Page 67 of Wolf Bound

I’m in deep shit.

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I knew she was mad,but I hadn’t imagined she was angry enough to throw an old football trophy at my head when I enter my bedroom. I barely duck out of the way in time before it goes crashing into the wall next to me. I watch as drywall pieces fall to the floor and land around the broken trophy.

“Really?” I shout, shutting the door behind me. “I won that trophy in elementary school.”

“I don’t care,” she snaps, crossing her arms over her breasts. “How could you do this?”

“It’s the only way I can think of to protectbothyou and Remington.” I sigh. “What other choice did I have? There were no good options available, Pru. It was either sacrifice you to save Remington or sacrifice Remington to save you, and I couldn’t live with myself if I had to choose.” I lock the door and turn back to her. “So, I’m not going to choose.”

“You did make a choice, though.” She glares. “Youchoseto sacrifice yourself instead.”

“Hell, yes, I did!” I yell at her. Her arms drop to her sides, and she takes a step back. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you or Remington.”

“But if you die tomorrow, you’re going to leave me behind.” Her voice breaks. “And then what?”

“There is a possibility I could win the challenge,” I point out as I walk toward her. My wolf is nudging me from my head, urging me to comfort our mate.

“Youcoulddie.”

“Icouldwin,” I counter.

“I’m not willing to take that chance,” she sniffs.

I stand in front of her and watch the tears stream down her face. “You’re so strong,” I tell her as I wipe away one of the tears with my finger. “You’re probably the strongest person I know.”

“Really? Because I feel like I’ve been crying a lot lately.” She turns her head away from me when I try to tilt her chin up so I can look her in the eye.

“Having emotions and caring for people doesn’t make you weak.” I shake my head. “If anything, it makes you stronger when you care about someone. It means you have someone to fight for. Someone tolivefor other than yourself.”

“And now you want to walk away from that?” More tears run down her face. “From me?”

“I would never want to leave you, Pru, but I would rather it be me than you.”

“You just promised me you would never leave my side,” she reminds me, “and now you’re going back on that promise.”

“I also said I’m too stubborn to die.”

“What happens if you do?” she asks.

“We have plans in place to get you away from here as fast as possible. There’s a safe house we have in Colorado they’ll get you too, and they’ll keep you safe.” This time when I reach for her, she allows me to guide her face up to mine. I caress my thumb along her jaw. “I only care that you’re safe.”

“All I want is for you to be safe too,” she whispers, her big green eyes looking up at me. “I need you to stay alive.”

“I will,” I promise her, even though it’s not something I can guarantee. But I say it anyway. I lean down and brush my lips softly against hers, sealing my promise.

30

Pruitt

Istand in the window, staring up at the moon as I contemplate my next move. The soft kiss Ryker had given me before he left almost felt like a goodbye kiss, and that worried me. This whole situation worries me. I’m worried about Remington, I’m worried about the safety of the pack, but most of all I’m worried about Ryker. There’s a fairly big chance Ryker won’t be walking away from this fight, and I can’t allow that to happen.

So that’s why I’ve come up with this plan. A good plan? Absolutely not. But it’s the only plan I can think of that will keep everyone I care about safe and Ryker alive. And that’s my main priority right now—keeping the man I’m deeply and madly in love with alive.

I look down at the phone I hold in my hand and tap my fingers on the screen. I know what I need to do, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I know people will be upset, especially Ryker. But I’m willing to have him upset with me if it means he’s breathing. I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly to steady my nerves before I open the phone and go to my contacts.

I click Remi’s name and place the phone to my ear. With every ring, my heart beats faster and faster. My hands are sweating and shaking, and my stomach drops when the phone goes to voicemail.

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