Page 70 of Howling Night

He took a deep breath, his hands clenching and unclenching as he paced. “I think I may have done something.”

“What?” I asked, shaking my head.

“I think I may have accidentally imprinted on you,” he said, swallowing hard.

“You what?” The morning sun suddenly felt too bright, too hot on my skin.

“Imprinted,” he repeated, like the word pained him. “It’s a wolf thing. A rare wolf thing. I thought it could only happen with other wolves.”

“What does that mean?” My voice rose, panic fluttering in my chest. “What did you do to me?”

“I didn’t do anything intentionally.” Ryder’s voice was defensive, but his eyes held a mixture of confusion and concern. “Sometimes when wolves...” He cleared his throat. “When we’re intimate with someone, there’s a small chance of forming a bond. An unbreakable bond.”

I frowned as I crossed my arms. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you saying I’m stuck here? I don’t believe that. Give me your keys.”

Ryder handed me the keys to his truck, and I hopped into the cab. I slid the keys into the ignition, and, just like my SUV, it wouldn’t turn.

“It’s like I’m not strong enough to turn it,” I said, looking at him.

“I’m so fucking sorry, Everly,” Ryder said, climbing up in the doorway and reaching over to start the truck. It rumbled and purred to a start. “I can drive you somewhere.”

“Okay,” I said, letting out a breath. “How do we undo this imprint?”

Ryder cut the engine and lowered himself back down to the ground. “I don’t know.”

“Oh, okay. You don’t know. I guess that’s fine then,” I said, rolling my eyes. Anger filled me, and heat raced to my cheeks. “You can’t do this to me, Ryder!”

“I didn’t do anything on purpose!” he said, turning away from me. “The bonds form when there’s something deeper. A connection that…”

“That what?” I asked, my voice sharp.

Ryder turned, meeting my eyes. “A connection that is unbreakable. A connection so strong. It happens when a wolf finds their soul mate.”

“Mate?” The word hung in the air between us. “Like, forever mate? We only just met. Wait.” I swallowed hard. “This didn’t happen last night. I tried to leave before now… you imprinted on me after the first time we fucked?”

“Apparently,” Ryder said, his chest rising and falling rapidly. “The car works fine. It’s the bond that won’t let you leave. You don’t want to leave me. We’re connected.”

I felt my knees weaken as I leaned back against Ryder’s truck. “You’re going to blame this on me?”

“It’s not blame, it’s just how it works.”

“Shouldn’t you have to get my permission to do something like that?” I asked, my brows squishing together like an angry caterpillar.

“It doesn’t work that way,” Ryder said, pushing his shoulders back. “I’m a pack leader. I’m an alpha.”

I covered my face with both hands, feeling the weight of defeat on my shoulders. “So I’m trapped. Oh my god, am I going to die here?”

Ryder winced. “I won’t let that happen. I need to call Trevor… have him take care of Paul. I need to figure this out.”

“Figure what out? How to un-imprint me?” I pushed away from the car, anger rising to replace my shock. “Is that even possible?”

His silence was answer enough.

“Great. Just great.” I pushed past him toward the house. “So much for my escape plan.”

“Everly, stop.”

My feet stopped moving.

---