Page 40 of Wolf Bitten

“Don’t,” he replied but kept his gaze on Keith. “I have to handle this, or he’ll keep escalating, and I’m at my wits’ end. He needs to get in fucking line or get out of my life. You’re my mate. I made that decision. It can’t be undone or changed, so his attitude ends now. He needs to decide what sort of relationship he wants with me—friends or enemies.”

Aldric and Adam exchanged terse glances. They weren’t thrilled with Raffe, but neither was I. I didn’t know what needed to happen, but he’d better calm down before he made things worse.

“This is how it is? You’re willing to throw away twenty-three years of friendship forher?” The area around Keith’s eyes tightened.

“I’m not sure how much clearer I can be.” Raffe released his hold and lifted his chin, coming off even more threatening. “I chose her. Our bond is unbreakable.”

Keith scoffed, the warmth in his eyes fading to bleak pain. “Fine.” He looked at me. “Skylar, I’m sorry, but to be honest, I’m struggling with Raffe’s decision. Regarding everything that deals with you, he’s more overbearing than normal, which makes me furious. But I’m taking it out onyou,and that’s not fair. I’m sorry.”

Jaw dropping, I blinked a few times. Had I misunderstood him? But when Raffe’s shoulders relaxed, there was no denying what I’d heard. He couldn’t take his anger out on Raffe, which made me the easier target.

“I won’t say it’s okay, but for Raffe’s sake, I accept your apology.” That was the thing with bullies—if you allowed them to justify their actions, they’d never hold themselves accountable. They had to learn boundaries, and I wouldn’t allow Raffe’s actions to be in vain by mitigating what he’d done.

That strange sensation I kept feeling propelled me next to Raffe. “But, Keith …” Hell, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. “You make one rude-ass comment like that to me again, and it won’t be Raffe putting you in your place.” I lifted my chin, the strange sensation settling inside me. “It’ll be me.”

A cardamom scent hit my nose, and my connection to Raffe heated up. At the same time, Keith smirked, but the cruel lines that usually accompanied that look were missing. Instead, something strange crossed his face.

“Is that so?” He tilted his head. “I almost want to rise to that challenge.”

Raffe growled, the sound threatening but low so the humans didn’t hear.

Keith lifted his hands in surrender. “I saidalmost, but I get it. The two of you will team up and kick my ass. I’ll try to behave.”

That was more of a concession than I’d expected fromhim.

“We need to go,” Aldric interjected, his voice dripping with disapproval. “Your father arrived home and wants to know our status.”

“Since he refuses to ask me himself, tell him we’re on our way,” Raffe said and extended his hand to Keith.

Shoulders relaxing, Keith accepted Raffe’s hand, and they shook, I guessed sealing the promise.

I was just happy for another small win, especially after Dave had vanished.

As soon as they dropped each other’s hand, Raffe tensed. “And if you twoeverleave me out of something important like Dave’s disappearance again, we’re going to have serious problems.”

“Got it.” Adam averted his gaze to the grass. “But honestly, we weren’t trying to hide it. We were just making sure you rested and reconnected with Skylar.”

Raffe sighed but nodded. “Still wasn’t your call to make.” He took my hand and led me toward the car. “I get it, but don’t let it happen again.”

“Understood.” Adam hung his head.

With every step, my legs felt weighed down. It was time to head to Raffe’s childhood pack home, and I feared what would greet us. He’d warned me there would be challenges to our mate bond, and that hadn’t truly computed until now.

Meeting the king.

I’d met him only once at the one football game I’d attended. The man had screamed power and intimidation, and my blood had fritzed in his presence. He’d also forced Raffe to decry me so I would be ostracized by humans and shifters alike.

Raffe took me to the passenger side and opened my door.

“Uh …” I chewed on my tongue. “Aldric might want to sit in the front.”

“No, I’m good.” Aldric gestured to a burnt-orange Bentley sedan parked beside the BMW. “That’s my ride. I’m just waiting to follow you there.”

In other words, he wanted to ensure we didn’t change course. “Are all wolf shifters so trusting?” My mouth had run away from me once again. I’d never had a problem controlling myself before, and I needed to stop with the snark before we met with King Jovian.

“We were”—he arched a brow—“until you came into Raffe’s life.”

Touché. I told myself to get into the car and not drag it out, but my mouth had a mind of its own. “I haven’t forced him to doanything. Don’t make me out to be the bad guy.”

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