Chapter 3

Nathan held Ryan's gaze for a long moment.

Then he gave him a small, contemptuous smile. "Of course."

I'd never seen him look so ready for a fight.

I stayed against the hallway wall, trying to make sense of it.

Nathan had always been stern around me. He'd spoken against my relationship with Ryan more than anyone. I'd assumed he looked down on me because of my rank.

He had kept his distance even when we'd crossed paths in the pack before.

I was used to seeing his controlled expression, not the look he'd just given his brother.

But lately his behavior hadn't fit that story.

He'd even agreed to his brother's ridiculous request, putting himself right beside me. What did he really want?

I was still thinking when Nathan came out of the hallway.

He moved straight toward me, caught me against the wall, and kissed me before I could speak.

I tried to turn my face, but his arms held me to him. He didn't release his hold until I stopped trying to move away.

When he finally let go, I was dizzy.

He touched my cheek and laughed under his breath.

"See? That's one more step. We have plenty of time to get to know each other again."

Cheers rose outside. Nathan took my hand and led me toward the crowd.

Moonlight fell over the grounds. Fireflies rose from the grass beside a waterfall, glowing all around it. I had to admit it was beautiful.

Paige kissed Ryan's cheek. "Thank you, baby! Best anniversary present ever."

Then she spotted me. "Mia, Ryan and I want to post a video of our anniversary. Come film us."

On what should have been my anniversary with Ryan, she wanted me to record him with her and put it online. She was making a fool of me in public.

My hands tightened at my sides.

Ryan hesitated. "Maybe someone who's better with a camera could do it."

"No. Mia's my best friend. She should be here for this." Paige shoved her phone toward my face.

Before I could move, Nathan stepped between us and caught Paige's wrist before the phone reached me.

"My girlfriend isn't your photographer." He released her and guided me away.

Paige's eyes filled with angry tears. Ryan moved to defend her. "Nathan, it was one little favor—"

"No." Nathan pulled me to his side and smiled without warmth. "We're not doing it."

Ryan ground his teeth, turned, and walked away.

Nathan gave a quiet laugh, then asked me to bring him a glass of champagne from the bar.

On my way back I heard the brothers talking again.

"You're a better actor than I thought," Ryan said. "You almost made that look real."

Nathan lit a cigarette before he answered. "You and Paige look happy. Maybe she's right for you."

"Paige is exciting. It's like the beginning all over again. More fun than things have been with Mia in a while." He said it readily.

Standing with Nathan's champagne in my hand, I heard him compare three years with me to a short thrill with Paige.

"Then stay with Paige," Nathan said. "You used to say Mia was boring and too clingy. Why not end it with her?"

Ryan laughed. "We have years together. I'm not throwing that away. And the witch said Mia would be my fated mate."

"Paige says she doesn't need anything permanent," he went on. "We're having fun. It suits both of us. You wouldn't get it. You still haven't claimed a mate."

Nathan blew out a ring of smoke. "A real mate deserves devotion."

He looked straight at his brother. "And even the Moon Goddess gets it wrong sometimes."

Ryan had treated the blessing as a guarantee. Nathan clearly hadn't. I wondered how much he knew that his brother didn't.