Page 53 of Wolf

We’re silent as we walk around the building, and it doesn't go unnoticed that he avoids taking me through the party raging on the other side.

Slumping, I stifle a sigh but remain quiet because what can I say? He’s given his orders and I’d be foolish not to listen when he’s agreed to help me.

Out front of the building are two guys and I glance up when a husky voice says, “Hey there. You, okay?”

Beside me, Wolf goes rigid, and I shiver against the chill before mustering a smile for Maddox.

“Oh, hi.” My smile fades and I squeak when Wolf growls beside me, “How do you know, Maddox?”

Maddox shifts against the wall and glances between us with furrowed brows before his mouth curls down and he says, “Easy bro. I didn’t know she’s one of yours.”

His disappointed gaze lands on me and I shrink under my humiliation because lumping me in with Wolf’s other conquests doesn’t sit well. Not at all…

“That’s right,” Wolf says. “Stay the fuck away.”

I stiffen beside him and avert my gaze, my cheeks burning. How could he say that?

I’m not…No. I don’t get a chance to respond before Wolf grabs my arm and leads me to the truck.

Silently fuming, I climb in and stare out the windshield rigidly. While Wolf removes his vest and gets in on the driver’s side, I seethe.

After he pulls onto the highway, I swing to him and say, “Why would you do that?”

“Do what?” he rumbles with a fierce scowl.

Oh, he’s mad. Well, so am I and remembering my self-righteous rage, I wave my arm over my shoulder and say, “That! Back there. I’m not one of your…anything.”

Despite my annoyance, saying the words opens a wound that’s fresh and raw. Why does it feel like I’m losing something special when I never even had it to begin with?

His eyes roll over me, pausing at my chest in the achingly tiny top before he smirks. Unfortunately, there’s a darkness there that I can’t decipher when he says, “But you want to be, don’t you?”

I’m sure my jaw drops and clenching my hand into a fist, I ignore the burn in my chest as I swing at his arm. I don’t know who’s more shocked by my actions, but I power through, the lie tumbling from my lips. “I don't want to be your anything.”

Silence is my answer before he grunts and looks away, his brows over his eyes. “Good thing you’re not then, hm?”

Biting back a whimper, I turn to the window and stare at the passing scenery, my heart in my throat. Although true, his words were unnecessarily cruel. Add that to the list of things I didn’t know about the big bruiser.

When we’re a few houses down from mine, I rasp, “Here is fine.”

He slows and pulls to the side of the road. I don’t look at him as I push on the door. I just want to be away so I can process the hurt that clenches my chest. After tonight, I’m starting toconsider that I’m nothing more than an annoyance to Wolf and I don’t know how to pack that away.

“Lilli?” he says and pausing, I stare at the boots on my feet. What now? Maybe he’d like to drill the point home with a few more insults.

“Yeah?”

“If you were mine,” he rasps. “I’d burn the world to the ground to keep you.”

Whipping around, I stare at him wide-eyed until he smirks but there’s no mirth behind his eyes, only darkness.

“What?” I say, biting my lip.

His eyes drop to my mouth and darken before he growls, “Go. Don’t come back. I won’t be held responsible if you do.”

I shiver at the feral tone and close the door before tiptoeing down the sidewalk. He doesn’t pull away until I disappear into the bushes and after I’m out of sight, I lean against the house and close my eyes.

What did he mean? And why is my heart racing at that?

When I climb back through my window, I’m too dazed to consider the possibility of getting caught and I pause as the light flashes on.

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