Werewolf Compilations novel Chapter 87

Noah is one of the boys who enjoy the gathering, as I said. They talk to girls, laugh, enjoy being together. They're the boys who get into trouble and rant about having to become a guard or anything below leadership. They're the boy's girls want to be mated to.

I can see why. Noah seems likable; he's handsome, he has a sweet smile. If I were any other girl, I would be pleased to be his mate.

"Hope you didn't wait too long."

I shake my head. "No." He gazes off into the trees, and I struggle to conjure up a conversation. Talking to him is harder than talking to girls like Stacey. "So. You don't have a Mate?"

What a lousy way to start things off. The obvious choice, but clearly a delicate topic. It only takes me a second to regret the question, but I can't help but be curious about it. There is nothing wrong with Noah on the surface, so I'm assuming she didn't reject him. Maybe he rejected her.

He lets out a nervous laugh and I want to dash off. It's too late. I've already ruined things. "Well, she actually—she died."

My body sinks into the ground. What have I done?

I swallow and knot my fingers together in my lap. "Oh," I murmur, "oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Sorry."

"No," he brushes it off, "it's alright. You didn't know. It's been two years, so don't worry too much about it. It's not a fresh wound."

I nod. "How old are you?"

"I'm twenty. I found her when I was eighteen, and she died a few days after. I didn't really know her if that's why you're asking."

A few days. I want to ask how she died, but I know that it would be crossing the line. "Wow," I say, not knowing what else to say, "that's terrible."

Noah nods, and we look forward for a bit before he says, "So. You have a Mate?"

"Uh, yeah," I say as if I'm lying. "I do."

"Does he belong to this pack?"

I suppose it's only fair to talk about James since I asked about his Mate, but I know I can't tell him the entire truth. "He doesn't. He belongs to the Grant Pack."