her.

“Clay, I’m not trying to be rude here, but I’m struggling to figure us out. What’s the plan?”

She knew I had a plan? Panic had me scrambling for the words to defend my actions. She didn’t give me time, though.

“Am I just supposed to stay here until you decide I’m not really your Mate?” she asked softly.

Ouch. Any relief I would have felt over her not knowing about the leaves left with her continued, brutal denial of our connection. She wrinkled her nose and sighed slightly. Scenting the air, I found a thread of frustration.

“Would it help speed things along if we spent a little time together?”

The abrupt change in her thinking left me stunned. Hell, yes, I wanted to spend time together. A ripple of excitement coursed over the skin of my arms, and I hoped she didn’t notice as she stared at me expectantly, waiting for an answer. I didn’t trust myself not to say just that, so I shrugged. I didn’t want to seem too overeager.

“Do you talk?”

My heart stopped. Hadn’t I been? I thought back. Nope. Not a word. She’d think me stupid, now. What could I say? Cringing, I turned away toward the truck and struggled to come up with something that didn’t end with “don’t leave.”

“Ok. No talking. Got it.”

Shit.

Maybe silence was better, anyway. Desperation had me about three seconds from begging. For what, I didn’t know. Probably for any scrap of affection she’d willingly surrender to me. Yeah, it’d be better if I just kept my mouth shut.

She sighed, pulled her hands from her back pockets, and leaned against the truck. Chin in hands, she watched me as I pretended to know what I was doing to the truck.

“You seemed to like the idea of spending time to get to know each other,” she said.

I turned toward her again. How could I not? Her voice, her face, everything about her called to me.

“But what’s the point in spending time together if you don’t want to talk to me? Isn’t the point to get to know one another?”

Oh, I wanted to talk, but I doubted she wanted to know how lonely I’d been or how I felt now that I’d found her. Or that I understood having trust issues. Disgusted with myself, I turned back to the truck. Yeah, I really needed to keep quiet or my insecurities would have her running.

Then, she sighed and straightened away from the truck. I almost broke when she walked back to the main entrance. What would she do if I called her back? Probably beg me to let her leave. I couldn’t have that. Not yet. She hadn’t given us, or the idea of us, a chance.

I stayed by the truck, trying to figure out what to do next. Puking seemed like an option. It still felt like she’d kicked me between the legs.

Patience, I reminded myself. I needed to give her time to adjust to the idea. She was right. She wasn’t like werewolves. She had no sense of smell to help her. She felt the pull, though. I was sure of it. That meant she’d be back. It had to.

The sun slowly trekked across the sky as I doggedly worked on the truck. There wasn’t anything else to do while I waited. When the door opened again and her scent reached me, I exhaled in relief. She stepped out, and I studied her from the corner of my eye. Her damp hair was free of leaves, and she wore a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top.

She started walking across the gravel in her bare feet. I turned and watched her approach. Just seeing her coming toward me eased some of the doubt that had crept into my head.

I frowned as Gabby winced with each hurried step. Then, I looked at the gravel surrounding the truck. I wanted her to stay and talk but she wouldn’t be able to do that without shoes. I studied her, wondering if she would let me pick her up to sit her on the truck. I doubted it. I used my foot to clear a spot, pulled the rag from my pocket, shook it out, and set it on the ground. It was dirty, but it was better than standing on the gravel.