Page 37 of The Orc Outcast's Mate

“Govek—”

“If you knew what I was thinking right now...” he started with a snarl, whirling to face her. His eyes were pricks in the bright light. “You are not safe with me.”

Miranda’s brow furrowed. After growing up in a group home, she had ample experience dealing with dangerous people and knew when one shouldn’t be messed with.

But Govek wasn’t giving off that vibe.

“Why?” Miranda asked, and his expression flashed with confusion. “Tell me exactly why I’m not safe and I’ll decide if I should leave.”

“When you looked at Karthoc, I wanted to rip his fucking head off.”

Miranda rose her brows.

Govek continued raging. “I want to burn the fucking clan to the ground rather than have your eyes stray from me. I want to render every male that might turn your head to cinders. I want to rip every tongue from every mouth so they do not have a chance to turn you before I can win you. I want to hide you away, so you don’t have any chance to seek another male?—”

“Wait, stop. Hold on,” Miranda interrupted. “You think I’m going to seek out other men?”

“Why would you not? Look at you!”

Red hot anger flashed behind her eyes. “Sit down, right there on the couch.”

Govek froze, hand still on the back door. His other hand clenched tight. Red blood was seeping out from between his fingers.

“Oh, for crying out loud. Govek, you cut yourself. Sit down. Right now or I really am going to get mad at you. Your ears will be bleeding too, from the length of the lecture.”

Govek blinked at her, his eyes shifted from the couch and then back to her. “Did you not hear me? I am not safe.”

“God, yes, I heard you. You’re jealous and accusing me of things I would never do. Now sit down.”

“But—”

“Sit,” Miranda said using her best do-not-test-me voice. Govek’s eyes went as round as her babies’ eyes used too. “And tell me where your medical ointments are.”

She stormed into the kitchen not waiting for his response, she’d seen a rag in there, hanging next to the sink. She tried to quell her anger but wasn’t successful. Usually, she would force a smile and take some calming breaths but that was for her babies and Govek was a grown-ass man.

So, when she turned back and found him still standing, mostly unresponsive, she let loose. “Sit. Down. For pity’s sake! To think you’re this upset because I greeted your cousin. Do you really think so low of me that I would cheat on you with your family member? Really? What kind of woman do you think I am? Why would you even want to be with a woman like that?”

He attempted a meek reply as she snatched the rag off the hook and stomped back into the living room. Govek was very very lucky he’d obeyed her order and sat down on the edge of the massive, fur-lined couch.

“Give me your hand,” she demanded, holding her palm open, waiting, but Govek hesitated. She looked him dead in the eyes and got mad all over again. “Let’s get one thing clear, right now. I am not a cheater. I would never even consider cheating on you. If I don’t want to be with you anymore, I’m going to make it very clear long before I try to mess around with someone else. And I will never get with your family members, and I will never get with your friends, and for crying out loud, stop looking at me like I’m the crazy one here. You’re the one who thought I would cheat after fricking glancing at your effing cousin!”

Govek simply sat there with wide, blinking eyes.

She needed to calm the eff down or she was going to start spewing venom. She looked around the room again, taking in the comfortable space. “Your walls are pretty,” she mustered.

“My . . . what?”

“Your walls. I’m trying to distract myself here. I don’t want to fight with you. Lord knows I had enough of that shit when I was growing up.”

There was a long pause before Govek ventured. “Who did you fight with in your youth, Miranda?”

“A lot of people. I was raised in a group home. No one gets put in a group home because they have good role models for parents. Uncurl your fingers. I’m not scared of your claws.”

He finally obeyed and she dabbed at the cuts with the cloth. They were shallow and already seemed to be scabbing over, but she didn’t want to let him go just yet. “Though to be fair, I never had role models at all. My parents died in a car accident when I was three.”

“I am sorry, Miranda.”

She let the apology roll around in her head for a moment, soothing the worst of the burning rage. “Sorry about my parents, or for accusing me of cheating?”

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