Chloe smiled, genuinely happy for her brother. “Good, I’m glad. She’s all right that you came to visit me?” The guys had shown up on her doorstep with burgers and grins, but they couldn’t hide their concern. Somehow they’d known she was depressed and in pain, and had ridden to her rescue.
“She’s fine.” The look that came over Ryan’s face was priceless. The sheer joy when Glory’s name was mentioned, the way he just lit up when he thought about his mate, made Chloe so happy for him. He deserved the happiness he’d found, and so did Glory. “She had some appointments this afternoon, so she’s busy, plus she knows if she calls I’ll come running.”
And Chloe didn’t begrudge Glory that one little bit. She’d seen one of Glory’s panic attacks and knew how rough they could be. Glory sometimes needed Ryan just to breathe. Literally. The panic attacks made her hyperventilate. She’d passed out twice that Chloe knew of, all due to her inability to breathe without her mate.
“Speaking of running, heard anything from Jim?” Alex’s smile was sweet, but it didn’t fool Chloe for one little minute. Out of all of them, Alex was the one most likely to begin ripping arms off if he felt Chloe was being mistreated. “Rumor has it he’s been hiding from everyone, even Max and Emma.”
Oh, that couldn’t be good. Chloe tried to beat back the sudden panic that assaulted her. “He’s not taking well to becoming a shifter?” Jim had been attacked by a rogue Wolf, bitten and changed against his will. He hadn’t even been aware that shifters existed before then, and not everyone who was changed could handle it, especially when it happened in such a traumatic fashion. If Jim turned out to be one of those few who couldn’t deal with it he’d be…dealt with.
Chloe shuddered. She couldn’t bear the thought of something happening to Jim.
“I don’t know. He’s gone again.” Alex winced when Chloe accidentally let loose a distressed yip. “I don’t know what’s going on, all right? I was hoping he’d contacted you.”
Ryan patted her hand. “Now that he’s one of us he should be feeling the mating pull. The mate dreams should be hitting him hard.”
“Yeah, he should succumb to your charms soon.” Julian winked. “We just have to lock the two of you in a closet together and let nature take its course.”
Oh yeah. That would go over real well. “In the dictionary under ‘stubborn’ is Jim’s stricture.”
Again, that rapid blinking as the guys processed what she’d said.
Chloe propped her head in her hands. “This sucks monkey balls.”
Ryan ruffled her hair. “Anyone who knows you accepts that this is a part of you, kiddo.”
“Yeah, don’t let it get you down.” Julian hugged her. “Trust me, it could have been a lot worse.”
“You mean I could be dead?” Chloe groaned. Man, she sounded like a Sad Sue, and she really wasn’t. At least, not most of the time. “Sorry, it’s just…”
“We understand. You’re missing your mate.” Ryan’s tone was sympathetic. While Glory had denied their mating for months, at least Ryan had been able to see her every day. Chloe didn’t have that luxury. Jim was gone with the wind, but she’d think about that tomorrow. For now, she had to bring her spirits back up, and talking about her absent mate was no way to do that.
She’d get her Wolf if she had to tranquilize his ass and carry him off to some remote location where he wouldn’t be found for weeks. She’d tie him to a bed and have her wicked way with him…
And get arrested for felony kidnapping. Let’s face it, Chloe, you don’t have the best luck with men.
Ugh. Chloe pounded her head on the table.
“Don’t let it get you down.” Alex’s big hand stopped her from giving her forehead a huge-ass bruise. “We’ll figure out a way to get you mated off.”
She lifted her head and stared at him. “You’re going to offer Jim some goats and a sheaf of wheat?”
“I was thinking you’re worth at least a cow or two, but it’s negotiable.”
Chloe giggled. “Asshole.”
The boys dog-piled on her, careful not to hurt her, and tickled her until she cried uncle.
Once the big lugs got off of her she sat up and pushed her hair off her forehead. Breathless and happy, she gasped, “I hate you all.”