Page 88 of Savage Fate

Enid loved her son and would do anything to make him happy, so I couldn’t blame her for the sneaky tactics. I just wished her son had another girl she could play matchmaker with.

“I can find it.” At least, I hoped. “But thanks for yourhelp.”

She winked. “Anytime.”

I jogged up the stairs and into the house to search for the music room. Fane would be pissed if I showed up with Saint.

Too bad. He shouldn’t have left me in Blackwater Falls.

It took a few minutes of wandering the oak hallways to locate the music room, where the faint crashing of drums echoed. Obviously, the walls were soundproof, or my shifter hearing would have picked up on the melody minutes ago.

As I opened the door and stepped inside, my jaw almost hit the floor.

Saint sat behind a drum set, easily wielding his sticks to create the slow, sultry rhythm that pulsated through the room. His eyes were closed, and his body moved with the beat, totally lost in the music.

He was shirtless, displaying an array of colorful tattoos that not only slinked down his arms but covered his hard, shredded torso. A fine layer of sweat clung to his hairline, those black strands wild around his chiseled face.

The air catapulted from my lungs as I watched him, and a trail of heat blazed down my spine. Saint Grimstone could rival a rockstar for sex appeal. Hell, he looked like a rock god playing on a stage for millions of people.

This man could have a dozen girlfriends begging to please him, and Sadie would be the first in line.

Hoping for his fated mate turned out to be a monumental mistake. The poor guy waited for a dream but got a nightmare instead.

His eyes opened—those molten silver orbs burning through thick, sooty lashes—and my damn knees wobbled. He stopped playing, letting the sudden heavy silence fill the room as his expression remained unreadable.

Maybe he was still angry and wouldn’t take me anywhere despite what Enid claimed. She probably didn’t know about our fight.

“Tate.” Saint lowered the drumsticks to his lap. “I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me after last night.”

I nervously fiddled with the ends of my hair. “Oh, well, your mom said you were in here.”

“You know I was just looking out for you, right? My instincts took over, and I’m sorry if I upset you.” He used his arm to wipe his forehead and then smoothed back his hair. “Actually, no, I’m not sorry for anything. I was trying to protect you. Simple as that.”

“That’s fair.” I crossed my arms over my chest, chewing on my bottom lip as I considered my words. Now that I was in front of him and he was a little more broody than usual, my bravery began to fold.

This was a bad idea.

Saint stood from the drum set and trekked toward a table on the right to grab a water bottle. “I know you think I crossed a line, but I couldn’t help it. Being an alpha only intensifies my protective nature. And when I realized what was happening, that Fane was the one hurting you, I lost it.”

“You still seemed pretty levelheaded last night, for the most part, anyway.” Maybe Fane and I just had such volatile personalities that our definition of losing control severely differed from Saint’s.

“I was barely hanging on. Trust me.” He rolled his shoulders. “If I’d shown too much aggression, Fane would have snapped, and Avery and other pack members would have gotten involved. That was the last thing we needed.”

I meandered around the room, avoiding his intense gaze, and stopped in front of a shelf with a collection of musical items and trinkets. “I guess that’s why you’re an alpha.”

“That’s why I’m agoodalpha,” he said. “Plenty of shifters can have power over others, but it takes hard work to keep a peaceful pack.”

I hated myself just a little more for being the worst fated mate ever. Saint deserved so much better than he got.

“My father taught me that.”

I jumped when I realized he only stood a few inches away, his scent of pine mixed with sweat creating a mouthwatering flavor.

“He’s a wise man.” My fingers absentmindedly toyed with a stack of sheet music, all those curvy symbols gibberish to me.

“He is.”

Saint’s presence filled every breath I took, and I was beginning to think being in a car with him for hours might not be the best idea.

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