Page 48 of The Wolf She Shouldn't Desire

Danny, this is not a good idea. Especially with the look you have in your eyes right now. I have a bad feeling about what I think you may try to do to help me.

I’ll try anything. You know that. I’m your guardian who is sworn to protect you and that’s just what I am going to do. You said you trust me or was that a lie?

I stare at him for a split second.I trust you.

Good. Don’t worry about it, okay? There are five of us taking care of it and having each other’s back. All for you Talia.You deserve the freedom to choose just like the couple you were just talking about. You deserve happiness, love, and so much more with that big heart of yours that you have to keep cold more often than not all because of the coven you were born into and who your father is. You deserve it too after everything you have been through and everything you have done for those around you. So, let us handle this for you.

I nod my head in acknowledgement.Okay, but please be careful.

We will.He pulls me closer as I lay my head back on his shoulder.

“When?” I ask out loud this time.

“Soon. A few days maybe.”

“You do realize that tonight my father is likely going to announce the engagement, right?”

“Yep, I’m counting on it.”

My brain starts trying to puzzle out what he has planned and how an announcement from my father about my engagement to Zander could benefit his plan.

“I can practically hear your brain going a million miles an hour, Talia. Stop trying to figure it out. Plausible deniability, remember?”

“Right. Got it.”

His shoulder shakes slightly under me as he chuckles. “I know you have difficulty letting go of control but try to do so anyway. Just act normal and go with the flow of things for the next few days. Everything will work out.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good,” he quips back before he kisses the top of my head. “We need to head back to the coven house, actually. Your father sent me out looking for you and threatened to lock you in the torture room in the basement if you are late to tonight’s party.”

“Jesus. Guess we better get going then.”

“Yeah,” Danny grumbles as we stand up and begin walking.

***

A few hours later, I find myself standing against a wall in a red cocktail dress with my hair curled and swept to one side as I sip on a glass of whiskey. This party is boring and irritating as hell. My father is thriving on all the attention he is getting as all the others suck up to him in hopes of being the most valued or to position themselves to be stronger allies to him than others. At the forefront of course is Zander. He stands at my father’s side looking as if the ass kissing my father is getting is extended to him as well. I sneer as it looks like my father is treating him like a prized son he never had. It’s pathetic and leaves me yet again thinking why?

Suddenly, Zander pats my father on the shoulder and turns to walk towards me. There’s a glint in his eye that sets me on edge and has my spine stiffening.

“Having a good time?” He smiles wickedly and effectively makes me feel as if a I have grime coating my skin.

“What do you want?”

“To say hello to my beautiful wife to be.”

“Kill me now.” I take a big gulp of my drink.

Zander moves closer and traces a finger up my arm. “Now, now. If I were to kill you then we wouldn’t be able to have all the fun I have planned for us once you’re mine.”

Bile burns my throat as it rises in response to Zander’s words. I jerk away from him and glare up at him. “I’ll kill myself then. There is no chance in this life or the next that I will let you touch me that way.”

His smile drops and is replaced by anger that takes over his expression and burns through his gaze at me like lasers. “You don’t have a choice in the matter as you are to be my wife, and very soon, if everything works out my way.”

My eyes slit further in a deeper glare. “My father may have promised me to you in marriage, but I did not. So, it will be a marriage only in title and that is it. Do I make myself clear?”

“See that is where your father and I are similar. We do not care what you want and will do what we want to get what we want. Do I makemyselfclear?” A smile creeps across his face again as he speaks.

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