Petros watched the car as it tore out of the parking lot. He let out a curse and kicked the teddy bear as he made his way to his pickup.

He managed to get into the driver’s seat, despite his body feeling completely numb. Driving out of the lot, he headed back toward town, to the Blackstone Hotel where he had been staying at for the past week.

Fate really did hate him. He could confirm that now. Perhaps it was his punishment for surviving. Not just once, but twice. Because what kind of life would this be? To be living with this gigantic hole in his chest? He should have died in Cyprus. No, wait. He should have died long before that.

As he drove down Main Street, his stomach growled. He realized it had been hours since his last meal. Eager to get the perimeter tour done and catch Kate before she left, he had skipped lunch. Now he was famished. He was tired of eating the food at the hotel, so he decided to stop by one of the restaurants in town.

Not all the establishments were operating, though it seemed like more and more of them were re-opening every day. There was a queue outside Rosie’s Bakery and Cafe, and since patience was not part of his vocabulary at the moment, he headed to the diner instead. A friendly waitress led him to an empty table and gave him a menu.

He quickly decided on his meal and dictated his order to the young server. As he looked around, he saw someone familiar at the table across from him.

Sybil Lennox sat by herself, a book in one hand. White headphones were stuck in her ears, and she bounced her knees as she listened to some upbeat tune. Perhaps sensing Petros’ gaze, she turned her silvery eyes toward him, which widened when she realized who was looking at her. She quickly put her book down, then got up and walked to his table.

“Hey! We haven’t been formally introduced,” she said, taking the earphones out of her ears. “I’m Sybil Lennox.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Lennox,” he greeted.

“Please, it’s just Sybil,” she said. “And you’re Petros, right?”

“Yes.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. Though he was sure she was nice enough, he was not up for company at the moment.

His brusqueness didn’t seem to faze her, and she flashed him a smile as she sat down on the empty chair across from him. “You know, you’re not what I thought you’d be.”

“Oh? And what did you think I would be?”

She chuckled. It was hard to believe this cheerful young woman housed a dangerous creature inside of her. “I mean, you’re not what I thought Kate’s mate would be like. She’s so … Kate, and you’re awfully serious. But they say opposites attract, right?”

“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” he said glumly.

Her silver eyes sparkled. “I guess she’s not making it easy for you.”

“You guessed correctly.”

“Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ve seen it lots of times. You can keep on resisting the mating call, but then bam!” She slapped her palms together in a dramatic manner. “You’ll end up with each other anyway.”

“Thank you, but I think perhaps this time fate will not be so kind.” The words, once out of his mouth, weighed on his shoulders even more and the hole in his chest seemed to expand.

“What are you talking about?” Sybil asked.

Petros clasped his hands together and placed them on top of the table. “It seems no matter what I do, Kate is determined to hate me.”

“What did you do?” she asked matter-of-factly.

“Excuse me?”

Sybil planted her elbows on the table and then placed her chin on her palms. “What exactly did you do?”

“Well, uh, I must admit I was too … enthusiastic the first time we met. But she was avoiding me, and I had no choice.”

“No choice except to carry her off on your shoulder?” Her eyebrow raised up all the way to her hairline.

“Yes, well, perhaps that was hasty of me.” He cleared his throat. “But I made my intentions clear. I’m not going to toy with her. I only wish to be with her forever and make her happy for the rest of her life.”

“Did you tell her that?” Sybil asked. “I mean, did you mention that part about making her happy?”

“Er ….” He scratched his head. He definitely said something about forever. And having pups with her. But for some reason, he couldn’t recall telling her that all he wanted was to make her happy. But surely she must realize that, right? “I attempted to woo her today.”

“Woo her?”

“Yes. I took my cues from your American movies and gave her gifts. Flowers. Chocolates. I even arranged to have a gift waiting for her on the hood of her car to surprise her.”

“You did?” Sybil’s eyes narrowed at him. “What kind of gift?”

“A stuffed teddy bear.”

“A what?” Sybil rose from her seat and slammed her hands down. Petros swore he saw smoke curling out of her nostrils. The dragon inside her remained tightly reigned in, but the raw power coming from her had his own wolf frozen in apprehension. Even the other patrons stopped what they were doing to stare at them.

“A teddy—”

“I know what you said.” She sank back down on the chair and placed her hands over her face. “Oh no,” she said in a soft voice.

“What did I do wrong?” he asked. “Sybil?”

Putting her hands down, Sybil looked up at him, her face grim. “Look, it’s not my story to tell. But … when we were younger, there was this guy. Her boyfriend. An ex.”

He swallowed the jealousy rearing its ugly head. “And?”

“He didn’t treat her so well.”

Petros clenched his fists under the table. “Did he hurt her? Touch her?”

“What? No!” Sybil shook her head. “I would have burned him to ash if he did. He didn’t hurt her physically. That was the worst part.” She looked down at her shoes. “We didn’t see it. None of us did.” She took a deep breath. “He would make her feel bad about herself, and she would try to break up with him. Then he’d try to win her back with some kind of gift. The first one was a teddy bear, waiting for her on top of her car. Then it was other gifts. I think one time he even got her this expensive bracelet.”

No wonder she had reacted that way to his gifts. It was an unfortunate coincidence, and he would most certainly not have done it had he known.

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Why she acted the way she did around him. His mate had been hurt in the past and having been burned, of course she would be wary of any romantic entanglement. “But she was able to get away from him.”

“She did.” Sybil suppressed a laugh. “And she got back at him in the most spectacular way possible. In a way only Kate could.”

He breathed a sigh. At least he wouldn’t have to murder anyone today. “You are her closest friend, correct?”

Sybil nodded. “She’s a year younger than Amelia and me, but yeah, I’ve known her all my life.”

“What should I do then? To win her?”

She tapped a finger on her chin. “Well, first, you need to pull back on the mate stuff. The more you make her feel trapped, the more she’ll want to get away.”

“Right.” Okay, he could do that. Try to control his feelings of possessiveness.

“And as for the gifts … Kate doesn’t do flowers, chocolates, jewelry, and definitely no more stuffed animals.”

“I think that part was made clear to me.”

“Just, you know … get to know her. Take it slow. And let her get to know you.”

“Slow.” It was agonizing to think he would have to take it slow with his mate, especially when his wolf was urging him to claim her. But he would do it for her. “Okay.”

Sybil clapped her hands together. “It’ll work out! I know it will.”

It had to work out. “Thank you, Sybil,” he said.

She smiled at him, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just, you know, take care of her, okay?”

“Of course.” He didn’t want to incur the wrath of the female dragon after all. Still, he couldn’t help but notice the sadness in her eyes. “What is wrong?”

“What?” she asked. “Nothing.

“It’s not nothing,” Petros said. “Please, you’ve helped me a lot. You can confide in me as well.”

Her shoulders sagged. “I’m really happy that you and Kate are mates and everything. Really, I am. It’s just … well, I know that once you guys are mated and start having kids and stuff … I’ll be alone.”

“What?” Her words took him by surprise. “I’m not here to take Kate away from you or any of her friends.”

“I know that, but … it’s different. You’ll see.” She shifted in her seat uncomfortably. “Like, sure you guys will still be here and we’ll see each other, but it will be different, you know? You’ll have each other, and I’ll have nobody.”

“I promise you, Sybil, I will not let your friendship with Kate fade away,” he said.

“That’s very kind of you,” she replied, seemingly mollified.

“I know all about loneliness,” Petros continued. “But once you find your own mate, you won’t be alone anymore.”

She sighed. “Thanks, but I don’t think that’s ever going to happen. Everyone here is just too intimidated by who I am. And what I am.”

Petros realized how lonely it must truly be for Sybil. Though she was a beautiful woman, most men would be intimidated by her wealth, family, and her power. But that didn’t mean her mate was not out there. He found his way to Kate, so he believed Sybil would find her intended mate, too.

“Any man who could not see past all that is a fool and not a worthy partner.” He looked her straight in the eye. “Sybil, you are fierce, loyal, and strong. Any man would be lucky to have you. I have traveled many miles to meet my mate. Perhaps yours is still making his journey to you.”

She gave him a weak smile. “Thank you, Petros. You’re too kind. And I know you’re definitely a worthy mate to Kate.”

Petros hoped with his entire being that was true.