Page 137 of Never Submit

“Now, Ms. Wexler,” I bark.

“Tor—”

“Go.”

She’s looking at me like I stole something from her because in reality…I did.

She has to leave. Or do I?

Moving back to the window, I stare outside, forcing myself not to look at her again. I can’t.

To my relief, she doesn’t call out for me, and when I finally hear the cabin door open and close, I breathe a sigh of relief.

Pushing a hand through my hair, the truth of what just happened between us comes crashing down on me.

And I can’t handle it.

I have to go see Catarina. I have to explain to her… Or…I need to see her, talk to her, have her convince me she’s the right choice.

She has to be.

It’s the only way I’ll be able to save us all from Andras and make the Steel Claws the most powerful pack in the area once again. By this time tomorrow, I’ll be a married man, and I can put this whole Ren thing behind me.

I head out the door.

Chapter 31

Torin

Though she’s out of direct sight, I feel Ren’s eyes on me as I stalk out of the cabin, and even then I’ve got a gut feeling she tracks my movements through the camp toward my SUV.

The keys are in the ignition, my deltas scrambling to keep up with me. Calling for me to stop and wait for them. Their shouts fall on deaf ears.

My fucking cell phone vibrates in my pocket. I’ve finally come back to myself enough to realize it’s still on me. Has been on me the whole time I was buried inside?—

With a growl, I grab the phone and toss it. Far enough away to stop hearing the way it vibrates through the call.

I slide into the driver’s seat and turn the key hard in the ignition. Pressing my foot down on the gas and leaving the deltas behind, spattered in a spray of frozen mud.

Damn, I thought I’d finally found my footing.

I’ve got a plan in mind to reach the goal. And then I go off and, what, I give in to temptation and excuse the behavior as a one time, it-won’t-happen-again lapse.

A glance at my reflection shows the madman behind thewheel taking the curves of the old road too fast for safety. The seat is frozen, the leather chilling me down to the bone.

Thelastthing I should have done is fuck Ren. It was a lapse, a terrible, amazing lapse, and the mate bond I’ve rejected presses in on me. Begging me to acknowledge it. Which is why I’ve got to see Catarina.

To talk to her.

I need to convince myself thatsheis the one I need and I’m making the right choice.

I am, aren’t I? By doing what my father would have wanted? What he pushed for my entire life?

Every fucking step I’ve taken has been to make him proud and take this pack to greater heights. I’ve accumulated wealth, I’ve bought properties, I’ve scouted out multiple investment opportunities…

For what?

Am I happy? Is Ren right about the things she says? When she’s not panting and drooling over my cock?

---