Page 67 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

He tightened his grip.

“Let me go,” she said, her voice lower than any human woman’s.

“Not until you give me the respect I deserve.”

In a move he could have never predicted, she pushed her face closer to his, bringing her mouth so near her breath fluttered over his lips. “In my territory, respect is something you earn. Not demand.”

A hint of wildflowers wafted around him.

His anger faded. Before he could stop himself, he breathed deep, taking in a lungful of her scent.

In his mind, his wolf settled onto its haunches, its posture relaxed.

Bewilderment swamped him. A second ago, the beast was trampling through his consciousness, sending images of rage and destruction.

Now, in the face of another wolf’s aggression, it wanted a nap?

Haley pulled her chin from his grip. “I’m going inside.” She slid back to her side of the SUV, tossing him a furious look as she brushed at her chin. She opened the door and was out of the car before he could react.

He reached for his own door handle just as a fresh spasm of pain shot down his leg, the sensation so fierce he was forced to sit rigid as she rounded the front of the SUV, her wolf blue eyes flashing in the headlights. He couldn’t go after her, not without risking a fall.

Helpless.

Impotent.

Cripple.

The words racketed around the inside of his skull, hammering at him as he watched her go. She stomped up the steps and entered the house, giving him a final scathing glance as she slammed the door.

No other wolf would have dared it. No other Alpha would have allowed it.

But he wasn’t any other Alpha.

He was a scarred, helpless cripple. And she was right. He wasn’t worthy of her respect. If she didn’t know it before, she did now.

And that was for the best.

For both of them.

12

What an asshole! Haley slammed the door so hard it shuddered on its hinges. It would serve Bard right if she broke it. He had a lot of nerve grabbing her.

Again.

The mudroom was dark, but light from the moon streamed inside. Through the window, fat snowflakes drifted to the ground. It was a peaceful scene and a sharp contrast to the fury simmering under her skin.

She turned and stared at the door, her temples throbbing. It was quite the pattern, his habit of gripping her chin and snarling in her face any time they rode in a car together. “From now on I’m taking an Uber,” she muttered.

After a few more seconds scowling at the door, she turned and toed off her boots. This time she didn’t bother putting them on the mat. Let them leak all over the place. He deserved it for being an arrogant dick. Maybe the water would ruin his floors. Maybe it would get under the boards and warp them and he’d trip every time he came inside.

An evil smile curved in her mind. He’d think of her every time it happened. She’d be long gone and still getting revenge.

The door swung open and Bard’s body filled the frame.

She froze, her heart pounding.

His gaze went to her boots.

---