Page 44 of The Wolf She Shouldn't Desire

“That asshole is the one who is trying to start one in attacking wolves for no other fucking reason than he hates us. Why the hell are you trying to protect him?!”

“I am not protecting him!” I yell back. “I need every fact to convince my father not to—”

I pinch my lips together and turn back away from Jordan.

“Convince him to not do what, Talia?”

“Nothing. Forget about it.”

“No, finish what you were about to say,” he growls.

“I said forget about it.” I start to walk past him and towards the exit, needing to get away from this conversation. But of course, that’s not going to happen.

Jordan’s hand wraps around my bicep and yanks firmly causing me to jerk back from the next step I was about to take. I look up at him a bit surprised. No one else would dare stop me the way he just did except Danny. And yet he did.

“I’m not going to drop this. Your cut off comment there just spun my thoughts in directions I don’t like. So, please tell me what it is you are trying to stop.”

“I said forget about it. It’s not important.”

“The hell it isn’t. Is your father looking to attack werewolves in the city? Is he planning to start a war? Is Zander a test with how far they can go before we retaliate and how? Is—”

“Enough!” I yell. “They are not planning to attack werewolves in the city.” At least I’m hoping they aren’t.

“Sure feels like it with what Zander and his men have been doing. And to teenagers no less. Add to the fact that you are being cagey and secretive all of a sudden, can you blame me for thinking the way I am?”

I move closer to him and glare directly into his eyes. “None of what you are theorizing in that thick head of yours is going to happen. So, fucking drop it.Now.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute. Whether you know it and are deciding to hide it from me or if you are being kept in the dark by your corrupt friends and family, I don’t know. But I have a right to know if the wolves in this city are in danger.”

“I’m not being kept in the dark,” I hiss, hoping what I am saying is the truth. “And just because we are friends doesn’t mean shit in terms of what you get to know when it comes to vampire business in this city.”

“The hell it doesn’t, Talia! They’re attacking my people, and I am trying to protect them!” His rapid breathing fans my face, and his grip on my arm tightens slightly. “I thought you were different and didn’t want to see people, whether vampire, werewolf, or human, being hurt and bullied for no damn reason than who they were born as.”

“Don’t act like you don’t know me in this regard. I do care, and you know it!”

“You sure aren’t acting like it. You’re just going to stand back and let that monster attack us.”

The more he says the angrier and more frustrated I become because he has no clue. No clue at all what is going on and how it is all some twisted game filled with power and politics that I can’t always avoid no matter how much I try. And when I can’t avoid it, there still isn’t anything I can do at times. Thisbeing one of them as my father has threaten me and those I care about.

“What is it that you are trying to convince your father not to do if it doesn’t concern going to war with werewolves when this piece of shit Zander seems to be determined to do just that? The fact that you spoke of both Zander and your father in the same sentence, I’m guessing they’re allies. So, what the fuck do they have planned, Talia?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Yes, you can! Tell me so I can protect my people!”

“Your people aren’t the ones in need of protection right now!”

“What the hell does that mean!? You mean theyshouldbe attacked and potentially killed byyourpeople?”

“That’s not what I’m saying.” My frustration continues to grow along with hurt at his baseless accusations. I know they are thrown at me out of fear and not knowing the facts, but it still stings.

“Then what the hell are you saying?!”

“My father’s arranged a marriage between Zander and I!” I scream at him.

Silence greets me as his eyes slightly enlarge with shock. His hand that was still holding my arm drops, and he takes a step back from me as if I just slapped him.

“What?” he whispers.

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