Nathan frowned as Violet mumbled an excuse and left the trailer. He didn’t know why, but suddenly something had changed. Maybe she just needed some time to herself.

His wolf whined unhappily.

Jeez, buddy. She’s not going to Africa, he admonished. But still, there was a creeping feeling in his chest he couldn’t ignore. What could be wrong? Why did chicks act so weird sometimes?

A thought popped into his head. Weren’t girls always talking about commitment and defining relationships and shit? Maybe that was why she was worked up today. He didn’t know where they stood either, but he was pretty sure from now on she would be the only woman for him.

“That’s it.”

Violet wasn’t feeling secure about them. They never did have that conversation before they had sex. She knew about his past, about all the women. Now, she only had to see that she was his only future.

He knew what he had to do. A grand gesture or some shit like that. To show her he was serious about her.

It took him all afternoon to think of a plan, but he figured it all out. He couldn’t wait to tell Violet.

“Huh.” He glanced up at the clock. She’d been gone for hours. Where could she be? He got up from his desk and walked out of the office. Her trace scent was in the air, and he followed his nose, leading him down to one part of the cave they still hadn’t explored. Dr. Philipps had said it had the potential to be a particularly rich vein. Of course that was where she’d be, he thought with a smile. He kept walking until he saw a small figure looking up at the wall.

“Fascinating,” she exclaimed as she looked up at a large chunk of blackstone stuck in the glittering nitride londaleite.

“Violet?”

She jumped at the sound of his voice, then turned around. “Nathan. Thank God it’s you.”

“Who else would it be?” he asked as he came closer. “Baby, it’s nearly six p.m.”

She blinked. “I didn’t realize I was gone that long.”

“Well, it’s time to go. C’mon, let’s go back to your hotel.”

“Good idea,” she said as they walked out of the cave system.

He grinned at her. “Glad you think so. I’ll help you pack up and check out and then we can grab some burgers at the diner.”

She stopped short. “Excuse me?”

“Or would you prefer pizza?”

Turning to face him, she put her hands on her hips. “What do you mean pack up and check out?”

“So you can come home with me,” he said. “To our place.”

“Our place?” she echoed.

“Yeah, my place. Our place. It’s all the same now. Now come on—”

“I’m not moving into your loft.”

He must have heard her wrong. “Of course you are. Let’s go.”

“How dare you!” She shrugged his hand off her.

“Violet.” His voice turned low and serious. “You’re my mate.”

“No, I’m not. We haven’t even experienced the mating bond.”

“So? In time we will.” He was sure of it. Jason had said he’d know it when it happened. “Violet, I’m trying to be romantic here.”

“Romantic?” she scoffed. “How is this romantic? What makes you think I want to move in with you? I hardly know you.”

Her words slashed at him and made his wolf whimper. How could she even say that? Sure, it had been less than a week since they met, but he knew who she was. His mate. A muscle ticked along his jaw.

“Nathan let’s be practical.” That cool expression settled on her face. “There’s no reason for me to just pack up and live with you when I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

Blood pounded in his temples. “Leaving?”

“I’ve been saying that since the beginning. I’m only here on a temporary basis. I have plans and—”

“Right.” His voice turned cold. That’s right; she wasn’t going to stay in Blackstone. He’d been stupid to think she would change her mind just because they slept together.

“Nathan, you should know—”

He cut her off. “Of course. I understand. You do have bigger and better things to do than stay in this sad little town, right?” He remembered how it rankled him, the way she breezed into Blackstone and turned her nose up, telling everyone she only here temporarily and rubbing it in his face that she was leaving soon.

“I never called it sad,” she protested. “But I can’t stay here.”

His wolf begged him to make her change her mind, but his bruised ego wouldn’t let him. “I wish you well then.” He pivoted and turned around.

“Nathan! Wait! Can we—”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He didn’t want to hear what she had to say. Not when the pain in his chest was making him want to tear up everything in sight.

After what they’d been through, he thought things would be different. He had thought Violet put up frosty mask to hide her hurt and trauma. But no; he was wrong. It was the complete opposite. It wasn't a mask.

She really was an unfeeling bitch.