Sheridan

I’m too agitated to think. I have a mid-term to study for, but I spend the entire day Saturday thinking about Trey. I know what he’s doing and I absolutely hate him for it.

Except I could never hate Trey, especially because I know he’s doing this out of love.

For me.

Stupid, protective male wolves.

Even though I pick my phone up to text or call him every ten minutes, I vow to give it a little time. Let him play this out for a week or two. When he sees it’s impossible for us to stay apart—when he’s as broken and lonely as I am, he’ll change his mind.

I’ll promise to go to Stanford. Maybe I can get him to come with me. I know he helps support his mom, but he could send her money from California.

Because I can’t stand being cooped up in the house anymore, I head out to the mesa. My friends are there, texting me to come hang out with our classmates.

I drive up and park, but the moment I get there, my instincts scream.

Trey’s motorcycle is parked with the other guys’. That shouldn’t upset me. Not really.

But it does. I look around, trying to figure out what I’m aware of—why my wolf is snarling.

Pam, one of my best friends, jogs over to me, her face pinched. She grabs my arm. “Come on, we gotta get out of here.” She tugs me back toward my car.

“Why?”

“I’ll tell you later. Trust me, you don’t want to be here.”

I stop, the alarm bells ringing louder. “You have to tell me.” My words are hard and firm. The alpha female in me coming out and dominating my softer friend.

She glances over her shoulder. “Did you and Trey break up?” She sounds scared, like I’m going to tear her throat out for asking.

I blink back the tears that pop in my eyes the moment she asks the question. “Yeah, sort of. Why?”

She jerks her head. “He’s over there with Kaylee Ryder.”

A snarl leaves my throat. I march off in the direction Pam indicated, and she follows right on my heels.

Sure enough. Trey is lounging on a picnic table—our picnic table—with his arm slung around Kaylee, his hand resting on her ass. He holds a beer in his hand, which he uses to gesture as he tells some apparently fascinating story.

Kaylee hangs on every word, laughing.

That bi-atch.

It’s not a word I’ve ever even thought before, but right now, I’d like to tear a hole in Kaylee’s flank, sink my teeth into her hind leg and show her who’s the dominant wolf.

But that’s not how things work. I’m in human form and the instinct for physical retribution must be resisted.

Oh fuck that.

I march forward and shove Trey’s chest. I don’t know what reaction I expect, but he doesn’t move, nor does he look particularly surprised or upset to see me. His ice blue eyes watch me, unreadable.

I draw a fist back and clock him in the jaw. He grunts and rubs his face, still not offering me a single word, not a single reaction.

“Jerk-off,” I mutter. “You’ll regret this.” I turn and stomp off as Pam gives him one more searing glare before following me.

When I get back home, all I can do is throw up. And when there’s nothing left to heave, I flop onto my bed and plan his destruction.

Trey

I’m completely numb on the ride back to my apartment. I don’t even remember getting here. All I know is I just made history repeat itself. I just broke Sheridan’s heart again.

Or did she break mine?

I’m not even sure what happened back there.

How this day went so sideways.

I only know it’s going to get worse when my phone rings and it’s a Phoenix area code.

“Yeah?” I pull out my surliest tone. It’s fucking past midnight. Whoever’s calling, it’s not going to be good.

I’m right.

An icy voice says, “Trey Robson? This is Mr. Green. Sheridan’s father.”

I take a deep breath. “What do you want?” I ask, even though I know. I had a conversation just like this with the asshole twelve years ago.

“I’m calling with a warning. Stay away from my daughter. You damn near ruined her life once, and I’ll be damned if I allow it again.”

“With all due respect,” I say, even though he doesn’t deserve anything, “Sheridan is a grown wolf. She makes her own decisions.”

“That’s why I’m calling. She doesn’t want to contact you. I’ve spoken with her, and she’s coming back home first thing.”

I let my hand drop, the phone still squawking. Green goes on about shutting down the fight club, hunting down leeches and bringing the Tucson pack back in line, but after a minute, there’s nothing but the ache in my chest, the rushing in my ears.

I fought so long, and so hard, and I’m right back to where I was: letting Sheridan Green go. Letting her ruin my life.

Rip out my heart.

Again.

Sheridan

I mope around the tiny casita, my body feeling twice as heavy and four times as lumbering as usual. It’s because my wolf is on strike. She didn’t want to get out of bed at all today.

I haven’t taken anyone’s calls—not my dad’s, not my mom’s, not Trey’s. I listen to their voice messages, but they change nothing.

Trey apologized, but still won’t own that my life is mine to choose. My dad is still insisting I get back up to Phoenix. And of course, he’s recruited my mom toward that effort.

I grab a tissue and blow my nose, checking my face in the mirror. I look like hell. My eyes are red from crying and there are dark circles under them from lack of sleep.

I get a message from Alpha Green that he and my dad are planning to attend the Tucson pack meeting tonight, and he wants a full report before he gets there.

Well, tough shit. I’m not putting myself between the two packs any more. It was unwise of me to take this job in the first place, especially considering the history. But then, that’s probably why I took it. I thought I was going to march in and show Trey what he missed out on, but really, I just wanted Trey. And I needed closure.

Now I have both but we’re full circle again. Trey pushing me away, believing he’s not good enough. Willing to damage us both in the name of protecting me.

Well, if he can’t pull his head out of his ass, it’s his loss. I’m not his clay to mold.

My wolf howls in protest, though. His mark throbs on my neck.

Screw it. I go to the closet and get dressed. I need to get out of this space before my wolf goes nuts.

I need to go back to the place Trey took me to run on the anniversary of Zach’s death.

To heal in the desert.

Trey

The air at the fight club is old, stale. It’s been only a day since the club was shut down.

Damn, this place is a dump. No wonder Sheridan hates it. A part of me is embarrassed she ever saw it, but it was her fault. I didn’t ask her to come sniffing around me, waking up my wolf, bringing everything full circle. Try as I might, I don’t hate her. I hate myself.

Gravel crunches outside and I tense until I scent Jared. My best friend tromps inside, ignoring the police tape.

“Hey,” I greet him.

He stops and puts his hands in his pocket. “How long you gonna mope around like a pupper who lost his favorite stuffed animal?”

‘What the fuck, man?” My fists clench. “I dare you to come closer and say that to my face.”

Jared shrugs. “I would, but you’re still looking a little beat up. What’s wrong, man, not healing as fast?”

“You know it takes longer when there’s internal damage. Fucker got my ribs.” Didn’t hurt as much as Grizz’s betrayal.

“Yeah, about him. You want to sic the pack on him, make him pay?”

“Nah. Whatever the leeches got on him to make him theirs, it’s worse punishment than we can ever dish out.”

Jared shrugs again, as if he doesn’t care either way. “And Sheridan? What you gonna do about her? Besides lie around and cry.”

“Fuck you, man. I remember what you were like with Angelina.”

“Yeah, and now I have a gorgeous mate and get laid every night. What’s the deal, bro? This is the second time you’ve gotten torn up over this she-wolf.” My friend cocks his head to the side, suddenly serious. “She’s the one, isn’t she?”

I blow out a breath. “Yeah. I... actually already marked her. But...”

“But what?”

I cast an impatient hand around the place. “What do I have to offer her? A shitstorm of no good, same as always.”

Jared cocks a brow. “Don’t you think you’re selling her a little short? Her parents may be snobby assholes, but Sheridan never was. You think she would’ve been slinging drinks here or prancing into vampire territory if she didn’t love slumming it with you?”

I grimace at his choice of words and shrug.

“Dude. You have to go and get her.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It is that simple. You’re a fucking wolf. You gave her your mark. That means she’s yours. If she can’t put up with you, chain her to your bed and give her orgasms until she changes her mind.”

Jared’s crude advice forces a reluctant smile from me.

My dick is fully on board with the plan.

Fully.

On board.

Tying Sheridan up would give me a chance to explore all the naughty costumes she has in her closet. Maybe I’d let her go only when she promised to model them for me. “Of course, she might kill me when my back is turned.”

“That’s what the orgasms are for, dumbass.” Jared rolls his eyes. “Get her sweet, keep her sweet. Add a little playful punishment; before you know it, she’s begging for your dick.” My friend puts his arms behind his head with the smug smile of a man who’s getting it and getting it often. “Then, you train her to give head.”

Sheridan, tied and begging, opening her hot little mouth. Aww, fuck, now I’m hard as stone. “That’s not a bad idea, actually.”

“Told you I’m a genius.”

“Wait,” I sigh. “What about the pack?”

“What about it?”

“This is Sheridan. Everyone remembers what she did to us. Garrett hasn’t even forgiven her, and she’s his cousin.”

“Garrett mated a human. Remember how we took it at first? Didn’t exactly lay out the welcome mat.” He shrugs. “The way I see it, you want this female, you claim her. Lay it out and make sure she has your back like you got hers. Things will work out with the pack.”

“Think so?”

He shrugs again. “Anything is better than having you bum around like you’re PMSing.”

“Fuck you.” I flip him off, but I do it with a smile.

“No, thanks, bro. That’s Angelina’s job,” Jared smirks, and adds while I groan, “Pack meeting tonight at the club. Garrett wanted to make sure you knew. You haven’t been answering your phone.”

“It’s off.” I pull it out and wave it before powering it up. “Just needed some space.”

“Yeah, I get it.” Jared claps me on the back. “Welcome back to the land of the living.”

“Thanks.” I wave him out and square my shoulders. Now I just have to figure out how to fix this shit with Sheridan.

Once and for all.