Page 146 of Roaring Flames

“Reid, go find the twins’ parents. We need to tell them what’s going on. They’ll know what to do,” Ashton instructs, and I can see the wheels in his head turning, the cogs circling.

“And what are you going to do?” I ask, turning towards Ashton.

“I’m going to look for Ethan. He shouldn’t be alone,” Ashton says.

He begins to stalk towards the forest.

I exchange a helpless glance with first Christian and then Reid before hurrying after Ashton. “I’m coming with you.”

Ashton stops abruptly. “No, you are fucking not.”

He glares at me, but I hold his stare without an inkling of fear.

“Yes, I fucking am.” I fold my arms over my chest and scowl. “Are you going to stand here arguing with me, or are you going to start looking?”

“You’re not a wolf,” Ashton snaps. “You’ll just get in the way.”

“I’m his mate,” I counter immediately, my tone firm in its conviction.

And…I realize this is the first time I’ve ever acknowledged that out loud or without scorn. The rightness of that statementnow seeps through my veins and surrounds me in warmth, kindling an unimaginable blaze.

Mate.

I’m his mate.

A battle wars in Ashton’s eyes before he finally grits out, “Fine,” and stomps towards the forest. “But I’m not slowing down for you.”

I roll my eyes. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

However, despite Ashton’s words, he waits for me at the edge of the forest.

I ignore him entirely.

“Do you even know where you’re going?” Ashton bites out as I push away a tree branch.

It snaps back into place…hitting Ashton square in the forehead.

“I’m his mate. Of course I do,” I lie, unwilling to admit that I’m completely and utterly lost.

I’m sure there is a way to find Ethan through the mate bond, but I haven’t yet read my copy ofMating Bonds for Dummies.

“Such a liar,” Ashton grumbles, and then silence descends, broken apart by the singing of crickets and the chirping of birds.

With every step, I can feel his eyes on my flesh, roaming over me in a way that makes my neck prickle. I can’t fucking take it.

I pause so abruptly that Ashton nearly runs into me. I whirl around and jab a finger at his chest. “Why the fuck do you hate me?”

Shock splays across his face, momentarily replacing the impassivity I’ve grown accustomed to. “What?”

“Why the fuck do you hate me? No lies. No half-truths. Why. Do. You. Hate. Me?”

Fifty-Two

IZZY

Atiny wrinkle forms between both of Ashton’s eyebrows. He seems genuinely surprised by my question, as if he can’t fathom how I’d come to such a conclusion.

“What?” he demands, his tone curt.

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