Page 53 of Mated to the Wolves

He snickers. “Is that right? I enjoy a challenge. And a chase.” He skims his hand down my side, gripping my hip with his large warm hand.

“Here we go.” Jenny returns and I scramble out of his hold as she snips off the tags.

It’d be easy to buy into his false admiration if I hadn’t spent my life on the receiving end of his torment.

“I want to pick some other things, Jenny.” He looks toward the lingerie section in the back corner of the shop.

“I can do that on my own.” I rush ahead with his laughter trailing behind me.

I pick up one of the small metal baskets and riffle through the fine silk. I’ve never spent this much on something only I would see. That won’t be the case for much longer.

I shove the wayward thought down as I find my sizes and make matches.

“I see you couldn’t wait to spend his money.” A high-pitched venomous voice asks. I recognize the cotton candy scent of Andrea; the flavor of the month Bo had been in the forest with earlier this week.

“Are you upset because you no longer get to?” I refuse to turn and acknowledge her.

“Unlike you, I have money of my own.”

“How nice.” I pick up an elaborate peach-colored teddy with a split crotch to rub salt in the wound.

“I want to know how you did it.”

“What are you talking about?” I turn confused.

“How you manipulated the Alpha. We all know you’re not worthy of the gift he granted you.”

I laugh, in a dismissive manner, internally seething. “Unlike you, my goals weren’t centered around finding the right wolf to settle down with. I was asked to come back here and help.”

“What could you possibly do?” Her voice lowers an octave. Instantly on high alert, I step into a fighting stance, body angled, and feet carefully placed.

Her eyes glow, signaling a shift.

“Control yourself.”

A blast of masculine power rolls over all of us. Andrea stumbles back. Thrown off balance, she trips over her feet and tumbles to the ground with a whimper.

“Don’t you ever approach my mate aggressively again,” Bo’s words are clipped, and his hands are balled into fists as he stands in front of me. “I should rip your throat out for the insult, and present your body to her as an apology.”

He hovers over her, a fierce wolf ready to attack. “Even if I wasn’t with her, you’d never have been my choice for a mate. It was nothing but a bit of fun. I made that very clear.”

I divert my gaze, feeling sorry for the girl who’d overstepped her place. One thing Bo didn’t do was toy with women’s emotions. They all entered into his arrangements with open eyes.

“Do you have everything you need, Ylva?” he turns to me ignoring her tears.

“Yes.” I rush to his side, eager to leave the mess behind.

Would I have to defend myself over a position I never even wanted? Jenny rings us out, and we leave.

When we reach the car, he opens the truck. The Volva appears beside me.

“The message is clear. The one who finds the amulet and wields its power will control the rest of the wolves.”

“How am I supposed to find it?” I tune into her otherworldly energy, careful not to miss any of the clues she might drop.

“Look for the signs.”

I bite back a curse. She’s speaking in riddles. “This is out of my wheelhouse.” I wonder if she can hear the desperation in my voice.

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