Page 39 of Fated to the Wolf Billionaire

“But she’s got a plane ticket that leaves tonight. She’s heading back across the pond.”

My heart turned to a block of ice at his words. Just like that? She was leaving me, without a word?

“Why?”

Gael looked away, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck. “Says she’s no good for you, for the pack. She’s very determined, so Kane bought her the ticket, since yours had already expired. But before you go hunt him down and do something royally stupid, you should know that we all want her to stay. We like her, and we’ve taken good care of her while you were out. But she’s got it in her head that whatever she is, is evil. Running guess is mer, for the record. She took it really hard, thinks she put everyone in danger, and hates herself for nearly killing you in the process. There’s more news about the ODL and the pack, but it’ll keep until after you convince her to stay.”

He was right. The ODL could wait another day, but that plane ticket was a ticking bomb. I squared my shoulders, ignoring the aches and pangs that pinged through my torso at the small movement, determination replacing my dread. If she thought leaving me was the best thing for usorthe pack, I’d disabuse her of that notion immediately.

If she wanted to climb on that plane tonight, it would be over my dead body.

Fiona wasmine. And I did not let what was mine go. Not now, not ever.

Apparently, she needed to learn that firsthand.

This time when I swung my legs over the side of the bed, Gael offered me a hand up.

* * *

After a quick shower,shave, and clean clothes, I found her in Olivia’s room, packing. I purposefully tamped down my fury at the fact that she was planning to leave without so much as a goodbye. It was unacceptable, but I’d deal with that after convincing her to stay.

“Mate.”

The word was barely more than a possessive growl on my lips, but she heard it, shoulders tightening as she glanced over at the wide-eyed Olivia.

“I’ll give you two a minute to say your goodbyes,” Olivia said, scurrying past me out the door like a terrified mouse.

A smart mouse, at least. But I wasn’t here to say any fucking goodbyes.

I shut the door behind Olivia, twisting the dead bolt without looking at it. The sound of it sliding home had Fiona spinning to face me.

Her chin was up in defiance, but she had worry in her eyes, worry that softened my resolve to snap and snarl at her. Slightly.

“I’m so glad you’re feeling better,” she said, eyes scanning over me as if to reassure herself I really was in one piece.

“I was, until I got a bit of news this afternoon.”

“Oh?” She feigned ignorance, turning back to her suitcase. Mistake.

My wolf saw her turned back as both a snub and a challenge. He was ready to pounce. Flip her on her back, put his teeth around her throat so she knew who was in charge.

Force her submission.

I was too. The longer I was up and about, the more myself I felt. The aches and pains were fading quickly now that I was out of bed.

Especially because I was so close, I could smell her. Her usual floral-and-amber scent was tinged with a bitter note of regret, and I didn’t like it one bit.

“Indeed. Imagine my surprise when I awoke on my sickbed, only to hear my mate was abandoning me without so much as a how do you do.”

She lowered the shirt she had been folding slowly, but she didn’t say a word. I stalked closer, not stopping until her back nearly brushed my front.

“I thought we were more than that, Stormy. I thought you and I had made some progress, trusting each other, getting to know each other. So why are you packing right now?”

I didn’t touch her, though the temptation was strong to sink my teeth into her, then bend her over the bed and fuck her until she promised never to leave me again. If I touched her, I might do exactly that.

“Because I’m poison, Reed. You’re a good man, thebestman. And your pack… Well, they’ve taken me in and made me feel right at home. And I repaid that by putting them all in danger and nearly killing you. No one knows what I am, with control of the weather like that. Turningbluelike that. But whatever that other side of me is? It’s bad news. And being close to you brings it out of me. So, I’ve got to go. It’s the right thing.” She lifted her chin, tossing the unfolded garment into the bag and flipping it closed.

I slapped my hand down on the suitcase, stopping her before she could reach for the zipper, boxing her in with my much larger frame.

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