Though I heard what Quinn said, it didn’t sit well with me. “You’re my mate.” I huffed. “How could you deny me?”

He brushed my hair away from my face and tried to force me to look at him, but instead my chin jutted out, and I refused. “Hey, you’re my mate, but you won’t look at me.” He spoke quietly, and even though I hated him just a little bit at the moment, his voice still caressed my soul. “Talk to your Aunt Jo. Maybe she can explain, since you don’t want to listen to me.” Quinn rolled over on his back and sighed.

I slid out of bed, taking the sheet with me. If he didn’t want to make it official, then he didn’t get to see me naked anymore. My eyes stung with unspent tears as I walked around to the other side of the bed. I planned to collect my clothes and leave. Being near him was the absolute last thing I wanted at the moment.

“Where are you going, Savvy?” He sat up and seemed alarmed, given the higher pitch of his voice.

Even though it pained me, I had to sniffle. The overwhelming loss of losing my parents and now possibly my mate had hit me in the gut all at once. While I’d trained myself to hold back the tears over the years, my nose would still run and give me away every time. I leaned over to scoop up my clothes, and then I strode angrily to the bathroom and slammed the door behind me. Once inside, I locked it, too, for good measure. I didn’t want him to even attempt to come near me until I was good and ready. Then I focused on breathing because I didn’t have time to be sad, nor did I like the way it made me feel, which was weak. Instead, I preferred to stick to rage. As far as I was concerned, being royally pissed made me more productive and a force to be reckoned with. I didn’t need anyone’s pity.

All I had to do to channel my fury was take a look in the mirror. My eyes appeared bloodshot. My face was flushed. Hell, I was so upset my hands were shaking. So many signs of weakness. If my pack had seen this, I’d have been challenged for sure. This…these emotions were why no female had ever been Alpha before. The shoes I had to fill were huge. And while my father had my mother, I had been reminded once more that I had no one.

I could feel my wolf growling. I know. He’s an idiot. We don’t need him.

She whined in response. The pacing nearly made me nauseous. Yet another reason to loathe the man who’d made me want him, only to rip the option away. What a douche.

In less than a minute, I had dressed and washed my face with cool water. No way would I walk out looking remotely upset. Time to leave him wanting me. I rearranged the girls so they appeared even perkier and fuller than normal. After finger combing my hair and fluffing it, I opened the door. Gathering the sheet from the bathroom floor, I carried it to the bedroom and then tossed it on the comforter before marching toward the bedroom door.

“Savvy,” Quinn moaned. “Please talk to me. Don’t leave like this.” He frowned, but more than that, his eyes looked sadder than I’d ever seen them—not that I had much to go on.

“Pass. I have to get back to the pack,” I announced coolly.

Without hesitation, he hopped off the bed and rushed over to me. Quinn held my biceps. “I mean it. Don’t leave yet. You have no idea how much this pains me.”

My brow shot up. “Oh, I think I have some idea.” Then I used one of the martial arts self-defense moves my father had taught me to remove first one hand and then the other from my arms. His face momentarily registered his shock, and then with a grin, he used his body to block the door. “Move or I’ll move you,” I snarled.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Hear me out and then I’ll let you go. I don’t understand why you’re so upset anyway.” Quinn anxiously raked a hand through his hair.

My eyes narrowed. “You don’t know why I’m upset?” I blew out a breath as a whistle. “That’s rich. You reject me and expect me to be happy about it?” I leaned close. “I was better off before you. I was happier. I don’t need you.”

Quinn shrugged. “You kinda do, though.” He flinched like he expected me to hit him.

Sometimes, I responded with violence, but not now and not with him. “How’s that?”

“I heard what Shelby said. I know you need a mate. I’m sorry I’m not ready.” He closed his eyes for a split second and winced.

I knew his wolf was fighting him, and this gave me an immense amount of pleasure. I pursed my lips. “Continue.” My status had been brought up, I might as well act the part. Currently, I felt downright regal.

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not sure I ever will be.”

I shrugged. “So be it. Have your builder at my site on Monday morning.”

“I’ll be there at eight in the morning.” Quinn nodded vigorously while he rubbed his chest.

Wow his wolf was really letting him have it. I shook my head. “Not you. The builder. I don’t want to see you again.”

He swallowed hard. “Ever?”

I looked off into the distance while tapping my chin as I contemplated his question. “Ever. I can’t think of a situation where we’d ever be forced to interact. You’re a rogue. I doubt our paths will cross again.”

“But...you need me,” he whispered.

My brow furrowed. “Do I?” I stepped closer, determined to torture him. No doubt his wolf was losing it right now. Mine sure was. Of course, through the years, I’d learned to control her. I’d been in heat countless times and never succumbed to anyone’s charms.

Quinn’s eyes widened. “Next moon.” He rubbed his forehead. “Your wolf…”

With a sigh, I pasted on my face the bored look I’d cultivated in high school. “If it’s too bad, I’ll take a lover. I’m sure my aunt has had at least one through the years.” In less than a week, the full moon would loom over us. While it had signaled a night of running free with the pack in the past, this time the moon would drive me to mate with Quinn, now that we’d found each other. Unless he came around, this would never happen.

Finally, Quinn stepped aside, and I smoothly sashayed past him, but he stopped me. “Your pack,” he mumbled.

I tapped my foot. “Yes, I believe you mentioned this before. I get it. I heard you.” Holding out my hand, I prepared to tick off his words. “You’re not ready. You might never be ready. Did I miss something? Because this is why I’m leaving. This is why we’ll be strangers to each other from now on.” I sighed and started down the hall, but he grabbed my wrist.

Holding it in both of his own, Quinn rubbed the back of my hand with his thumbs. “I don’t want to be strangers.”

“Tough,” I gritted out. His touch had my wolf howling again.

Moving closer to me, he repositioned so he could cup my face. “I’m not ready for a mating, but I’m not ready to let you go either.”

I twisted out of his grasp. “You can’t have it both ways, and I refuse to waste my energy holding out for someone who might never come around. It’s cruel to me and our wolves.”

“Can’t you give me time?” he pleaded. “Can’t you let me figure it out?” His head hung. “I’m happier with you than without you. And you need me too. You want your pack to accept you, so you need a mate.” Quinn set his jaw and stared down at me.

“I’m not sure I do.” My face grew hot with anger. “See, I won my position without you, before I even knew you. I don’t need a mate or a man to legitimize my claim to the pack.” My eyes narrowed, and I closed the distance between us. “Oh, and just because we’re supposed to be mated, doesn’t mean I can’t choose someone else. Do you think no one will want me?” I laughed in his face. “You should already know that’s not true.”

Quinn swallowed hard. “Tanner?” His voice sounded strained.

“Doesn’t matter. If it’s not you, you don’t have a say, you don’t get to judge. Remember, when you’re here without me, you could’ve had a different life.” Then I threw my hands in the air. “I’m leaving. I’m done trying to talk sense into you.” I spun on my heel and made it all of two steps. Then he scooped me up in his arms.

“I’m not ready to let you go. I mean it. I’m not leaving you alone. I’m not going to disappear.” He bent his head and pressed his lips to mine.

Immediately, my lids lowered, and I welcomed the tingles his kiss inspired. As my wolf whimpered, I couldn’t help but wonder if Quinn felt them too. Soon he released my lips and rested his chin on the top of my head. Listening intently, I discovered his breathing sounded ragged. I bit my cheek to hide my smile. “I don’t do limbo,” I warned.

Pulling back to stare at me, Quinn frowned. “The walking under the broom handle thing?”

“No, living a half-life.” I shook my head. “I’m an all or nothing kind of girl.”

Licking his lips, he nodded. “I understand. Do I have to decide tonight?”

“You have until the full moon.” I stared at him evenly, watching his reaction.

“That long? Wow. Thanks.” He chuckled, but I could feel his relief. Quinn wrapped his arms around me. “So now you’ll stay?” He grinned hopefully.

I laughed. “Oh, no. I still go, but this time, you’ll see me again.”