Page 34 of Auctioned Wolf Bride

“You can’t shift,” he pointed out.

I bristled, a growl rumbling in my throat as my wolf snarled her own protestations. “Just because I can’t shift doesn’t mean I’m incapable of wanting to stand up for myself or for other people.”

“You’ve made that perfectly clear,” he said. “But no. It’s too dangerous.”

“Tannen—”

He growled. “I can carry you off without too much trouble, you know. At this point, I should just haul you back to Brixton so we can take care of this whole mess.”

“We can’t let them keep doing this,” I said.

Something in my tone must have registered. He looked me up and down, the intensity in his gaze heating my entire body. I felt trapped by his stare. Finally, he sighed, shaking his head in frustration. “All right, you win,” he growled. “But we can’t just go up and fight him.”

“I never said that.”

He raised a perfect eyebrow with something like interest, maybe even admiration. “What do you suggest?”

“Strength isn’t the only way to beat someone,” I said. “Outthinking can be just as effective.”

Tannen grumbled, rubbing his face as he continued to pace back and forth. After a moment, he glanced in my direction, curiosity plain on his face as he scrutinized me.

“Can I ask one thing?”

“You just did,” I retorted playfully. At his annoyed glance, I gave a sly grin. “But one more question won’t kill me. What is it?”

“First rescuing the girls, and now this. Why? Why do you want to put yourself in danger?”

“Because I want to help people,” I said.

He shook his head. “I’m sure that’s part of it,” he said. “You definitely seem the type. But there’s more to it than that. You keep insisting on getting in trouble, almost to the point of being reckless.”

I hesitated. The truth was, I knew there was more to it. I was okay with being an absent. I really was. But that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the need to prove myself. I knew enough about what most shifters thought of absents to know that they automatically assumed they were completely helpless and couldn’t do anything. So I overcompensated sometimes, going out of my way to prove those assholes wrong, to show them I could do whatever they could.

But I didn’t know how to put that into words. How could I explain that need to prove myself to someone who could never understand?

“I want people to take me seriously,” I finally said, even if that didn’t quite cover all my reasons.

Yet, understanding flickered across his features, and I had a feeling that he had guessed what I meant even if I hadn’t explained it properly. He stood in front of me, taking my chin in his hand and tilting it until I was looking right at him.

“I take you seriously,” he said. “And trust me when I say you’ve done more than enough to prove me right on that end.”

Emotion flooded my body, mixing with the adrenaline. Something about the words warmed me. A lump formed in my throat as I choked out, “Thanks.”

For a moment, I thought he might kiss me. Instead, he stepped back, hand falling to his side. Scratching his chin, he began pacing again, muttering to himself.

“There’s a ravine not too far from here,” he said. “I have an idea.”

Chapter 12 - Tannen

“Do you really think this plan will work?” Thea asked as she peered over the ravine.

“I hope so,” I said. “Though Damien might guess what we’re trying to do. Still, I think he’ll be too pissed off. He’ll come after us even if there’s some danger involved.”

She chewed her lip, a cute quirk she had when she was thinking. Cute? I shook my head. I needed to get rid of this claiming bond soon, before it got any worse. Thea was gorgeous, but that didn’t mean I could let those types of thoughts creep in.

“What is it?” I asked.

She didn’t answer right away, instead continuing to think over something, her brow furrowed. Finally, she said, “Do you think it would be better if I was bait? Instead of you, I mean.”

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