Dimitri’s POV
I barely slept last night.
I kept turning around. I kept picturing Maddie next to me. I kept thinking about her beautiful face and her soft skin.
I wanted her so fucking bad and I had no idea how I would survive the next nine months. I would go fucking insane without her.
I realized that I had to find a way to get closer to her. I had to become her friend. I had to find a way to be close to her because I would fucking lose it if I didn’t. I wouldn’t be able to spend nine months without her.
“What’s with the frown?” Will asked as we were walking toward the diner.
I needed a cup of coffee and a nice breakfast. Macy’s diner had it all. I hoped that Seth was working this morning. He made the best pancakes.
“I barely slept,” I mumbled.
Will sighed. I could feel his eyes on me.
“Is it Maddie?” he asked, making me tighten my jaw.
I already missed her. I wanted to go see her this morning, but I didn’t want to come off as weird. I needed to be careful. I needed to go slow. I didn’t want to scare her. I didn’t want to give her one more reason to leave the pack.
Skol growled. ‘She isn’t going anywhere.’
I took a deep breath and looked at Will,
“Yes,” I answered his question. “I don’t know how I will survive the next nine months. I already miss her terribly.”
Will looked at me worriedly. He bit his lower lip and took a deep breath.
“Why don’t you tell her?” he asked me. “I’m sure it would be easier for you to wait if she knew.”
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.
“I can’t do that to her, Will,” I mumbled. “I can’t rob her of that feeling when you first see your mate. I want her to experience that. I want to see the smile on her face when she realizes who I am to her. I can’t take that away from her.”
Will gave me a small smile. “You are a very good man, Dimitri.”
I took a deep breath and released it slowly.
Will opened the diner door and we walked inside.
Her scent hit me like a train. It was unexpected. She wasn’t supposed to be here. She was supposed to be at home, sleeping. It was only 6:30 a.m. What the hell was she doing here?!
I looked around the room and my heart stopped beating.
I saw her at the counter. She had an apron on. She was pouring coffee into a mug. Fucking Seth was next to her. He was telling her something and he had a stupid smile on his face. He didn’t even notice us walking in.
‘He wants her,’ Skol growled.
‘He does,’ I agreed with him.
‘She is ours,’ he said and I could feel his anger growing.
‘She is,’ I agreed again, trying to contain the jealousy I felt.
He was standing too close to her. Why did he even have that stupid smirk on his face? I wanted to wipe it off.
“Seth!” I growled, making him flinch and look up at me.
My princess looked up with a confused expression on her beautiful face.
“Alpha!” Seth exclaimed as his eyes widened. “I am so sorry. I didn’t hear you come in. Do you want your usual?”
I ignored him completely. My eyes were fixed on my mate.
“What are you doing here, Madeline?” I asked. “Your father and I told you that you don’t need to work.”
I was annoyed as fuck. I was pissed as fuck.
I wasn’t going to let her work here. I wasn’t going to let her be alone with Seth.
“I want to work, Alpha,” she said softly. “Thank you for offering to help me, but I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a while now.”
I like her. Will mind-linked me. She will be an amazing Luna.
I couldn’t focus on him right now. I was focused on how close Seth was standing to her. It was too fucking close. He needed to move before I ripped his head off his shoulders.
“You can work at the packhouse with me,” I said. “You can help me at the office.”
I needed her out of Seth’s way. I needed her closer to me.
My princess furrowed her eyebrows. She put the coffeepot down.
“I don’t have my wolf yet,” she said. “I can’t work at the packhouse.”
She is right, Dimitri. Will said. That’s the rule.
Fuck the rule. I growled back. I will change it for her. I need to get her out of here.
You mean, you need to get her away from Seth? Will asked teasingly.
I glanced at him disapprovingly.
“You are family, Madeline,” I said. “I can change the rule for you.”
She glanced at Seth, making the anger inside me explode. Why was she looking at him?
Skol was on the edge.
I wasn’t going to make it through nine months of jealousy.
“That’s okay, Alpha,” my princess said. “I have experience working at a diner and Seth was nice enough to hire me. I appreciate your offer, but I would like to work here.”
My chest started hurting. Skol whined and I wanted to do the same.
Leave it be, Dimitri. Will said. Nothing will happen between Seth and her.
It better not. I would kill him if he touched her.
“Our usual, Seth, please,” Will said as he grabbed my upper arm and pulled me toward our table.
I was stiff as a statue. I had to control my muscles. If I made one wrong move, I would grab Maddie and take her away.
I sat down, trying to remain calm. I tried to take a deep breath, but my insides were shaking and it was impossible.
“Goddess, Dimitri, calm down,” Will said quietly. “Seth won’t do anything.”
I tightened my jaw and gritted my teeth.
I wanted to tell him that Seth wanted her, but she approached the table and her scent overwhelmed my senses.
“Here is your coffee,” she said politely. “Seth told me how you like it. I hope it’s okay.”
I looked at her and my heart lost its rhythm. She could serve me mud water and it would be the best thing I ever drank.
“I’m sure it’s great,” Will said softly. “My name is Will. I am Dimitri’s Beta. It is nice to meet you, Madeline.”
“It’s nice to meet you too, Beta,” she said, bowing her head a little. “Please call me if you need anything else.”
She glanced at me and gave me a small smile. My knees wobbled. If I wasn’t sitting down, I would crumple to the floor.
I watched her walk away.
I wanted to grab her and pull her back.
How the fuck would I survive the next nine months?
With Madeline’s smile his anger dissapear just like that. 🤣