Page 62 of Seduced By the Werewolves

I’m so stupid.

“But how did Beatrice know that he asked me to sign off for him?” I ask helplessly.

“Maybe she bugged your office.” Leon’s eyes are daggers now. “He’s being watched, and so are you.”

“That means they know he’s coming to pick a fight now because of Eli.” I feel the telltale clench in my chest, the tightening of my throat. “Is she part of the mob, Leon? Are they going to kill me?”

Leon reaches across the table and covers my hand with his. “Hey. Tiff. Come back to earth for me.” He lets out a deep breath, and then sucks it back in, reminding me that I need to breathe. I close my eyes and attempt it, counting between inhales and exhales. But I can’t tamp down the rising fear that Eli has royally fucked over not just my boss, but me, too.

“Why?” I demand. “Why did Eli do that?”

“Why?” Leon looks confused by my question. “Because Mr. Bosley’s an asshole, and he deserved it.”

I gape at him. “That doesn’t mean he should have gone beast on my boss’s house!” I’m breathing too fast. “And why Eli? He hates me.”

Leon looks at me like I have antlers. “He doesn’t hate you. Not at all. Why would you think that?”

The panicky tears are breaking free. “It’s obvious! The way he acted yesterday, like I was a huge pain in his ass.” I sniff.

“Yesterday?” he asks.

“When they were following me, I went to the work site and Eli was there. He was...” I scramble for the right word. “I don’t know. Mad at me, or something.”

Leon just shakes his head. “It’s not what you think, Tiff. Eli bonded to you that day, too, you know. He’s just afraid. He struggles to tell people how he really feels.”

But I don’t care that he’s bonded to me. “Eli could have just told me,” I say, trying to hold back the sob threatening to burst out of me. “Why did he have to go and do this?”

“To show you he cares.”

It’s so idiotic, but somehow, I believe it. That’s why he asked for Mr. Bosley’s name last night—he was planning this all along.

I pull out my phone, anger sweeping through me. At least anger is better than panic. “We’re going to work this out. Right now. Eli has to confess to Mr. Bosley what he did before it’s too late.”

Leon chews his lip as I type out a frantic message to Eli.

Why did you go after Mr. Bosley last night? Are you nuts??

My food gets cold while I wait for his response. Leon sits there silently, clearly ashamed of his part in keeping this from me.

Finally, an answer appears.

I did what needed to be done. He has no right to treat you like that.

I groan in frustration. Now Eli has created an even bigger problem, one that could potentially backfire on me in a dangerous way.

We have to talk. Now.

He responds immediately.

I’m at the state park. Meet me here?

It’s a strange place, but it will be neutral ground. I wonder why he’s there. I used to go to the state park almost every weekend to hike and enjoy nature.

I’ll be there in 20

If Leon were in his werewolf form, I think he’d have his tail between his legs the way he demurely takes my leftover food to the trash.

“I gotta go,” I tell him sternly, heading for my car. “I have to fix this mess.”

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