Mated to a Human

Chapter 23: Getaway

HARVEY

Beer cans cover the living room coffee table. I've only done three things the past five days: hunt the rumored witch, sleep, and drink. I started the bender with whiskey, but Dakota began switching out the brown bottles with beer—the lesser evil, I suppose. Half of my blood is composed of alcohol at this point. I can't remember a time when I drank this much; the night of my eighteenth birthday must come second to this, and not closely. That was before I knew the consequences of binge drinking. Now I have no excuse for my self-destruction.

It's futile, anyway. Nothing can get her off my mind. Drunk as all hell, and I still hear her voice in my head and smell the natural scent of her body mixed with whatever sweet perfume she sprays on her neck. The phantom, feathery brush of her hair tickles my chest. Her soft kiss lingers on my mouth. I shut my eyes and feel her hand around my cock again while she murmurs about playing with herself. I feel the silky warmth of her pussy clenching my fingers.

Lifting my beer to my lips, I finish off the can. To say I'm in love with Mia would be an understatement. I'm obsessed with her, and I've known it for a while now.

"Isn't this a sight to behold?"

I turn my head a couple of inches and see Sam emerge from the hallway. Saying nothing, I lean forward to grab another beer and fall back to the leather couch cushions.

Sam drops onto the adjacent couch, his elbows on his knees and hands clasped. "Still going?"

I crack open the new can.

"You know we shift in a few hours, right?"

"I know," I mutter and take a bubbly swig.

"How are you going to fight a witch if you're blitzed?"

"My wolf'll sober me up quick—faster metabolism."

"Right. So instead of talking to Mia, you're going to get fucked up, shift, get fucked up, shift again, and carry on that cycle until...what? Until she shows up here demanding answers? You can't keep her in limbo forever."

I close my eyes. Sam's been giving me nothing but fucking headaches.

"We all know what this is about," he says.

I smirk at the darkness behind my eyes. "Do you, now?"

"It's about your mother. You don't want Mia to suffer the same fate, and Kieran bringing her to the wailer scared the shit out of you."

My eyes peel open, and I run my hand through my hair. "Yeah, that's about right. Thanks for reminding me."

Sam sighs. "Harvey, rejection isn't—"

"Don't say it isn't the answer," I interrupt harshly. "It's the only way to ensure her safety. No argument could convince me she's safer with me than she would be living a normal life."

"The only way Mia's living a normal life would be if you erase her memory of your bond, the pack—all of it." He shrugs and sits back, getting comfortable. "Besides, what are the statistics these days? Almost fifty percent?"

I roll my eyes. "For what?"

"Abuse against women in relationships. Who knows? Maybe she is safer with you after all."

I jut my beer at him, and a splash dribbles down my fingers. "Now you're just trying to provoke me."

"I won't mention the statistics for sexual assault in college, then. What sounds more dangerous to you? Mia in the pack house with a bunch of werewolves or single in a frat house with drunk assholes."

I press my head back onto the couch, stretching my neck. "Sam, if you want to keep your arms in their sockets, I suggest you shut the fuck up."

"You don't want to reject her. Never mind the pain and seeing the heartbreak on her face—no, nothing will compare to the moment you realize she'll never be yours again. No matter what you do, the bond can never be mended."