Wrong Room, Right Mate Chapter 04

Wrong Room, Right Mate Chapter 04

The man carrying me didn’t say a word.

He hadn’t asked a single question since we left Bloodfang Pack territory.

He must have heard which name they were laughing about.

We rounded a bend and nearly ran straight into another group.

Torchlight illuminated their faces. Someone called out, “Theodore?”

He slowed his steps. “Yeah.”

Arlo walked over, still holding Sloane in his arms.

He looked Theodore over and grinned. “Never expected to see you here. Are you claiming your mate tonight too?”

“Yeah.”

“That woman’s one lucky girl,” Arlo said, his gaze drifting my way. “Where’s she from?”

I buried my face against Theodore’s shoulder, only showing the back of my head.

“From a neighboring pack,” Theodore answered calmly.

Arlo’s smile froze for a second. “Look at you. I always thought you were a rogue, never pictured you settling down. Congratulations.”

Theodore just hummed a low response.

Arlo stepped closer, and the torchlight grew brighter with him.

I felt his gaze settle on my back. It lingered too long. Long enough that I almost thought he’d seen through everything.

“We’re leaving,” Theodore said abruptly, and stepped forward.

“Wait.” Arlo frowned. His wolf caught a scent.

“Arlo, my foot hurts so bad…” Sloane murmured.

He turned to her instantly. “What is it? Did they hurt you?”

“I don’t know… It just hurts.” Her voice trailed off. “Come on. We have to reach Blackwood Pack before dawn.”

Arlo forgot everything else.

He nodded to Theodore. “I’m off. See you later.”

Their footsteps faded into the darkness. The glow of their campfire shrank to scattered pinpricks of starlight.

“His wolf didn’t recognize you,” Theodore said softly.

I pressed against his back and said nothing.

We kept moving.

A full moon hung high overhead, sharp and clear. The mountain path felt endless.

I didn’t know where he was taking me.

Anywhere was better than going back.

Back at Blackwood Pack, the celebration was in full swing, bonfires blazing bright. Laughter echoed through the night.

The air smelled spiced and boozy. Young wolves danced around the flames.

It was a feast to celebrate the Alpha successfully claiming his Luna—the party would go on until sunrise.

Arlo sat on the edge of the crowd.

Nova hadn’t texted him back. At the same time, he noticed her scent was fading, and the mindlink didn’t respond at all.

This wasn’t like her.

He’d already rehearsed what he’d say.

“It was too dark. Don’t overthink this. I only love you.”

He’d let her yell, even let her lunge at him and bite. And he? He’d calm her down with soft words. If she threw things, he’d let her. Then they’d hold each other tight.

She never stayed mad at him for long.

But tonight—nothing. No response, no messages, not even anger.

“Alpha, we’re way too far from Bloodfang Pack territory here,” one of his men said. “Maybe she couldn’t find you, and her phone just died.”

“It’s fine,” Arlo said.

“Maybe she just didn’t have time,” another joked. “Probably busy beating up some poor schmuck right now.”

The whole group laughed. Arlo didn’t.

Nova had once told him, “I’ll never shut down our mindlink. You’ll always be able to smell me. My wolf will always wait for you.”

She’d once sat out in the courtyard until deep into the night just to meet him.

A dead phone was possible, but he didn’t buy that distance could kill the mindlink. But he couldn’t think of any other reason.

“Enough,” his Beta pulled him to his feet. “Tonight’s your mating ceremony. You need to stay by Sloane’s side until the ritual finishes at dawn. This matters for the alliance between our packs.”

Arlo’s brow furrowed. “I agreed with Sloane—I was just supposed to get her out. I never thought…”

“This isn’t a game!” the Beta snapped. “You already claimed her. Now finish the ritual. The entire alliance hinges on this.

“Besides, you’ve been with Nova for years. She doesn’t care about stupid formal rituals. Just take care of what’s in front of you right now.”

Sloane stepped closer. “Arlo… this is a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony.”

She tilted her chin up slightly, light glinting in her eyes.

“I know you love Nova,” she whispered. “But just for tonight… can you pretend I’m your mate? Just this once.”

Arlo said nothing. After a long moment, he nodded.

Cheers erupted. “To our Alpha and our Luna! Cheers! Cheers!” Arlo lifted his cup and locked arms with her.

Firelight flickered across their faces.

He tilted his head back and drained his drink, but his gaze drifted off to the distant mountains.

He thought of Theodore, who’d been born a rogue and now ruled North Ridge. Actually, he was the youngest Alpha in history.

They’d met years ago at a private hunting lodge, shared a few drinks. They were casual acquaintances at best. Theodore always came off as steady, reliable, quiet.

Arlo never would’ve guessed Theodore would find a mate and bond so fast.

For some reason, the image of Theodore’s new mate kept popping into his head.

A slim frame. She’d stood still pressed against Theodore’s back, only her neck visible.

The way she’d tilted her head slightly… it felt weirdly familiar.

“Arlo?” Sloane’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” he answered absently.

He stepped off to the side, pulled out his phone, and dialed Nova’s number straight away.

It just rang.

It rang for a long time before someone finally picked up.

“Hello?” A middle-aged woman’s voice came through.

Arlo hesitated, then asked, “Hi, is Nova there, please?”

“Nova?” The woman paused, seemed to say something to someone next to her, then answered, “She’s not here. We’re packing up her things to send to her mate’s territory.”

“What?” Arlo’s hand clenched hard enough that his knuckles ached. “Who is this?”

The woman sounded surprised by his tone.

“I’m Nova’s aunt. We’re packing her things to send to her Alpha.”

It clicked for Arlo.

Nova was moving back to their pack house in Blackwood Pack—back to live with him.

Good.

He’d planned for this all along. Now that he was a full-fledged Alpha, he was bringing her home. They’d never be apart again.

“Um…” Arlo’s throat tightened. “About tonight… did… did Nova say anything?”

“What? What’s wrong?” the aunt asked casually. “She didn’t say anything at all.”

Arlo’s brow furrowed, a cold twist of unease settling in his gut.

Just as he was about to press for more, she cut in.

“Oh, I don’t have time to talk right now, we’re in the middle of packing! Both Nova and Sloane got claimed tonight—we have to get their things ready—”

Arlo froze.

Both?

It was only supposed to be Sloane.