Page 94 of Deadly Wolf Bite

“I can’t. Dad’s locked her up at the estate until the wedding. He won’t let me see or talk to her.”

She glances toward the side of the house. “Is that why Elio followed you all the way out here?”

“Maybe,” I hedge. “Among other reasons.”

Her gaze sharpens, and I resist the urge to fidget under her scrutiny. “You feel different,” she says quietly.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. Your wolf calls to me.”

Shit.

I knew the alpha in me was growing stronger, but I didn’t realize others could sense it yet. Not like this. That means I’m dangerously close to outing myself even without using the hex blade to form the pack.

Still, I don’t bother to deny what she’s implying. “Marrying Lexi means staying to deal with everything,” I say instead.

She nods, understanding what I don’t want to say out loud. That it means facing off with my father—and only one of us walking away. She leans forward, her expression vulnerable and earnest. With watery eyes, she whispers, “I’m proud of you.”

My throat tightens. “Thanks, Mom.”

We share a moment of silence that’s full of years’ worth of unspoken alliances. All the times she wanted to protect me. All the moments I wished I could save her. Then she blinks and sits back, her expression clearing.

“Look, I can’t tell you what to do about Lexi, but I think some things you have to take on faith,” she says. “What does your heart tell you?”

I exhale. “That Lexi’s it for me. No matter what.”

“Then that’s all you need to know.”

“Mom, there are a million factors here. Dad?—”

“Trust fate, sweetie. It brought her to you. It won’t let you down.”

I shake my head. At this point, I’m not sure fate deserves that kind of trust considering everything else it’s dealt me. Or her. But I don’t have the heart to argue with her. “Thanks, Mom. I appreciate this.”

“Of course. Now get going. You have a wedding to prepare for.”

I manage an almost-smile as she hugs me goodbye and shoos me out the door again. Elio watches me from inside his SUV. Just to piss him off, I smile at him and wave, all the while imagining him driving straight off a cliff on the way home.

Maybe fate can start there.

My phone’s already buzzing when I open my car door and climb inside. With renewed determination, I pick it up and answer it. “Hey, Dutch. What’s up?”

“Dude, where the fuck have you been?” Dutch’s tone is more urgent and exasperated than I expect—even for ghosting him all day.

“Is that him?” Mia’s voice in the background is nearly a shriek. “Put him on speaker.”

“What the hell’s going on?” I demand.

“We’ve been trying to call you.” There’s a shuffling, and when Dutch speaks again, his voice echoes, letting me know I’m on speaker now. “It’s Ramsey.”

My good mood vanishes. “What about him?”

Mia snarls, “He escaped.”

30

LEXI

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