Page 88 of His Wild Mate

I looked down at the pot. “Soup's ready.”

It wasn't much of a breakfast, but Paige didn't seem to mind.

True to my word, after our meal was done and the dishes were washed, I took her down to the basement to show her the hidden room there. I knew it would be too much to ask her to stay locked in there until I returned, no matter how unnecessary it was.

Whoever was stalking her, there was no way for him to find her here. Only someone very close to me would know about this place. We were as safe as we could possibly be. But there was still a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that it just wasn't enough.

“Are you sure you don't want to come with me?”

“I'm not a big fan of stores and lots of people around.”

I could understand that. I still didn't like leaving her alone though.

“Here, pay attention.” I reached into the bookcase in front of us and pushed a button on the side. The whole bookcase sprang forward.

“Whoa. How'd you do that?”

I showed her the button and then how to open the internal door. We stepped in and she walked around, checking the place out.

“You want to lock me in here, don't you?”

“Very much.”

She snorted. “Emmett, I'm fine. I really can take care of myself.”

“I know. I saw Brady, remember. But I still don't have to like it. The thought of you being in danger stirs my wolf in a primitive way that I've never experienced before. I cannot have anything happen to you. Supposedly, the mating period is the worst part. Once we're bonded, my wolf will settle some. Probably not a lot, but enough for me to go to the goddamn grocery store without convincing someone to stay with you while I'm away.”

“I managed fine on my own the last time.”

I growled and shook my head. “Not helping! I came back to a ransacked house and you gone for an entire night. That was horrifying. I don't ever want to live through that again.”

She gave me a guilty look. “Sorry,” she muttered.

“You don't have to apologize. You did nothing wrong. It's just, I'm a little psychotic right now knowing there’s a stalker on the loose that wants to claim you. I want to claim you, dammit. You are mine.”

“Are you sure you're not my personal stalker?” she teased.

I frowned. “I did not peek in my own windows, or watch you from the edge of the woods. I did not ransack our house, nor did I graffiti the outside of the house.”

“You forgot following me out on the range, and watching me from the fence.”

“What!?!”

“Sorry, bad timing. Look, I've dealt with his kind before. I’ll be fine. Just, maybe hurry a bit.”

“And you'll stay in the safe room?”

“No, but I'll leave it open for quick access should I need it. Deal?”

“Deal. Just be safe and please don't leave the house. My stress levels are high enough as it is.”

She worried her lip with her teeth, and for a minute I thought she was going to concede and just come with me. Instead, she gave me an apologetic smile.

“I'll be fine. Now go, before you change your mind. We do need food, unless you want me to go out foraging again.”

I thought I might throw up.

“No.”

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