Page 115 of Never Submit

I’d rather plant a fist in his face and watch him bleed. Especially when he showed up at the main lodge in wolf form, swaggering around on four legs like he’d just been handed the greatest gift in the history of creation.

I’m mad enough to wrap my hands around his neck, wolf or not, and strangle the life out of him.

He shifted back to man soon enough, but I don’t like him this way either. Not when he runs his mouth and gloats.

“No, I’m serious, Torin,” he says, straightening and linking his hands behind his back to stretch. Even his posture is fucking smug. “I’m really enjoying it. It’s not every day the great alpha of the Steel Claws is so close to being undone.”

“Perhaps you need to have your eyes checked,” I correct him smoothly. “This isn’t what jealousy looks like. I’m notenvious that you’ve gotten saddled with a wildcard. You have my sympathies.”

Mathis grins like he doesn’t believe me, and he has every fucking reason not to. This is not how I thought things would or should go. Not by a long shot.

“A wildcard in lifeandin the bedroom?” Mathis grins, his smile wide and toothy. “My lucky day. You have no idea what you’re missing out on. No, scratch that. I’m glad to have her all to myself. It’s your loss.”

“She’s not yours alone,” I bark. “Her tie tominecame first.”

“Noble is no concern to me. I know he’ll love her properly. The way she deserves to be loved.” Mathis sniffs. “The connection to him almost feels right. As though the mate bond wouldn’t be as exquisite as it is without his presence too.”

“Your taunts are tiresome.” My back teeth grind together again. If I keep this up I’ll be spending a fortune at the dentist.

Mathis and his shitty boasts are killing me slowly on the inside, and my mind whirs with all the things I can do to make him shut up. There are several colorful and violent options I consider closely before I shuck them aside.

The better part of valor and all that crap.

The worst part is I want to know what he’s experiencing. I’ve never in my life heard about a female wolf with more than one mate. Does Noble feel Mathis through the bond?

Since Noble seems to have taken a vow of silence in my presence over these last couple of days, I’m not exactly comfortable asking him. Just as he said he’d meet me at the lodge, yet my beta is nowhere to be seen.

My ribs constrict, my heart clenching and my frustration mounting to unbearable levels.

Not as though my father or any of his betas told me any stories about mates. Growing up, they’d been more concerned with teaching me to fend for myself. With keeping me safe and making sure I learned what it took to stay one step ahead of our enemies.

And that love is a weakness.

“My taunts are going to continue as long as you let them bother you,” Mathis explains, superiority dripping from every syllable. “You know that.”

I turn away from the dust-covered fireplace that looks large enough to roast a fully grown bear. The angle of the full moon casts silver and black shadows on the unused furniture.

“What I know is that I’m ten seconds away from destroying the truce just because you’re pissing me off,” I growl.

My phone vibrates again and I don’t need to look down at the screen to know exactly who is on the other end. The grinding intensifies until it feels like my teeth are about to come loose from their sockets. This is getting ridiculous.

A knock at the door sounds, and Noble pops his head around the corner seconds later. “Am I late for the meeting?” His eyes hold a hint of confusion. “I thought we said midnight.”

“If we said midnight, then you’re late.” I show him my watch. “Where were you?”

His bronze brows crash together. “Taking care of the tasks you assigned to me while you were off pacing somewhere. Try not to worry. I have it covered.”

Fuck, I’m not handling this correctly. I’m barely handlingmyself.

And Mathis has his fucking dog off his leash and prowling around outside the lodge like some kind of rabid security.

I guess I shouldn't complain. Things go more smoothly when Dax and Noble aren’t in the same room together.

I gesture for Noble to hurry the hell up. “Close the door behind you.”

My voice has deepened and gone gruffer than usual. Another sure sign I’m losing my grip. The iron tenacity my father instilled in me has gotten us this far. Why is it so hard to keep upnow?

I’ve been through unspeakable shit and I’ve survived. What is it about one female that turns everything upside down? My father would have never let any of this happen.

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