He shook hands with Mabel’s parents and left, following behind his father. Lucas glanced back at the house, unable to resist one last, lingering look, and happened to see the window. The curtain dropped, but he’d caught sight of her. Gritting his teeth, he held his hand up and waved.

She did nothing.

To many within the pack, they were sympathetic about what he was going through. There weren’t many records of mates being separated at all once they felt that heated spark between them. When mates finally found each other, it was impossible to be apart. They craved one another from touch to each other’s company. He’d been kept in the dark on everything. Wanting what he couldn’t have. Mabel came and went, and each time he saw her, she never seemed affected.

The full moons were the worst. Where mates came together, running with each other in the wild, he and his wolf trotted to a spot and stared up at the moon, missing their mate. He’d never felt depression or loneliness like this before.

She still felt the heat between them, even now. He knew it.

Mabel had felt it. She still did, he was sure of it, but their past got in the way. The truth was he fucking hated this. His father had always been proud of him. He’d never once failed his father and always proved to be an exemplary alpha-to-be. Now, though, he couldn’t even get the woman who was supposed to be his.

Duke stopped and turned toward him. “I want you to come here every single day. Bring flowers or chocolates. I don’t care. You get the opportunity to talk to her, you do it.”

“Dad, that’s not…”

“I’m your Alpha right now, son. Do you even know what is at stake right now? She has all but dismissed you.”

“It’s her right to do so.”

“Never in all the years of my being leader of this pack, or your grandfather, or your great-grandfather has a mate refused to become one with her mate. You think I don’t see the strain it has on you? The need to just be near her? I saw you the last time she was here. You snuck out just to catch a glimpse of her.”

“I’m doing fine.”

“And if she leaves again, what then?”

He didn’t have any answers.

“Then you will do as I say.”

“Bombarding her isn’t going to win her over, Dad. I know this woman.”

“Yeah, well, maybe it is time you started to really get to know her. Had I known you targeted one of our pack, I would have warned you, son. As it is, I’m trying to fix your mess before that girl figures out there’s a loophole that can demand she leave you.”

“What?” he asked.

“Figure it out.”