Page 10 of Defeated

“And Zoe?”

I turn back with a hopeful smile. Like a fool, I believe this was just some sick, stupid joke the alpha pushed him into, and he’ll grin and say he’s sorry when he sees how much he’s upset me.

His eyes are still chips of ice, and my hope along with my smile dies.

He doesn’t want me as a mate. He couldn’t make it any more obvious he finds me lacking.

I hadn’t thought my new mate would want nothing to do with me. If I’d known to expect this cruelty, I’d have told him to reject me if he didn’t want me. It would have been agonizing, but it wouldn’t have hurt nearly as bad as this.

For a moment, I consider rejecting him. Even open my mouth to do it until my gaze dips over his shoulder. The alpha is still smirking at me, and fate is something we shifters rarely turn our back on. I would be forced out of the pack, or Harlan might kill me for even attempting it.

He clicks his fingers. “The plate.”

It takes everything I have not to drop it and pretend it was an accident or smash it in his face like he deserves. But he’s a big, heavily muscled enforcer, the alpha’s best friend, and the alpha is right behind him.

So I hand Harlan the plate of breakfast he doesn’t deserve and I walk away, past my watching packmates who do nothing, and upstairs to my room, where I can spend the next hour scrubbing every hint of his scent from my body.

“See what I mean?” Harlan laughingly says, not even trying to keep his voice down. “A dead fish. Imagine having to fuck that every night?”

They all laugh.

And I run up the stairs, pretending I don’t hear, pretending it doesn’t hurt. Pretending tears aren’t sliding down my cheeks.

Stupid, Zoe.

Stupid to think someone like Harlan would want anything to do with you.

A car horn rips me from the past, and I’m a wolf trembling in the corner of the dank alley.

Anger lends me the focus I need to push through my shift as fast as I can.

My cheeks are wet by the time I finish, and I’m still mentally cursing myself as I yank my shirt on and force my pants up my legs.

Stupid.

Stupid to have nearly killed a man who didn’t deserve it, and not kill the one who did.

4

CHRIS

“Chris?” Colton says, pulling my attention from the open door and where a sleek, gray wolf darted out seconds before.

“She ran.”

“She’ll be back.”

“You sound pretty confident.” I debate with myself whether I should follow. If I hadn’t scented the unmistakable scent of fear drifting from her, I would have.

“I am. She was being chased through the city by a pack of shifters when I stepped in to help her. I told her to leave, even to come with me and let things die down for a bit. The fact she’s still there makes me think she has nowhere to go.” He pauses, and I imagine him nodding. “So, she’ll be back.”

Desperate.

I’d caught her expression before she wheeled around and took off. Beautiful eyes. But haunted and sad. It’s all the more reason to go after her. And it’s the reason I forced myself not to. The last thing she would want or need was another shifter chasing her down.

It wouldn’t be to hurt her. That’s not my intention. It has never been my intention to hurt a woman.

My brain flickers and I’m back in Iowa.

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