Page 22 of Stalked By the Wolf

“That’s all you have to say?” I snap, irrationally angry at Axel for being what he is — a quiet, growly mountain wolf.

His huge shoulders lift in a shrug. “What do you want me to say?”

“Aren’t you supposed to tell me how rare it is to find one’s true mate and that I should go after her and beg her forgiveness?”

“Why would I tell you that?” Axel asks. “You know better than anyone if you fucked this up.” He pauses and then adds, “Do you love her?”

“Of course I love her, you prat. Why do you think I’m here?”

Axel drags in a breath and lets it out slowly, looking as though he’d rather be anywhere but here having this conversation. “Well . . . then I guess you should go after her.”

“I can’t go after her, moron. Sheleft.”

“Right,” Axel chuckles. “And I suppose you’re the first couple in the history of the world to have a little spat.”

Irritation flares through me, and I open my mouth to rip him a new asshole. “Imarkedher,” I say instead.

Axel’s eyes go wide. “Youwhat?”

I nod, feeling drunk and a little desperate. What was I thinking, coming here? Talking to this Neanderthal isn’t helping.

“My wolf, he . . .neededto claim her. I wasn’t thinking. It was just . . .”

The greatest moment of my entire existence.

I swallow to get past the lump in my throat, but it’s no use. I’m starting to think that even an IV drip of the world’s shittiest bourbon wouldn’t be enough to dull the pain I’m feeling.

It isn’t heartbreak. It’s a complete death of the soul.

I’ve heard of wolves who ignore the urge to mate going feral. What I haven’t heard of is a wolf who’s been rejected by his bonded mate and lived to tell the tale.

I realize I don’twantto live without my angel. I may not be good enough for Claire, but she belongs to me.

“I need her,” I mumble, and that painful knot in my chest eases just a little. “I need her like I need fucking air to breathe. I don’t care if she thinks I’m a horrible bastard. I have to make her accept me.”

Now Axelreallylooks as though he’d rather be anywhere else but here. He lets out a long-suffering sigh. “Well, I don’t have a lot of experience in this area, but have you tried talking to her?”

I scoff. “’Course I talked to her. I’m not an idiot.”

“Did you tell her you love her?” Axel asks patiently. “Did you tell her she’s your woman and that you can’t live without her?”

The realization hits me at his words, and a leaden weight settles in my gut.

I’ve never thought Axel had much going on in that thick head of his, but maybe he’s onto something.

I didn’t tell Claireanyof those things. I’ve never been good at the romantic crap. All I did was confirm her worst fears — that I’m a monster like Murphy who was going to use all that stuff I learned against her.

I may be a bit of a creep, but I’m not like him. I didn’t dig into Claire’s past to hurt her. Hell, I didn’t evenknowher.

While I can’t change knowing things she didn’t want me to find out, knowing what I do doesn’t make me think any less of my mate. It only makes me want to hold her. Love her. I just have to get her to let me.

“Thanks for the talk, mate,” I say, pulling out my wallet and staring at the blurry bills inside. “I’ve gotta go.”

“I’ll drive you,” Axel grunts just as the bartender brings out his food. “You shouldn’t be behind the wheel.”

The wolf lets out a resigned sigh, annoyed that I’m keeping him from his breakfast. “Can you box this up for me, Lorne? I’m gonna need it to go.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

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