Page 7 of Pack Kasen: Part 2

Burning Wood?

Starling’s Peak?

“Are you insane?”

He fishes his phone from his pocket and thrusts it toward me. “I am not making it up. Call Finan. He will explain about Tagge’s diseased sister.”

I bat his phone away. “No.”

“The plan will work.” He returns his phone to his back pocket. “I bet within a day or two of the killer seeing us walking around arm in arm, they will try to kill me.”

I nod, liking this plan more and more. “So we wait. He kills you, and then I kill him. I like this plan. When do we start?”

He scowls at me. “You’re joking, right?”

I cock my head, blinking innocently up at him. “About what?”

He gives me another long look. “We’ll get the killertogether. There will be no waiting for him to kill me first.”

The plan loses all appeal. “All I want is someone to play bait. Imightbe able to take a couple of days to get your friend off your back if you’ll do it, but I don’t have long. My new job starts soon, and I have a bunch of training to do at the accounting firm.”

His jaw hardens. “You want to come back towork?”

“If you’re going to tell me women should be at home barefoot and pregnant, I will kill you. Literally, not figuratively.”

A hint of amusement flickers across his amber gaze. His eyes are pretty, shame he’s such a tool.

“You want to play, Kitty cat?”

Squeezing my eyes shut, I reach for my patience, find it, and keep a firm hold of it. Only a guy like the Wolf King would view a threat to kill as an invitation to play.

My wolf whines.

No, I tell her.There will be no play. Not with him. Not ever.

But I feel bad. Ialwaysfeel bad because I am forever telling her no. Stop growling. Stop this. Stop that. Be quiet. My wolf has a playful side that’s too dangerous to let out, so I’m forever silencing her.

It isn’t fair.

But that’s a problem for another day.

I lift my chin. The man I’m staring down is well over six feet tall. I’m a foot shorter than him, but I’ve never let a person’s build or height silence me. “I’m not interested in play or you providing for me.”

“My pack doesn’t work.”

My curious nature rears its head. “Then what do they do all day?”

He shrugs. “Sleep. Hunt. Play.”

I’m briefly attracted to that life of ease, but it will come with strings I have no intention of letting this man tie to me. “I’ve worked hard for this position. I’m not giving it up.”

“We can do this together, Kat.”

“I’ve been on my own since I was a kid, and I’ve managed just fine. I don’t need you.”

“I’m your mate.”

“You also locked me in your cage and made constant threats to kill me. I promise you, I was far happier with you out of my life than when you entered it. I’m getting pretty sick of saying this, but you’re clearly not listening to me. Getout.”

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