“What?” Was he serious? Why did she need to go find her parents? Did he want permission from them before he deflowered her or something? Just, ick.
He turned his gaze toward her again. “Go home, Kathleen. I can’t stand you being here. It’s too much for me to handle. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself around you.”
Her face flushed. She felt the line of heat as it ran down her neck and across her chest. What the fuck was the matter with him? His words were a jumbled mess of confusion. Go home? Was he dismissing her? Her eyes filled with tears. She would not cry in front of him.
Fine. If he wanted to be a jackass, she could play that game too. “Fuck you,” she said. Her voice quivered. Her tears barely stayed at bay.
He grinned. The asshole. “That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid. I’ll go back to Houston in a few weeks, and I promise not to return for at least four years. Okay?” His voice had lowered. His tone was less condescending, gentle. His words were not. What the hell? Was he hoping in the next four years she’d find another mate so he wouldn’t have to claim her? Could that even happen? She felt like she was now going to be destined to live life alone at his rejection.
Without another word, she turned and nearly jogged down the hall toward the front door. She stepped out into the night and around the corner of the building to hide against the wall. The last thing she wanted was to face anyone in her family.
As far as she knew, her parents were still oblivious. Her younger sister, Cassidy, was with her friends. Her older sister, Mackenzie? Hell, she was probably in the car sulking. How ironic. Mackenzie had a fine man chasing her down today in effort to claim her, and she had no interest. Meanwhile Kathleen couldn’t get the man she was fated for to even give her a second glance. Life was cruel.
Gabriel Albertson had just brushed her off like she was chopped liver. His mixed signals still made her shiver in confusion.
Why did he follow her if only to break her heart? He could have just left her alone and slipped away from the meeting. There was no need for him to add insult to injury by torturing her in the hall.
Had he been struggling to decide if he wanted to claim her? Perhaps he’d followed her so he could make a more informed decision. And she had not measured up.
Why did that make the tears on her cheeks fall so much faster? Fuck him.
Goddamnit. He hadn’t meant to be mean. Didn’t she understand he just wanted her to get a little older before he claimed her? No. Probably not. She obviously didn’t realize his intentions, and he’d just insulted the hell out of her. He thought back over his words and groaned. This was why he had avoided saying anything. Every time he was near her, his tongue got tangled, and stupid shit spilled from between his lips.
She was a teenager. Could she even drive? For whatever reason, she knew they were mates and her hormonal instinct had been one of awe. She’d wanted him to take her. He’d hurt her badly by not doing so. But he wasn’t the kind of man who would take advantage of a young girl. Why couldn’t she see that? All she’d known was rejection.
Gabe adjusted his cock once more, his face flushing at the memory of her catching him with his dick in his palm. With long strides, he slunk down the hall and out the back of the building. He ambled toward the main house through the dark.
The large building used for these gatherings was more than enough space for the number of wolves who came every other year. There were plenty of smaller rooms for meeting, a few rooms comfortably arranged for private meetings—like the one he’d occupied when his world had turned upside down—and two large conference rooms for the evening parties.
Gabe knew the route by heart. He didn’t need lights. He picked his way across the gravel parking area and slipped in the back door of his parent’s home without notice. He didn’t turn on any lights. Instead, he climbed the back staircase and headed straight for his room.
His mother hadn’t touched a thing in his old room. It was like a shrine to his high school years. All three kids had rooms like this. When would she decide to redecorate? It wasn’t as though he needed the space often enough to warrant keeping it. Right now, it was comforting though. He stripped off his suit and climbed into the double bed. At his size, he barely fit, even alone. He missed his own California King at his downtown apartment in Houston.
Two weeks. Could he get out of staying here for that long? He’d been excited about the prospect on Friday when he’d driven to town, but that had been yesterday. Now, he couldn’t imagine occupying the same twenty-mile radius as his intended mate. What if he ran into her in town or something? How long would he be able to beg off leaving the house to avoid her?