I slipped into the back of the car after putting my bags in the back and buckled in. I had barely takin a breath before I launched myself over the seats and into the driver’s arms.

His laugh made my eyes prickle. “Hey love bug.”

“Uncle Ronnie. I’ve missed you.” I climbed over the seats and sat up front. “What are you doing here?” Ronnie was my dad’s beta. Not related, but he had been there for most of my life.

“You think I was going to let my cheeky niece come to pack lands alone? Not on your life.”

“Dad sent you?” I laughed.

“Dad sent me. He is a worry wart your da.” He smiled over and laughed with me. “As soon as your mom called, he sent me with the jet.”

“He didn’t have to.” I just shook my head and buckled my seatbelt.

“Of course he did. He never gets to see you enough, and now you’re sending in the summer. What’s going on?” My uncle looked at me and I just shook my head.

“I don’t want to be here.”

“Why?”

I looked down at my hands that were twisted. “I’m afraid that my mate is here and I don’t want to be right. I figured if I ran away, I could push off the inevitability.”

“Why wouldn; t you want your mate?” My uncle asked as he zipped down the highway toward the airport.

“I’ll tell both you and dad, just not now.” My uncle looked over at me, searching my face and then nodding.

“Fine, but I want the full story.”

“You will get it, I swear.” I nodded back to the road. “Now focus on driving so you don’t kill us.” I grabbed the wheel, swerving back into our own lane.

“Fuck!” Uncle Ronnie grabbed the wheel from me and focused back on the road. “I just worry about you, pup.” I couldn’t stop the laugh because wolves stopped aging at twenty-five, and he looked barely older than me.

“I know you do.” I settled back into my seat and sighed. “I promise, what happened isn’t going to make that feeling any better.” I wiped at my face. “I don’t even know why my mom is sending me to my dad. She just said that he could help me.”

“Well, let’s hurry and get back so we can figure out what you need, Sugar.” My uncle hit the gas, and we ended up at the airport in no time.

We loaded my bags and headed up to the jet, settling in there. “Close your eyes. You look like you barely slept today and we have a few hours.” My uncle patted my head before he sat across from me and opened his laptop.

“Work?”

“Work.” He nodded.

“This summer, can you teach me some stuff?” A plan was forming in my mind, a plan not only to keep myself free from my pathetic mate, but one that would make me a lot of money.

“Of course, Sugar.” My uncle smiled up at me. “You know, your dad would teach you just about everything he could if you were open to it.”