Chapter 5

Nate

"My dear boy!" Theresa exclaimed, sweeping in and catching Nate in a tight hug.

Nate hugged his mother back just as tightly, leaning over and putting his nose into her hair. The smell of her comforted him. Her warm cinnamon scent reminded him of days spent eating cookies and playing on swings. Reminded him of why he left in the first place. What he had promised to protect.

"I've missed you so much, Nathaniel." She pulled back and narrowed her gaze on him, then pointed a finger at him warningly. "Don't you dare leave me like that again."

Nate chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it, Mom."

Theresa's long brown hair cascaded effortlessly down her back. She appeared as young as ever—barely passing for 35, though she was far from it. Her hazel eyes still held that mischievous spark and her skin was a unique, year-round tan only achieved through genetics.

Pride welled up in Nate. His mom was strong. She was able to go through the anguish of losing her mate and continue on with her life for her sons.

Theresa grabbed him by the upper arm and coaxed him through the living room—which was shockingly empty—and passed the kitchen to the back door.

Nate glanced over to Marcus, who followed them. He gave Nate a smirk that told him he wasn't going to like what was coming.

The pack house was almost never this quiet. There were always people talking and children running amuck. Which could only mean—

"Surprise!" a chorus of voices yelled together.

Nate took in the numerous people around him. His shocked expression turned into a bemused look. He turned towards Marcus. "Why the hell didn't you warn me?"

Marcus shrugged, his smile consuming his face. "Welcome home."

And welcomed he was. Nate was immediately swallowed into the crowd as people greeted him and showed their happiness at having their Alpha back. He greeted all of them back politely, recognizing most, if not all of them. Some, he was glad to see. Others he wanted to smash through windows.

But either way, they were all his pack, and he would rather be here with his pack and the people he loved than anywhere else.

It wasn't until later that he finally got to sit down and eat. With a suppressed sigh, he fell into a fold-up chair set up in the backyard and dug into his cheeseburger. So what if it was almost 9pm. When wolves were hungry, they ate.

Alone at last.

"Nate!" a voice squeaked.

Damn.

Nate shoved the rest of his cheeseburger down his throat and readied himself to face the beast.

"Nate, there you are!" A cute looking brown-haired girl sat down next to him.

He barely held back the growl at being bothered. Anyone but her would've been better.

"My dad told me you were coming back the other day and I couldn't wait for you to get here," she said, barely containing her excitement.

Most of the females in the pack had changed drastically over the past few years. With their newly developed she-wolf bodies, they definitely were a great sight. Long legs, smooth skin, delicate features, they often had the whole package.

But not her.

He almost shuddered as she fluttered her lashes flirtatiously. Instead of turning him on, her actions only made him want to retch up the burger he just ate. He couldn't get the image of her as a gangly fourteen-year-old out of his head.

"Ashley." Nate tried at politeness, though that was the last thing he wanted to be. "How are you?"

She beamed. "I've been great. It's just been kind of hectic since you left, you know? I missed you."

Nate couldn't say the same. He'd always hated the way Ashley had latched onto his arm as a kid. He could never shake her off. As they grew up, he figured she'd find someone else to crush on, but no. Still the same painfully obvious crush. That, or it was the power he'd grown into. Female wolves tended to gravitate toward those with dominant traits. Whether they meant to or not, they searched for a mate who could offer protection.

Either way, she was definitely someone he did not miss at all.

"Yeah," he said awkwardly, scratching his head. "I can't imagine how things were while I was gone."

She shrugged her slender shoulders. "It was okay. Marcus ran a pretty tight ship. But it's great to have you back. It'll be fun to go out on the weekends and be the life of the party." Her smile couldn't be any bigger.

"Uh..." Nate had to break it to her. "Ashley, none of that is going to happen," he said bluntly, ripping off her disillusionment in one big swoop.

Her smile dropped. "What?" she asked sharply, her crystal blue eyes narrowing in confusion and disbelief. "Why?"

"I'm twenty-three. An Alpha. I have duties. I can't go frolicking around as much anymore. This pack needs someone dedicated to keeping things running and people safe. Me going to parties is not going to get that done."

"We're not going to party all weekend, silly." Ashley waved the notion away. "But I do expect us to go out on Fridays, at least."

Nate pressed his lips into a thin line, his patience starting to wear down. "Ashley, you're not getting it."

She shook her head as if shaking away the doubt. "Of course I get it. How are we supposed to be a couple if we never go on a real date?"

He almost burst out laughing. "What?"

Ashley giggled and leaned back in her chair. "Come on, Nate. We all know the real reason why you came back. You came back for me. Just like I said you would."

That was not the reason he'd finally come home. Although, he'd be lying if he said he hadn't felt a pull to come home. The past year he'd been following a nearly impossible-to-find trail, itching to return to the pack.

Okay. That was it. He had to rip it off like a band-aid. "Ashley. We. Are. Not—"

"Nathaniel!" Theresa's voice jumped out from the crowd. His mother showed up next to the table where they sat. "Come on, honey, we have cake."

Without giving him any time to argue, she grabbed his arm and dragged him back into the rush.