Page 145 of The Wolf King's Mate

“They have a good reason to be. I don’t even want to think about what he would do to someone who tried to hurt me.”

“Good point.”

“How are you doing?” I asked, studying him.

“Dreading watching you risk your life again.”

If he was admitting that much, he was feeling a lot more than dread. Now that he had lost his pack, I was all he had. With the distance we’d both put between ourselves and our parents, we were on our own.

“Have you talked to Lucas again since the pack booted you?” I asked. I felt Enzo’s eyes on me again. He’d probably heard Lucas’s name and assumed the worst.

I was only asking because Lucas had been one of Fletcher’s closest friends. I felt horrible for costing my brother that.

Fletcher’s gaze lingered on the wall over my shoulder, avoiding mine. “No. I didn’t know him as well as I thought.”

“If that’s because of me…”

“He sided with Alfred in the first challenge. Right off the bat. I’m pissed that I didn’t realize he was flirting with you, but our friendship ended when he decided he wanted me out of the pack for protecting my sister.”

Right.

That was obviously a sore subject.

I nodded, and Fletcher stood. “I’m going to watch the game.”

I was silent as he walked away.

“He fits into our pack,”Enzo said in my mind.“He belongs here as much as you do. My brothers have basically adopted him in.”

“He’s not a stray puppy, Enzo.”

“Do we seem like a loving family looking for a puppy to train?”

That was actually a fair point.

If theyadoptedFletcher, it would be because he was as much of a controlling asshole as they were. And he was. He would absolutely threaten Enzo the way Clay had threatened me if our roles had been reversed that first day in the Lodge.

“Come sit with me,”Enzo said, and his simple request surprised me.

I dished up the last slice of the chocolate cake and padded across the room, folding myself onto the gigantic cushion beside him. His arm went over my shoulders, and I leaned in close.

I didn’t care about football, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy sitting with my brother and… fiancé… and eating cake while they argued about the game.

The lightheartednessof our little party was gone when we joined everyone back in the conference room. I wasn’t nervous, but I wasn’t looking forward to what was coming, either.

The three human women who had agreed to help change more people were all gathered, along with their mates, but the moment we entered the room, my attention went immediately to one couple.

I stopped abruptly, and my adoptive mother gave me a small but genuine smile.

I crossed the room quickly, pulling her in for a tight hug, and she held me close.

“Your king sent a gift basket and called me,” she murmured. “Said he would’ve come by personally if not for the threat to your life, and invited me to be a part of this. He may be a menace to society, but he clearly cares about you.”

“He does,” I agreed, fighting the overwhelm of my emotions as well as a small amount of humor.

Menace to societywas absolutely the vibe Enzo aimed for.

When I got myself together, I pulled away and let Enzo take my hand, leading me to an empty chair nearby.

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