Page 35 of Betrayed Mate

I huffed, crossing my arms. “If by pain in your ass, you mean that I wasn’t okay with you—”

“Donotsay beating up a victim.” He took two large steps toward me, getting in my face.

Immediately, the other three guys moved in, arms raised as if they were ready to intervene.

But I didn’t need their protection. I could take care of myself, or I’d go down trying. I couldn’t rely on anyone but myself.“Why? Because you might feel a little bit of remorse for what you did?” A little bubble of hope expanded in my chest. I suddenlyneededto hear him admit to being a somewhat decent person, though I wasn’t sure why.

“Because Simon’s not a good being. That’s why.” He moved quickly, placing a hand on my arm.

The other three guys jerked forward but pulled back when they noticed his gesture.

The sheen dissipated from his eyes, allowing me to see warm brown with flecks resembling gold. My wolf fidgeted awkwardly as I got lost in those beautiful eyes. Between that and the tingles from his touch spreading through my body, I had to remind my heart to harden as I stepped back and squared my shoulders. I couldn’t allow anything to distract me from my hatred of him. I had one task, and it was way more important than any draw to a man—especially someone who could turn on me at any second.

“Why should I trust you? You’ve given me absolutely no reason to, and your pack’s reputation speaks for itself. Do you even know Simon?”

And just like that, the sheen settled back over his gorgeous irises, and the strange sensations in my stomach calmed. Good. I didn’t need any more confusion. I’d found a self-destructive path well enough on my own.

“I don’t need to know him to know he’s no good.” He dropped his hand and snarled. “And if you’re going to question my judgment, then maybe you shouldgo.”

My heart lurched. Finding Briar on my own might be more difficult.

Taking a deep breath, I found my resolve. “You’re right. Maybe I should go on my own. Your antics are distracting me from finding Briar and our real enemies anyway.” We’d wasted time chasing down innocents instead of the real threat, and it probably would be more effective to search on my own.

Gage snorted, his stern expression vanishing, until Ryker whipped his head in his direction and growled.

Gage lifted both hands, and his expression sobered though his eyes held a hint of sparkle. “What? She just called your ass out. It’s sorta refreshing. No one has done it since—”

“Donotspeak her name,” Ryker bit out in a voice part human and part animal, suggesting he was on the verge of shifting.

Xander gripped my shoulders and tugged me back a few steps until my back pressed against the vehicle.

Ryker recoiled and focused on me as fur sprouted from his arms. “Donottouch her. I’ve already told you once.” He was on the verge of losing control.

“You’re about to shift, and I was getting her out of the way.” Xander once again dropped his hands like he’d touched something hot. “What the hell is wrong with you? You’re acting even angrier than usual.”

Ryker’s chest heaved. “Because nothing’s gone the way it’s supposed to ever sinceshejoined us. We should be getting answers, but instead, we’re searching for fictitious supernaturals that shefelt.”

What a control freak! The fact that I had my own mind infuriated him. “You know what? You’re right. I’m hindering you, and you’re hindering me. Let’s just cut ties and go our separate ways.” I needed to follow the pack link to Briar and stop wasting time fighting with him and torturing a vampire who’d just lost a ton of people he must have cared about.

Ryker lifted his chin, and at this point, I couldn’t even see his eyes through the sheen. “Fine. Go,” he said condescendingly.

I spun on my heel, hating that he’d given me permission before I made the move on my own. I would now have to figure out on my own how to save my sister from whatever pack clearly had it out for us. Still, it was better to get there and figure it outinstead of wasting precious time hunting down innocent people in hopes of quicker answers.

I marched past Xander and around the back of the vehicle. Since we were in the area where I’d grown up, I could easily avoid the wolf territory lines and stay close to town. Half the Shadowbrook population was human, so it wasn’t deemed any supernatural’s official territory.

I’d just reached the main road so as not to stray into Asher pack territory when I heard footsteps hurrying behind me.

“Ember, wait,” Ryker rasped.

I spun around, and when I saw the way he stood before me, I stopped in my tracks.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

He hung his head, and his shoulders slumped, making him appear almost like a different person. He kicked the ground, causing a few pebbles to scatter to the side of the road and ping against the trunk of an oak tree.

I hated that I’d turned around. I should’ve just kept going. Nothing good could come of a conversation between the two of us, but the damage was done. Seeing him less confident tugged at my heart at a time when I needed it to remain impermeable. “Want to insult me some more?” I sneered.

“No.” He shook his head. “You don’t need to go after your sister alone, and I don’t want you to leave our pack.”

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