Page 20 of Scar Bonds: The Scars That Bind Us

Senan knew that he did, so he just ignored him.

Coming closer still, just two small steps at a time, the wolf’s expression changed. This time he had his head slightly tilted, although he was still watching Senan intently.Is this your curiosity era?Senan had no idea and didn’t want to know.

Although… it was getting really difficult for Senan not to say anything. Thinking logically, meeting up with Morgan – assuming that was who the wolf was – was inevitable. He was now mated to the man’s brother and while Senan wasn’t sure why the Fates thought that was a good idea, the claim was done. He just didn’t want to be dealing with Morgan, or any other wolf for that matter, on the first day after he’d been claimed.

It might be time for you to make a heroic appearance, Fin,Senan thought, although as fast as he thought it, he hoped that wouldn’t be the case. If Fin fought the wolf – brother or not – the outcome wasn’t likely to be good for them as a mated couple. There was no way Senan wanted to deal with the Shifter Council again if he could help it.

I’ll just keep reading and with luck, the nuisance will go away.

Of course, because he was being a nuisance, the wolf didn’t go away. No, the damn wolf shifted, and all Senan could think when he saw Morgan in the flesh, was that his mind had played tricks on him – now he knew Finlay, he could see that Morgan only had a passing resemblance in terms of coloring and height to his mate.

Ho-hum.Much like he had at the bar all those years ago, Senan stayed where he was. He told Finlay he would sit on the log, and he would sit on the log until Finlay came by to collect him, or he decided he wanted to leave.

“I didn’t expect to see you in my part of the forest.” Alpha Morgan didn’t sound any less cocky than he did the night that Senan had met him.

“This is not pack land. Finlay made sure of that.” Senan said, not even looking at him although he bookmarked the page he was reading and closed the app. “I’m not in your territory. Leave me alone.”

“Where’s Finlay? He said you and he were fated. I’ve been calling and messaging him for a week and he’s not responding.”

“You’ve been texting and messaging him since last Friday night, and if he hasn’t responded then I’m guessing he doesn’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to talk to you either. People have the right to decide that for themselves and expect to have that decision respected.” Senan checked his notifications. Gabby was coming around and wanted to know if Finlay liked pizza.He's a wolf shifter. I think they will eat almost anything. But double the order.He hit send and noticed Morgan was glaring now, his fists clenched.

“There’s no point in standing there posturing. You’re a bald-faced liar and a coward in my opinion. I have the scars to prove it. I won’t waste my attention on anybody who would behave in such a dishonorable fashion as you did.”

“Is that what you told Finlay? Is that why my brother won’t have anything to do with me?”

“There you go again, rewriting history. Finlay walked away from you before he claimed me. I’ve got nothing to do with what you two get up to. My relationship is with Finlay, not with you.”

Had Finlay known Morgan would show up? If he had, surely he would’ve come sprinting to Senan’s side the moment Morgan shifted.Or has he been waylaid by other wolves causing a diversion?Senan strained his ears, but he couldn’t hear anyone fighting. But then his hearing wasn’t as sharp as a shifter’s was.

We might have to leave town if this is going to become a habit every time Finlay wants to shift.But even as he thought that he got angry all over again. Senan had rebuilt his life, and he was happy. Finlay was happy. Morgan was the only one who wasn’t happy, and Senan couldn’t give two fucks about that.

“Why won’t you talk to me?” Morgan demanded.

This time Senan looked up, meeting the man’s eyes without flinching. “I don’t fucking want to. Now piss off and leave me alone.”

Morgan seemed to collapse in on himself – his shoulders slumped, his fists unclenched, and Senan was sure the man’s expression was one of confusion. He’d clearly gotten so used to being treated as the Alpha, as somebody that everybody else bowed down to, he really didn’t know what to do when somebody challenged him on anything.

And Senan wasn’t even challenging him. He was speaking his truth. Something he should have done four years ago. Something he thought he had done four years ago. But something he was perfectly capable of doing now. They weren’t in a public space. There was no danger of anybody else getting hurt. He would protect himself if he had to, but Senan was damned sure that Alpha Morgan would never get the chance to hurt him again.

“You… You…” Morgan was reduced to spluttering. “My brother is my heir. He has to talk to me.”

“Your brotherwasyour heir.” Senan still didn’t look away, and he could actually see the point where Morgan was struggling to hold his eyes. Maybe it was the scar on his face, which, in his human glamour looked very thin. But it was still there, or maybe it was because Morgan knew what it looked like underneath. It could be that Morgan wasn’t used to anybody meeting his eyes in the first place, meeting him as an equal. And for the first time since he’d gotten his scar, that’s how Senan felt.

I’m not afraid of him anymore.Standing up, Senan made sure his wards were in place while he dropped his glamour. His wings, thank goodness, stayed against his back the way they should, but Senan could see from Morgan’s eyes that the passingof time had lessened his memory, too. He blinked away his shirt and, with a single finger, traced the line of his jagged scar from the corner of his eye, down his cheek, underneath his lips, and then a full slash from the edge of his neck to his underarm. Morgan seemed hypnotized by the motion.

“You marked me,” Senan said quietly. “I am forbidden, under the clauses in the punishment you insisted on, to heal myself. I will wear these scars until the end of my existence, because of your lies. I lost my home and family. I lost my position in my realm and my status as a member of the Fae Court. But I’m still standing.

“Hear my vow, Alpha Morgan. I will not engage with you in any way, shape, or form, for any reason until my scars heal and are no longer visible.”

“But you just said you can’t…”

Senan nodded. “That’s right. I can’t.” He moved his finger, tapping his newly formed mating scar left by Finlay on his neck the night before. Morgan’s eyes widened. “Your brother marked me, too. Because of this scar, your brother won’t have anything to do with you again, either. You brought this on yourself, Alpha Morgan. You’ll have to live with it, the same as I had to.”

And then, because he wanted to and he could, Senan translocated himself back to Finlay’s car. His wolf would find him. He had no doubt about that. If Morgan tracked him there, then Senan could just close and lock the doors and windows. He could easily ignore him from there as well, and the car seats were more comfortable than a log.

/~/~/~/~/

Senan hadn’t even finished another chapter of his book when Finlay came sprinting out of the trees, naked, heading for the car. Swiping his clothes, still on the hood, Finlay barely managedto get his pants on, before he was yanking open the driver’s door, cursing and swearing as he slumped in the seat.

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