Page 24 of Auctioned Wolf Bride

“Not being able to shift?” She sighed again, slumping a little in her chair. She chewed the inside of her cheek, staring off to the side as she considered how to answer. “There are times when she pushes and wants to get out, usually during moments of high emotion. But she also gets it. We both do.”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a lot better adjusted than I would have expected about the whole thing,” I said.

Her jaw worked. “When I was younger and all my friends started shifting, it was a lot worse. It hurt a lot when I realized I’d never shift. I didn’t want to believe it. But it wasn’t going to change. Wanting it to or hating myself for not being able to shift wasn’t going to accomplish anything. Once I realized that, it was easier to accept it. I’d rather love myself and accept myself the way I am than hate myself.”

“Just like that?” I asked.

She snorted, giving a sly smile. “I’ve still got insecurities about it. Parts of it, at least. But that’s different.”

“What do you mean?”

At first, I wasn’t sure if she was going to answer. It was a bit of a pointed question, and I wouldn’t have blamed her ifshe decided to ignore me. But after a moment, she finally said, “Mostly, it just has to do with constantly feeling like I have to fight back against stereotypes. Having to work harder, you know? And when enough people tell you that you’re lesser, it’s hard not to wonder if they’re right.”

“I wouldn’t say that you’re lesser by any stretch of the imagination,” I said. “But that doesn’t change that you’re different. Of course people are going to comment. Even if the things they say are more than a little… dense.”

“Like assuming absents are closer to human than wolf?” she asked pointedly, eyebrows raised.

I took a deep breath. “Yeah… things like that. I’m sorry. It was a dick thing to say.”

“Do you think we’re lesser or something?” she asked, not looking at me as she broached the question.

“No, not at all,” I said. “But I won’t lie and say there aren’t things that shifters can do that absents can’t.”

She glowered at me, shoulders tensing in defiance. “We’re not pathetic or worthless, you know,” she said, her tone a little acidic.

“I never said you were,” I snapped back. “Though I will point out that I just had to buy you from an auction block.”

She shot me a glare, and I tried not to wince. That might have been a bit too far.

“I’ll pay you back,” she muttered. “Granted, it might take a few years… or the rest of my life.”

I shook my head, finishing off the dressing and releasing her hand. “Don’t worry about it. I was happy to do it.”

“I’m not someone who wants to be beholden to anyone,” she said. “Especially in that way.”

I wanted to make a joke about how I didn’t necessarily mind having her beholden to me, but I kept my mouth shut, doubting it would go over well. Instead, I focused on her arm as I said, “We can worry about that later. First, we need to get the marriage annulled.”

“Getting the marriage annulled should be easy enough,” she said. “That’s not the bit I’m worried about.”

“Me neither. But I’ll find a way to break the bond.” I gave her a wry grin. “I’m good at research. That’s kind of my whole thing. I’ll be able to figure it out.”

“Okay. But what if you can’t?”

I paused, turning to look at her. I couldn’t read her expression. “That won’t happen,” I growled.

Her jaw twitched, and she tossed her hair back, chin jutting out. “Humor me,” she said. “What if you can’t fix it?”

I thought about it, really thought about it, but I didn’t know the answer. My gut reaction was that I didn’t want to give up my lifestyle. I liked being a bachelor, liked not feeling attached to any woman for more than an evening. I didn’t want to settle down.

Except, now that I thought about it, I didn’t really have any interest in other women at the moment. I hadn’t even thought of anyone since rescuing Thea. The only woman who had been on my mind was her.

Was that because of the circumstances? Or because of the claiming bond? Did claiming bonds do that? I knew the bond caused possessiveness, but I’d never heard of it making anyone not attracted to anyone else. In fact, I knew of at least a couple ofinstances where a bonded couple had cheated on one another. It hadn’t turned out pretty.

What would happen if I couldn’t break the bond? Would I be able to give up my lifestyle?

Thea was watching me, her eyes shrewd as she waited for me to answer. I took a deep breath as I turned fully to face her.

“If I can’t, we’ll figure something out,” I said. “Come up with some sort of system.” I gave a half-smile. “I mean, hell, we’re already married.”

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