Page 50 of Mated to the Wolves

“I’ve seen it enough with my own eyes.”

He stalks forward so quickly a human would’ve missed it. “I work hard, so I play hard. Being heir to the clan comes with a lot of responsibilities, not that you’d know anything about that.”

His warm breath ruffles the curls framing my face. “Oh, I’m supposed to feel sorry for the popular rich boy and his social duties?”

He leans forward. I press into the counter, in an attempt to escape.

“I couldn’t give a damn if you like me. I’ve never been much of a fan of yours, but you will respect me. Embarrassing me in public will only lead to unpleasant consequences for you.”

“Are you threatening me?” I snap my teeth at him. Snarling, I growl at him.

“I’m warning you.” He grabs onto my wrist.

I swallow, in an attempt to moisten my dry mouth. Standing my ground, despite my uneasiness, I return his piercing gaze. The emptiness in his nearly black eyes terrifies me. He means every word.

“That goes both ways.” I force the words out of my tight throat and I pull my wrist free.

“I’m glad we have this understanding. Until we see how the rest of the pack responds to this new arrangement, you’ll have one of us with you.”

“That’s overkill.” My voice raises an octave as I panic over the loss of what little time, I could have to myself.

“It’s not. You’re no longer the pack freak. You’re the woman who took a handful of viable mates, and shot up the hierarchy ladder out of nowhere.”

“I had nothing to do with that,” I shake my head, offended by his insinuation.

His low laugh is full of menace. “Cute that you think it matters. People have grown more desperate around here. You’ve missed a lot over the years.”

There’s a weight to his words that spooks me This is the man behind the mask he’s always showed me. A darkness I don’t understand lurks inside him. Curiosity makes me want to draw closer and study him, but I know how unpredictable wild animals can be. “What do you mean by that?”

“Finish up and we’ll go into town. I need to pick up some things and then we’ll see if we can track the Volva down.”

The woman doesn’t keep hours. She navigates the area, visiting and ministering to those who need her.

Our new connection has turned her into a maternal figure I feel I can trust. Before then, I hadn’t been exposed to her much outside of special occasions and the time directly after the fire.

Her power and strange knowing, always left me feeling inadequate.

“I’m done.” I side step him, careful not to let our bodies touch and grab the mug, rinsing it out before I place it in the dishwasher.

“Let’s get this over with.” I follow him to the door, glaring at his back. Caught between being a burden and a prisoner, I’m completely off balance.

Rolling my eyes at his sporty black toy parked in the driveway, I curse his ability to make me feel less than. The pack was busy overnight bringing the boys what they felt they needed.

Disabling the alarm, he opens the door for me, and I sink into the buttery leather seats.

I buckle my seatbelt admiring the wooden paneling interior, fancy knobs, and gauges.

“How are you enjoying the luxury?” he wiggles his eyebrows.

“Like it? I’m not sure we aren’t in a spaceship.”

He laughs. “For as much as it costs, it should feel unlike any other experience.”

Turning over the engine, he throws the car into reverse, and floors it down the driveway. Jerking the wheel, he spins the car around. I squeal.

“You’re mad.” I clutch the handle above my head.

His eyes sparkle with vitality and the smile spreads across his lips is genuine. “I like to go fast.”

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