an

r and the soft creak of the wooden floor under my feet. I reached for a

when I

ric awareness crawling up

was. His presence filled the room like hea

's rude to stare?" I asked

irk in his voice when he r

taring at my mat

he glass nearly sli

, and there he

very thought running through my head. There was a quiet confidence in

k, my mother's voic

just he

er, panic flash

m,

a teasing tone that

sed to find h

e hadn't heard what he really said - b

ing the glass down a little too ha

t loud like it wasn't

called after me,

eded

of rain and sand. I walked to the pool and sat at

ys found peace around water -

mess in my chest. Mate. The word

him I knew. The connection was t

want your mum t

- calm, curious.

immediately. O

y too much to ask? I thou

feel his warmth even through the night air

nd my name isn't ginger," I sai

ed out a cigarette, placing it between his lip

one sharper than I intended,

haled - directly at me, his eyes boring in

, the broken glass, the burn of pain as blood ran down m

muttered, push

harsh - it was teasing, he was enjoying this. "If y

fr

my mate. Wha

are? Not ev

it look like I care? I'd have prefer

t of anger - before his jaw tightened. He took a step c

oftly, almost like a warning, but there was no ven

ow, threatening already? You're really na

ol to mistake

wouldn

quiet rush of the wind, the reflection of the moo

back even though I could feel his eyes on me -

*

her before

Warm.

my wolf, Kyle, practicall

a

like thunder, and for a sec

reckles dusting her cheeks, hazel eyes that looked lik

around with, but I couldn't tell exactly because of the

barely heard a thing. All I could think about was how good

ne glance - and Kyle growled so loud

u

did when he got possessive b

mething about unpacking, and I could

u

unter, half-asleep, filling a glass with water. Her shirt hung off one s

st the doorway

t's rude to stare?" she s

mir

taring at my mat

lips parted, like she wanted to speak but

oke the silence, saving

out to the pool. She sat there, legs in the water, m

r mum to know ginger?"

aring ahead. I pul

e muttered, voice

s I ever on

the smoke curl into the air - and m

saw the flicker in her eyes - somet

murmured, quieter

I pushed, just to see how

ering a sharp "fuck you,

ht her

contact was electric, her sc

out," I said, low enough for only

it look like I care? I'd have preferr

u

ng more than

r flinch. "Careful. You talk to me like that ag

iling the whole s

she turned and left, and for the first time,

wasn't whispe

s cla