Becoming My Ex’s Mother in Law by Aurora Starling

Chapter 32

Andrew stared blankly at the new werewolf healthcare reform bill sitting on his desk in front of him. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on it, he could not get himself to focus. He groaned and ran his hand over his face.

This was the seventh bill or proposal he had failed to focus on that day, and it was already 10 p.m. That wasn’t to mention the meeting that he had only half- paid attention to after lunch.

Andrew silently cursed himself. He never had this problem at work, yet ever since he saw Crystal k*ssing that other man, he couldn’t get his mind off of her. The way she smelled, the way she smiled, the way she laughed-his senses were flooded with her.

It didn’t make sense to Andrew. Why would she want to be with that man- that beta, if he was even that-when Andrew and Crystal had gotten so close? How could she choose another over him?

It wasn’t befitting of the Alpha King to show so much emotion regarding a woman he wasn’t married to, but he couldn’t help the anger that leaked through that day. Just thinking back on the incident, Andrew had to take deep breaths to keep himself under control.

He stood up and started pacing. Being separated from Crystal made him feel like a caged lion. He needed to be near her, even if it was only for a little while.

Andrew growled in frustration. He rushed out of his office, leaving his coat hanging from his chair.

Andrew followed Crystal’s distinct scent of lavender, vanilla, and cedar from the bridal shop to her home. Even walking in the rain, he found her. apartment building quickly. He contemplated trailing the scent right to her door but decided that might freak her out.

He settled instead for smoking in the drizzle. As he watched the building, wondering which window belonged to Crystal’s apartment, he lit a Cuban cigar and brought it to his l*ps. He inhaled deeply, then a huge cloud of smoke billowed above him as he exhaled.

His wolf, Fel*pe, sensed Crystal’s. They were so close now that it was even

Chapter 32

Andrew stared blankly at the new werewolf healthcare reform bill sitting on his desk in front of him. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on it, he could not get himself to focus. He groaned and ran his hand over his face.

This was the seventh bill or proposal he had failed to focus on that day, and it was already 10 p.m. That wasn’t to mention the meeting that he had only half- paid attention to after lunch.

Andrew silently cursed himself. He never had this problem at work, yet ever since he saw Crystal k*ssing that other man, he couldn’t get his mind off of her. The way she smelled, the way she smiled, the way she laughed-his senses were flooded with her.

It didn’t make sense to Andrew. Why would she want to be with that man- that beta, if he was even that-when Andrew and Crystal had gotten so close? How could she choose another over him?

It wasn’t befitting of the Alpha King to show so much emotion regarding a woman he wasn’t married to, but he couldn’t help the anger that leaked through that day. Just thinking back on the incident, Andrew had to take deep breaths to keep himself under control.

He stood up and started pacing. Being separated from Crystal made him feel like a caged lion. He needed to be near her, even if it was only for a little while.

Andrew growled in frustration. He rushed out of his office, leaving his coat hanging from his chair.

Andrew followed Crystal’s distinct scent of lavender, vanilla, and cedar from the bridal shop to her home. Even walking in the rain, he found her apartment building quickly. He contemplated trailing the scent right to her door but decided that might freak her out.

He settled instead for smoking in the drizzle. As he watched the building, wondering which window belonged to Crystal’s apartment, he lit a Cuban cigar and brought it to his l*ps. He inhaled deeply, then a huge cloud of smoke billowed above him as he exhaled.

His wolf, Fel*pe, sensed Crystal’s. They were so close now that it was even

more painful than when he had only been pacing in his office, but Andrew restrained himself.

“Go get her,” Fel*pe commanded him, his voice a low growl in Andrew’s mind.

“No,” Andrew firmly replied, “not yet. We must let her come to us, when the time is right.”

“We are the Alpha King,” Fel*pe countered. “We take what we want.”

Andrew took a long drag on his cigar.

“Not yet. Crystal is worth waiting for.”

His mind wandered to their time at the cabin. He could still feel the softness of Crystal’s skin against his, smell her aroma wrapping around him, taste her l*ps and tongue as they played with his. His hands tingled at the thought of touching her everywhere, even those hidden places that he had not gotten to see that snowy day.

He drew in a sharp breath. Someday, he would fulfill that fantasy, he would ensure that. However, he was the Alpha King, and he knew how to be patient. and play the game to his advantage.

Andrew coughed. He knew that he was going to regret standing in the rain. without a coat; he could feel a cold coming on already. Yet he would gladly take on the sickness in exchange for the time outside Crystal’s apartment, smoking and daydreaming about what could be.

Inside my apartment, I could not get to sleep. No matter how much I tossed and turned, I could not get comfortable enough rest. Something inside me was restless.

I stared at the clock on my nightstand. 11:45 p.m. It was getting late, and I needed to sleep if I was going to be any use at work the next day.

I sighed and got out of bed. I decided to make myself a cup of tea, hoping that the hot beverage would be able to soothe me enough to get sleep.

As the water boiled on the stove, I took a look out the window at the rain. I found it odd that I couldn’t sleep in this weather. I had always found the rain to be comforting, and it had been able to put me to sleep on my roughest

Chapter 32

nights in the past, even in prison.

In the light rain and darkness, I just made out the small glowing light of a

cigar across the street. I could not make out who the cigar belonged to, but the image sent chills down my spine.

Who would be out this late smoking…in the rain? I thought.

“Mate,” Susan said immediately.

I almost laughed at the thought.

“What would Andrew be doing here?” I asked.

Susan merely replied with, “Mate.”

I did laugh this time.

“It’s almost midnight, and it’s raining. Besides, there’s no way that Andrew would come all the way here. He doesn’t even know where my apartment is.”

“It’s him,” Susan insisted.

I stared out at the tiny light, trying to decipher any features of the figure behind it, but it was impossible to between the darkness and the rain. I didn’t see anything to disprove Susan’s claim, but I also didn’t see anything to support it. The very idea that Andrew would come all this way just to my apartment-to see me, perhaps-sent my heart aflutter, but it also seemed too. good to be true.

The whistle of the teakettle pulled my attention away from the window. I poured the water into a mug and dunked a teabag in it. I then added three scoops of sugar and stirred, my mind still on the possibility of Andrew being outside my door.

No. He couldn’t be out there, and I couldn’t entertain such thoughts. They would only torture me.

Still, as I sat on the couch and tried to enjoy my tea, I could feel that something deep inside me refusing to settle. I soon realized that that something was Susan. She was certain that she was sensing Andrew’s wolf, and she wanted to get to him..

e are not going out this late in the rain,” I told her.

Chapter 32

“We must go to him,” she countered.

“And what if it’s not him?”

I shuddered at the thought that it might not be Andrew but, instead, a stalker. Not just any stalker, either-Bob. I wouldn’t put it past him to track me down. to my apartment, even after my threats about the recording.

I got up and double-checked that the door and windows were closed and locked. I was not taking any chances.

“It’s not Bob,” Susan insisted. “It’s Andrew.”

“I told you, there’s no way that he would come all the way here. He doesn’t even know that I live here.”

“But you know that he will always find you.”

Her words, while they carried much weight, gave me an odd sort of comfort. She was right: Andrew would always find me, much like he did when my car broke down. It was inexplicable, but I somehow knew that she was right.

“That still does not mean that he has the time or energy to waste on finding

me this late”

I could tell that Susan wanted to argue her point further, but she was resigned. We were both too stubborn to give in, even to each other.

As I finished my tea, I returned to my bed, ignoring my desire to check the window again. Susan did not settle for the rest of the night, and I did not get much rest.