Page 64 of The Wolf King's Mate

“No. He didn’t kill Jake or Charlie for talking to you, so word spread that he just doesn’t want them flirting or staring at your tits.”

Oh.

That was good, I guess.

At least no one was acting like I didn’t exist anymore.

I sucked in a breath as I stepped into the elevator with my foot at a slightly wrong angle, and pain raced through my ankle.

“If you’ve reinjured yourself by refusing to wear the boot, there’s going to be hell to pay,” Clay warned.

The warning didn’t scare me.

Enzo’s definition ofhell to paydidn’t seem to apply to me any further than forcing me to eat delicious food and stay in hisroom. I’d become so comfortable there, I was starting to think of it as mine too.

The idea of reinjuring my ankle did scare me though, because my wolf was already annoyed that she’d been trapped for so long. She’d only settled down because heat was approaching. After it was over, she’d be back to her fiery self.

“Is the city okay, even though he’s been staying with me?” I asked, lowering my voice a little. “There haven’t been any new rabids?”

“We’ve been handling it. Our enforcers have been trying to convince him to let them help more for years, so people are actually glad he’s taking a step back.”

“Sounds like I should get hurt more often.”

He snorted. “Sure, if you want him to lose what’s left of his mind.”

It was a good point.

And I was tired of being injured, anyway.

eleven

ENZO

Aspen was curledup in bed with her iPad when I got back that evening. Those gorgeous blue eyes were heavy with exhaustion, and there were two boots on the floor instead of one.

Had she hurt herself again?

Why hadn’t anyone fucking told me?

My wolf snarled, and I strode to the bed, ripping the blankets off her legs to glower down at her injuries. When I saw just the one foot wrapped, and the other one perfectly fine, I paused.

“What’s your problem?” she grumbled, taking the blanket from my hand and resettling it back over her legs. All she had on was a sports bra and a pair of the tiny shorts she’d had on in my shower that first day.

She looked so fucking good.

“There are two boots on the floor.”

“Oh.” She closed the cover of the case I’d put on the new device. It was a light gray color, almost the same as the last one she had. “I might’ve walked to the doctor’s office without one.”

My nostrils flared. “Clay told me you need to wear it for another twenty-four hours.”

“Which is why the doctor gave me another one. I should probably offer to pay to refill his stash, because I think it’s the last one he had. I can’t imagine he kept more than two on hand.” She sat up. “He asked me again if he can use my blood for his research.

“No.” I scooped her up off the bed, and she made a noise of surprise as she clutched her iPad and phone to her chest. Maybe after we’d sealed the bond, my wolf would be willing to share her in that way. But if they found something in her blood that showed them how to make female werewolves?

I’d likely have to kill my own scientists to keep her safe. Which I’d rather avoid, considering I needed them to find a way to save our people. One that didn’t involve hurting or using my mate.

“Pack funds pay for all of the medical supplies. Don’t worry about the cost.” I grabbed the duffel bag she’d packed and threw it over my shoulder before striding out of the room with her cradled safely in my arms.

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