6. Cramp my style
2783 Words
Skye's P.O.V.
I stood in the kitchen of my house, the familiar scent of coffee and woodsmoke wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. I stared out the window, watching the wind rustle through the trees, trying to center myself. But no matter how hard I tried, my mind kept drifting back to the events of the day—the feel of Lila crashing into me, the shock in her gorgeous blue eyes, the way my inner wolf Cooper had roared to life, instantly recognizing her as our mate.
It was all I could do to keep from storming up to her room and make sure that everything was perfect for her arrival, which could be in a couple of minutes, but I knew I had to play it cool. The last thing I wanted was to freak her out. After all, it wasn’t every day that a werewolf found his one true mate, and I was still trying to wrap my head around it myself.
But before I could dwell too much on it, the front door slammed open, and my brother Blade sauntered in, his usual cocky grin in place. Blade, as people would call it, was my twin without us being actual twins. He was carefree, easygoing, and never one to take life too seriously. Which was exactly who I was before a particular redhead had crashed into me earlier today. But right now, Blade looked like he had a bone to pick.
“So, wanna explain why I got a text from you that there will be a chick sleeping upstairs in the guest room?” Blade asked me, dropping onto the couch and kicking his feet up on the coffee table.
“And why the hell didn’t you ask me first?”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I knew this conversation was coming, but I had hoped to have a little more time before dealing with my brother’s inevitable complaints.
“It’s not a big deal, Blade,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
“She needed a place to stay, and I wasn’t about to leave her out in the cold.”
Blade snorted, raising an eyebrow.
“Not a big deal? You’ve never brought a girl home before, Skye. Like, ever. And now you bring one over to stay with us without even giving me a heads-up? This is gonna be a serious c**k block for me, man.”
I clenched my jaw, feeling my temper start to rise. I knew Blade wasn’t trying to be difficult, but the whole situation was already complicated enough without my brother making things harder.
“She’s not just ‘some girl,’ Blade,” I said, my voice low and edged with frustration.
“She was in a bad situation, and she needed help. I wasn’t going to just turn her away. You would have done the same thing.”
Blade rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed.
“Bad situation, huh? Sounds like you’ve got yourself a damsel in distress. But seriously, Skye, what am I supposed to do? I can’t exactly bring girls home with her around. It’s gonna cramp my style, big time.”
I resisted the urge to growl, my wolf bristling at the thought of anyone else coming into the house and disrupting Lila’s peace. But I couldn’t exactly tell Blade the truth—that Lila was my one true mate, the one person I was destined to be with. The bond between mates was sacred, something not to be taken lightly, and I wasn’t ready to reveal it just yet—not to Lila, and definitely not to Blade.
“You’ll just have to deal with it,” I said, my tone firm.
“I’m not kicking her out, Blade. She stays here as long as she needs to. End of discussion.”
Blade frowned, sitting up and narrowing his eyes at me.
“You’re serious about this, aren’t you? What’s going on with you, man? You’ve never been this worked up over a girl before. Is she smoking hot or something? Is that it? Is this your way to get yourself laid?”
I looked away, my heart pounding. I couldn’t tell Blade the truth, not yet, but I couldn’t lie to him either. Instead, I settled for something close to the truth.
“She’s just been through a lot,” I said quietly.
“And I can’t just turn my back on her. Not after what she’s been through.”
Blade studied me for a long moment, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by something more thoughtful.
“You’re really serious about this, huh? This girl…she means something to you?”
I swallowed hard, his throat tight.
“Yeah, I do like her.”
Blade sighed, leaning back against the couch and rubbing his hands over his face in defeat.
“Alright, alright. I’ll back off. But you owe me, man. Big time.”
I managed a small smile, grateful that Blade was willing to let it go—for now, at least.
“Thanks, Blade. I appreciate it.”
Blade waved a hand dismissively.
“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t expect me to play the dutiful brother for too long. I’ve got a reputation to uphold with the ladies, you know.”
I chuckled, feeling some of the tension ease from his shoulders.
“Don’t worry, I won’t cramp your style any more than I have to.”
Blade grinned, but there was still a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
“So, what’s the plan, then? You’re gonna play ‘knight in shining armor’ and hope she falls for you? Or is there more to this than you’re letting on?”
I stiffened, feeling the weight of Blade’s question settle heavily on me. I wanted to tell my brother everything, to share the truth about what Lila really meant to me, but I honestly wasn’t sure how Blade would react to the news. The bond between mates was something sacred, something that went beyond mere attraction or affection. It was a connection on a soul-deep level, and I wasn’t sure how to explain that to someone like Blade, who had always treated relationships as nothing more than a game of s*x.
“I’m just…taking it one step at a time,” I finally said, my voice measured.
“Right now, she needs a friend. That’s all I’m focused on.”
Blade raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.
“Sure, if you say so. But you might want to be careful, Skye. You’re playing with fire, and I’ve never known you to do that before. Bringing a girl into our home to actually live here, it’s not a good idea.”
I didn’t respond, my mind too full of thoughts of Lila to argue further. I could only hope that Blade wouldn’t push too hard, at least not until I had figured out how to handle this delicate situation. For now, I needed to focus on keeping Lila safe and giving her the space she needed to heal. Everything else—like my own feelings, and the truth about our bond—could wait.
Blade sighed again, standing up and stretching.
“Alright, I’m gonna head out to the fire station for a bit. Give you some time to figure out whatever the hell this is. But remember, you owe me. Big time.”
I nodded, watching as Blade headed for the door.
“Thanks, Blade. I won’t forget.”
Blade gave me a lazy salute before disappearing out the door, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. My wolf was still on edge, anxious to be near Lila, but I forced Cooper to stay put. Lila needed rest, not an overprotective werewolf hovering around her. But even as I told myself that, I knew it was only a matter of time before I would need to tell her the truth. The bond between us was too strong to ignore, and sooner or later, Lila would have to know what we were to each other.
But for now, I would give her the space she needed. I would be there for her as a friend, as someone she could trust. And when the time was right, I would tell her everything. I just hoped that when that time came, Lila would be ready to accept it—and me.
I was right in the middle of stuffing the pillows on the sofa for the fourth time in a row, my mind wandering to thoughts of Lila, when the doorbell finally rang. The sound cut through the quiet of the house, sharp and insistent. I felt Cooper stir inside me, an immediate surge of protectiveness that made my heart race. Without thinking, I dropped the pillow onto the couch and headed for the door.
When I opened it, my heart skipped a beat. Standing on my front porch were Jenna, Jules, and Lila. But it was Lila who drew all of my attention. She was no longer in her wedding dress—thankfully—but in simple sweatpants and a sweater that somehow made her look even more vulnerable. Her eyes were red and puffy, and she had clearly been crying.
My chest tightened at the sight. All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and tell her everything would be alright. But I knew I had to tread carefully. Lila was fragile right now, and the last thing she needed was for me to overwhelm her.
“Hey,” I said softly, stepping aside to let them in.
“Come on in.”
Jenna and Jules filed in first, each of them giving me a look that felt like they were sizing me up. I noticed the knowing glances they exchanged, and I had a feeling they weren’t here just to drop Lila off. Lila came in last, her movements slow and hesitant. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with a sadness that nearly broke me in two.
“Hi,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. My wolf whined in his head, desperate to comfort her, to take away whatever pain she was feeling. But I knew I had to be careful. So instead, I forced myself to smile gently, nodding toward the staircase.
“Let me take you up to your room,” I offered.
“You’ll be more comfortable there.”
Lila nodded, her expression distant, as if she was only half-present. I led her upstairs, every step feeling like a struggle against the urge to reach out and touch her, to reassure her that she wasn’t alone. When we reached the guest room, I pushed the door open and stepped aside to let her in.
“Here we are,” I said, my voice low.
“If you need anything, I’ll be right downstairs.”
Lila hesitated in the doorway, her hand lingering on the doorframe. She glanced up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“Thank you, Skye,” she whispered, her voice cracking slightly.
“But…I think I just need to be alone for a little while.”
The words cut through me like a knife, but I nodded, forcing myself to respect her wishes.
“Of course. Take all the time you need.”
Lila gave me a small, grateful smile before stepping into the room and gently closing the door behind her. I stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door in front of me, my heart aching with the need to do something—anything—to help her. But I knew pushing her now would only make things worse.
With a heavy sigh, I turned and headed back downstairs. As I reached the bottom of the staircase, I was met with the sight of Jules and Jenna both sitting on the couch, looking like they were waiting for me. Jenna had a mischievous grin on her face, and Jules was smirking in a way that made my wolf immediately bristle.
“OK,” Jenna said, crossing her arms and leaning back against the cushions.
“Spill it.”
I raised an eyebrow, trying to play it cool.
“Spill what?”
“Oh, come on, Skye,” Jules said, rolling her eyes.
“Don’t play dumb. We’re not idiots.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I fought to keep my expression neutral.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Jenna leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
“Really? Because we happen to know that you’re a little more invested in Lila than you’re letting on. Like, oh, I don’t know, maybe you’ve already figured out she’s your one true mate?”
My breath caught in my throat. I stared at them, trying to figure out how they had pieced it together. Had I been that obvious? Or was it just their uncanny ability to read people?
“Who told you that?” I asked, my voice a little more defensive than I had intended.
Jules laughed, shaking her head.
“No one had to tell us, Skye. We can see it all over your face. And the way you’re acting around her? It’s like you’re ready to pounce on anyone who so much as looks at her wrong.”
“Not to mention,” Jenna added with a smirk,
“your wolf is practically howling every time she’s in the room. You can’t hide that from us.”
I cursed under my breath, knowing they had me cornered. I raked a hand through my hair, trying to figure out how to respond.
“Alright, fine,” I muttered, crossing my arms.
“But keep it down, OK? My brothers don’t know, and I’m not planning on telling Lila anytime soon either.”
Jules raised an eyebrow.
“Why not?”
“She’s been through enough already,” I said, my voice firm.
“She doesn’t need the added pressure of knowing she’s my mate. I’m not going to push her into anything she’s not ready for.” I spoke, watching Jules shake her head.
“I’m not talking about Lila, I’m talking about you not telling your brothers.” But instead of answering her, all I could do was sigh and look away.
Jenna softened a little, her playful demeanor giving way to something more serious.
“We get it, Skye. But you should also know that you can’t keep this from them, or her, forever. If she’s your mate, she’s going to feel the bond too, whether she knows what it is or not. As for your brothers, they aren’t fools, two of them are mated to the two of us, and they will see right through you.”
“I know,” I said quietly, feeling the weight of the truth settle on my shoulders.
“But for now, I’m just trying to help her get through this, first. One step at a time.”
Jules gave me a sympathetic look, reaching out to pat my arm.
“You’re a good guy, Skye. Just…don’t let this eat you up inside, OK? We’re here for you, and for her.”
“Thanks,” I said, managing a small smile.
“I appreciate it.”
Jenna and Jules exchanged a glance, their expressions softening. They both knew how difficult this was for me, and while they clearly weren’t going to let me off the hook easily, they also understood the delicate situation I was in.
“We’ll take care of her, too,” Jenna said, standing up and giving me a reassuring smile.
“You’re not in this alone.”
Jules nodded in agreement.
“We’ll be around. Just say the word if you need anything.”
I nodded, feeling a little more at ease knowing that I at least had their support. As much as my wolf wanted to handle everything on his own, I knew that Lila was going to need more than just me to get through this.
“Thanks, guys,” I said sincerely.
“That means a lot.”
Jenna grinned, her mischievous spark returning.
“And hey, who knows? Maybe by the time this is all over, Lila will be thanking us for playing matchmaker.”
I chuckled, shaking my head.
“One step at a time, Jenna. Let’s just focus on getting her through tonight.”
Jules and Jenna both smiled, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. They might tease me, but I knew they my his back—and Lila’s too.
- Writer
