She’d come back today, just like she’d promised herself she would.
A smile spread across her face as the familiar house came into view. It was perfectly situated, not too far from the pack house and clinic, and surrounded by a fence for privacy.
The doctor could easily rush to either place if needed, without losing his peace of mind when he needed it most.
He’s probably home, she thought. She pictured him by the kitchen window, sipping his tea, always warm no matter the season, before heading off to the clinic.
That had been his routine for as long as she’d known him. Or at least, part of it.
She opened the small gate, climbed the steps to the neat porch, and pushed the door open. He never locked it. There was no point.
If a pack member or the alpha wanted to get in, no lock would stop them. Not that they would ever disrespect his privacy like that.
She stepped inside, feeling happier than she had in years. Happier than she’d been before she’d left.
The house was quiet in the early light. It was unusual, but not alarming.
He usually had soft music playing in the morning, but maybe he wasn’t in the mood today, or maybe he was still in the bathroom.
As she turned towards the narrow staircase that led to their bedroom, a smell stopped her in her tracks.
Coffee.
Coffee? He hated the stuff, so why would he be making it? Not for her, surely. They both disliked the bitterness and preferred tea.
He liked plain black tea, while she preferred hers flavored.
She cautiously made her way to the kitchen and paused at the doorway. He wasn’t there.
But someone else was. A woman stood by the window where she’d imagined him earlier. Her long auburn hair caught the light and seemed to sparkle.
Her back was to her as she sipped her freshly brewed coffee. The smell was stronger now, making her stomach churn.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the room.
“Good morning,” she said, her voice less confident than she’d hoped, but still loud enough to break the silence.
The woman with the auburn hair spun around, surprised.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that.”
The woman smiled immediately.
She was beautiful. Her auburn hair was complemented by clear, pale skin and bright blue eyes. She was tall and slender, with an air of elegance about her.
Add in that dazzling smile, and you had a woman who was undeniably attractive.
She felt a blush creep up her cheeks. She couldn’t compete with this woman’s beauty.
“Oh, don’t worry about it, sweetheart. I was just surprised, that’s all. How can I help you?”
Something wasn’t right. Why was this woman acting like she owned the place? She’d only been gone a week. What could have… An idea suddenly crossed her mind.
“Are you Max’s patient?” she asked politely.
She knew that sometimes he brought home patients who needed special care, usually children, but still…
The woman looked at her strangely, then burst out laughing.
“His patient?” she said, trying to suppress her laughter. “No, no. I’m not Max’s patient, but you look familiar, I think.”
The woman studied her for a moment, then clapped her hands excitedly as if she’d made a discovery. “You’re his protégée!” she exclaimed.
“Well… yes,” she admitted, feeling uncomfortable.
Her heart sank. If he referred to her as his protégée, it meant he only saw her as that. She was nothing more than what they’d planned before she left… It was all a lie…
“Max had an early call at the hospital,” the woman said. “We’ve had some minor problems with rogues this past week, and he’s been kind of busy.
“Can you believe I’ve been here for four whole days, and I’ve only seen him once? But now that you’re here, I’ll have some company at last. I’ve been dying to meet you, you know.”
The woman said all this in one breath, guiding her to one of the wooden chairs and helping her sit down.
But this whole situation was strange. She’d known Max almost her entire life. She knew all his relatives. They all lived in the pack, after all.
This woman wasn’t a relative. She’d never heard of her. Not once.
She started to feel sick and dizzy as the only possible explanation began to sink in. But maybe she was wrong. Could she be?
“I’m sorry,” she finally said, barely recognizing her own voice. “I don’t know who you are. Who are you?”
“I’m Delta, Max’s mate, of course, you silly!” the woman said, grinning broadly and tucking a lock of auburn hair behind her ear.
