Page 54 of The Wolf King's Mate

“Just spit out whatever you’re trying to say. His brothers monitor my phone. Someone’s probably listening to us right now.”

“Fine. I was fighting in Creek for a few days. Finally lost two days ago. Spent yesterday trying to find some wolves to join my pack, but didn’t have any luck. My wolf is restless. I’ll have to figure something out in the next few days, both job-wise and pack-wise.”

I sat down on the edge of the bed. “You should’ve told me.”

“There was nothing you could do.”

“Like hell there wasn’t. Enzo is overbearing, but he listens to me. I can get you a place here. I?—”

“He’s trapped you there, Aspen. If I move in, neither of us will ever get out.”

Fletcher wasn’t wrong.

And even though my wolf was so much more content in the king’s pack, Iwasstill trapped there. By a king who insisted on taking care of me as if I really was his mate.

I wasn’t stupid enough to think I’d find a way out anymore. Or that I necessarily needed to. Enzo was deadly, but not to me. The man didn’t want me the way the wolf did, but he wasn’t fighting his beast on it. He was taking care of me for him.

He'd been cooking me three meals a day—three delicious meals—and still hadn’t brought up my request to work. It wasn’t the life I wanted to live, being the king’s useless mate. He probablyjust wanted me to breed with him so he could have strong pups like him and his brothers.

He knew I wanted a job and liked to stay busy, but he hadn’t brought it up yet. I hoped we’d get to the point where I could, but he wasn’t exactly receptive to anything I said.

And he didn’t know that I had an IUD. That I definitely wouldn’t be getting pregnant in the next few years.

I definitely wouldn’t be the one who told him that.

Especially not when I only had two days left until my heat would start.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated to my brother, shaking away thoughts of heat.

That was tomorrow’s problem.

“Don’t apologize for him.”

“What’s your plan?” I changed the subject, not wanting him to say anything about the Alpha that might get him hurt or killed. I didn’t think Enzo’s wolf would hurt my brother, because he was so particular about caring for me, but there was still a chance.

I didn’t really know anything about the Alpha other than that he was possessive, thought I was his mate, and was deeply respected by his pack for killing rogue wolves who would otherwise kill innocent people.

Fletcher scoffed. “You gave my number to Jake. He’s been trying to convince me to join your king’s pack.”

“He’s notmyking,” I said.

But he kind of was.

“I’ll spend the next few days trying to join a new pack. I found a few leads in a gritty bar last night. Wanted posters for packs looking for wolves. Most of them already have Alphas, but I’ll reach out anyway.”

If Fletcher was a normal alpha wolf, he wouldn’t have a hard time finding one. Alphas who agreed to follow another Alpha made a pack much stronger.

But Fletch was too strong to join in that capacity. If he found a pack, he was going to have to lead it. And most packs weren’t looking for a leader.

Considering how big Crimson River was, it was very simple to abandon a pack if an Alpha you didn’t like took over.

If Fletcher just went into a pack guns-blazing and challenged the Alpha, people would leave, and he’d be in the same situation he was already in.

Alone.

Packless.

With a flailing wolf.

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