Page 59 of The Runaway Mate

Ryan walked toward me, and I sighed, knowing Jem was dismissing us. He needed to think about what we’d all said. I got that. I just wish we could brainstorm it together. But maybe he was right. We needed more information before we could decide what to do.

As Ryan got closer to me, his eyes changed from serious to warm and full of intent. My wolf went on alert.

“Come home with me?” he asked. I felt a quiver in my vagina, and heat flushed up my body.

I ignored the sensations my traitor body was having. “We might be staying in the same building, but it’s not my home.”

I spun around, walked out of the house and across to the Shaws’ home. Ryan got to the door before me and held it open for me.

“You sure you don’t want to forget our past for the night?” he asked, his tone dark and seductive.

I glared at him. “Where’s my stuff?”

“In the spare room. Mai—”

“I can find it. Goodnight, Ryan,” I said firmly and stormed up the stairs. I could feel Ryan’s heated gaze follow me, and I could have sworn I heard him chuckle.

Chapter thirty-eight

Mai

The first rays of the morning sun washed over the living room as Ryan paced the floor. He was close enough that I could smell his earthy, pine scent—a tantalizing aroma that sent an unwanted shiver down my spine.

Last night, I’d checked my mail, making sure none of my clients had emailed with an emergency. None had, but there had been a message from Seth. I wrapped my arms around myself as I remembered the words:

I miss you. But soon we’ll be together again. Count on it, Mai.

I hadn’t told Ryan. Hadn’t needed to. I’d come down this morning, and Ryan had told me that Derek had forwarded the message to him. Apparently, Derek would be monitoring my phone and email until the situation with Seth was resolved. If Seth was coming here, then I understood the need for Derek and Ryan to invade my privacy like this. The Pack had to come first; I knew that. But it riled me. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of, of having others go out of their way to protect me because I couldn’t protect myself. And Ryan seemed completely oblivious to my feelings.

Ryan stopped pacing and instead stood dangerously close to me, his scent pervading my senses, sending a pulse along our bond that shouted, “Fuck me, fuck me,” in time with my heartbeat.

There would be no fucking. Not now. Not ever.

Ryan was in full protector mode. There was a raw power in his presence, an aura of authority that drew me seductively to him. I folded my arms across my chest and glared at him.

“Mason and Sam are closing in on Seth. But if Seth makes it onto Pack lands, we have to keep him away from Jem’s house. I’ve let it be known in town that you’re staying with me, so he’ll probably head here. I don’t want you here alone. Anytime you enter this house, you need to always have either me or one of my brothers with you, okay?”

I nodded, wondering how long I was going to have to put up with this.

“If you are at the house, and you get any sense, any sense at all, that Seth is around or something isn’t right, you come here.”

Ryan led me to an inconspicuous-looking panel on the wall. He pressed a switch hidden in the wall, and a door slid open, revealing a fortified room. “This,” he said, motioning to the room, “is the safe room.”

It was spacious, going back the length of the living room, and was well-equipped. Shelves lined the walls, stocked with food and medical supplies, and a couple of thick blankets. A computer, TV monitors, and a satellite phone were on a desk by the wall. “You get here, lock the door with this button, and alert us using this,” he said, pointing to the phone.

“Okay,” I murmured, letting his instructions sink in.

Satisfied that I understood, he led me back out to the living room. I could feel the heat of him next to me, his presence both comforting and infuriating. The tension between us crackled in the air, a live wire of emotion. I was angry at him, still stinging from his invasion of my privacy, but as I looked up at him, the memory of our bond sealing zinged through me.

Before I knew what I’d done, I took a step toward Ryan, the invisible pull between us dragging me forward.

Ryan’s eyes bore into mine, the desire in them unmistakable. I licked my lips, wanting to taste him, and reached out—just as an alarm on his phone went off.

“Fuck!” Ryan said, his voice rough. “It’s eight o’clock.”

I took a step back and swallowed hard. I couldn’t let my hormones rule my head on this. I stomped toward the door and glanced back at Ryan. His face was closed, angry, but his eyes followed me with a hungry longing that made a rush of heat go straight to my core.

We stepped inside the Alpha house, welcomed by the mouth-watering aroma of fresh coffee and bacon. Ryan and I strolled into the dining room just as Sylvie was setting down the last of the dishes. Steam wafted up from fluffy scrambled eggs, the edges just slightly crisped, while a plate of bacon and a stack of buttermilk pancakes drizzled with maple syrup stood beside it. In the center of the table was a fresh fruit platter, the vibrant colors of sliced melons, berries, and citrus fruits making a beautiful display.

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