Page 44 of Bait Wolf
Sighing, I walked through the store, picking things out while he trailed behind me.
Finally, I handed everything to him and pushed him toward the changing rooms.
“I’m sorry, you’re only allowed to take in five items at a time,” the employee there said. Then she met my gaze and her eyes widened. “Oh! I’m sorry, are you the Redwood?”
I smiled, nodding, and her wide eyes flew to Ember.
“I heard what happened,” she said. “It was on the news.”
I highly doubted that. Probably the sports highlight, but I wasn’t the first fighter to decide that I wasn’t leaving without the bait wolf. It certainly wasn’t anything sensational.
“We’ll just try these on,” I said, and she nodded, letting us through.
I steered Ember into one of the rooms, grinning at him as I pulled the curtain shut between us.
“I want to see everything,” I informed him, taking a seat on the large ottoman in the middle of the change area.
“Okay,” he said, laughing shakily.
I sat patiently, facing the beige curtain that hid him and, for some reason, my heart started to thump in anticipation.
It felt like I was about to get a little show. I got to see my own mate dressing up just for me.
For a while, I sat there, listening to the shuffling as Ember changed.
Eventually though, as the sounds continued, I realized he wasn’t planning on opening those curtains.
I stood up, a little bit hurt, despite myself.
When I pulled back the curtain, Ember nearly jumped out of his skin.
He was dressed in a pair of black jeans and the emerald green t-shirt.
“Are you not planning on showing me any of them?” I asked.
At the look on his face, I frowned, realizing he was trying to hide behind the jacket I’d picked for him.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
He bit his lip, looking miserable.
“Nothing fits me,” he finally said in a small voice.
I reached out, gently prying the jacket from his grip.
He was indeed swimming in the outfit. Which surprised me, honestly, because I had picked only extra smalls.
I met his embarrassed gaze and slowly reached out, letting my hands reach around his waist. Even through clothes, my fingers nearly met.
More unbearable anger and frustration and sadness took root inside me. I grit my teeth.
“Did they even feed you at all?” I asked quietly.
Ember’s lip trembled until he bit down to stop it.
“Sometimes,” he finally said.
I had to hold back my feelings. This wasn’t the time to go on a killing spree, but Abram was suddenly on the top of my list. The bastard threw lavish parties. Nearly every month he rented out entire clubs for events. After fight nights, he often took fighters on trips or booked out hotels.
