Chapter 12

Devin paced around the house like a caged animal. He didn’t dare go outside, because he knew exactly where he’d end up. Why did I have to kiss her? Yes, she’d been in his arms, but it wasn’t a warm embrace that had put her there, it had been fear. The wolf inside had loved the fear and all parts of him had loved her body rubbing up against his own. He could still taste her, even after trying to brush the taste from his mouth. He could smell her too, almost as if her scent was the only one in the world. Muttering, he ran his hands through his hair in frustration, he could still remember how she’d felt against him, as if she were still there.

Had he been headed there intentionally before he heard her scream? Yes, dammit I was. When she’d screamed, he was close enough to reach her as she’d come charging out of the cabin. Devin looked over at the door. Stay inside. Get her out of your mind and the taste of her out of your mouth before you go out there. He snorted and looked down at the hard on that was still very much present. Yeah, forgetting her was going to be so easy. He couldn’t go outside because he knew he’d go to her. He couldn’t paint right now because he’d paint her image. He couldn’t even think right now because all he could think of was her. Growling, Devin spun around and headed into the kitchen, he wasn’t hungry or thirsty, just knew this was the only room with a window that he couldn’t possibly see her. The feeling that he was sunk hit him hard. He didn’t like it at all, but at least he was trying to admit to it.

He stopped in the middle of the room and turned around, not sure what he could do to stop from going back to a window to watch for her. Moaning in frustration, he sat down at the table and stared at the wall. Why did she have to come here? Devin scowled at the wall, soon realizing the idea of not meeting her bothered him just as much. It doesn’t have to change anything. She could work through what ever had brought her here and leave tomorrow. What had brought her here? He frowned at his thoughts this time. That would be just his luck, to find his mate, never have her and then she disappears into the darkness as quickly as she had appeared. He slapped his hand down on the table realizing it only annoyed him further that she had him this worked up. Dropping his head, he tried deep breathing to maintain some sort of calm.

Lifting his head, he squinted at the wall. He hadn’t been this annoyed or worked up in a long time, and so far, his wolf was under control. Had all the time he’d spent here actually worked? Devin thought about how he would have reacted with her and all the emotional turmoil a few years ago. He knew that he would have lost it, changed and torn something apart. “Congratulations, Devin. You’ve proved you control your wolf, finally.” He should have been elated with this discovery, but he wasn’t. Nothing changed the fact that he now had a mate, a too-near-to-him-mate that he couldn’t have. He smirked, remembering the kiss, okay, so he could have her most likely, but there would never be a true mating. For that to happen, she would have to know who and what he was and accept him, completely. Been there, done that, still have the psychological knife scars on my back. He snarled. He would not think about Leeann, he had enough to deal with right now. Of course, that had him thinking about Leann and, just for a bit of extra entertainment, he was now unintentionally comparing her to Rayne. Devin sighed, he even loved her name. Rayne. A dark summer storm had brought me Rayne.

The phone ringing jolted him back to reality, he lunged towards it. Hopefully whoever was calling would be a good distraction. His hand hovered over the phone and he jerked it back and groaned. He knew that number, and was in no mood to talk to his mother right now. No doubt his father had told her about their discussion and now mother would be planning the damn wedding reception.

When his mother’s voice came over the answering machine he was halfway to his studio. Love you mom, but I can’t cope with anything you feel the need to tell me right now. He should take some canvas and brushes and go on a hike, in the opposite direction where he couldn’t hear his mother calling. Because she would, again and again.