Page 61 of Fated to the Wolf Cowboy
“Uh, what were you saying?”
I wasn’t sure he’d said anything at all. Getting lost in my own head just looking at him was definitely a problem.
He grinned again and there were those dimples.
Damn him. It was like a secret weapon or something.
How could the tough, gruff, ill-tempered biker guy sport adorable, heart-melting dimples? It wasn’t fair.
The bad boy, I could deal with. I understood him and even though he seemed to turn me on like no other, I could somewhat keep my head around him. But this was a whole new arsenal he was throwing my way and I was struggling to focus, let alone think straight.
“Why are we here?” I blurted out.
He was starting to look a little frustrated. I cringed waiting for him to explode again, only this time he didn’t.
“I’m trying to ask you to stay. . . here. . . with me. So? What do you think?”
It took a moment for it all to register in my brain.
“You want me to live here with you?” I looked around the enormous great room that opened to the kitchen. “Here? Me?”
He frowned. “You don’t like it?”
I continued to stare like he had two heads.
“Or you don’t like me? Is that it?”
Everything about him had changed once more. There were so many facets to this man that I couldn’t keep up with them all. He was going to give me whiplash.
“I’d offer you a seat, but I don’t have one yet. But I will soon. I promise.”
“I’ve never even been in a place like this before,” I confessed. “Once my dad and I had a one bedroom walkup instead of a flat. He gave me the tiny bedroom while he slept on the couch. It was the biggest place I’ve ever lived in. You could fit three of that entire apartment just in this room.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
I shot him a look, letting him know I didn’t believe him.
He chuckled. “Really, I get it.”
“No you don’t. I’ve seen where you live. You don’t get it at all.”
His face morphed into something different once more.
“I didn’t always live there, Tricia. In fact, I sort of bullied my way into there.” He chuckled. “I wasn’t always a Collier wolf.Years back a small group broke off and formed a new Pack. My dad was part of that. Larken Pack. We lived in a run down, piece of shit trailer park bordering Collier territory. My whole life I grew up in the slums as a low life, somehow lesser to the Collier wolves. We weren’t big enough or funded well enough to have anything. I shared a room with my three brothers. We had one twin sized mattress on the floor for the four of us. Our father was an abusive drunk. Apparently, I inherited his temper. I hate it and I hate that I scared you this morning. I don’t want to be that man, I was just so insanely overcome with jealousy and could not handle smelling Kenneth on you of all people.”
He was being open and honest with me in a way I didn’t think I could be with him, or anyone else. And the picture of the little boy from the trailer park that he was painting with his words was breaking my heart and softening me to him.
“There’s no excuse for it though,” he continued. “I’m better than that, and I just hope you stick around long enough to find that out for yourself. Most of my former Pack lives together in this neighborhood. It’s a really nice one, but it’s a lot more than we grew up with and more than most of us believe we deserve. Probably why this monster has been vacant for so long. I’ll admit it’s very intimidating. But it’s also next door to my brother, Tim. And it’s available right now. We could make this a home, Tricia. If you’re willing to try.”
My jaw dropped in surprise. “But I don’t even know you and you certainly don’t know me. I’m just passing through. I’m not supposed to stay.”It’s not safe here,I thought, but didn’t add, because as crazy as it sounded and despite all our combined faults, Brady made me feel safe.
I wasn’t afraid of him or his temper. Every time he blew up, I got turned on. It was the most insane thing. If I watched us through someone else’s eyes, I knew I’d be screaming redflags and toxicity everywhere, but it didn’t feel that way. Sure, he was spiteful, angry, and quick to lash out, not to mention arrogant, but I’d also seen that softer side of him. And the last time we were together, it had been me pushing him away. From the sounds of it, he was just willing to accept our mating without question. I didn’t think I could do that.
It felt like I was starting to get to know and even understand him better now, but he still didn’t know me.
“This is insane,” I pointed out.
“I know. But I’ve witnessed first-hand the power of true mates, Tricia. And you are my one true mate, for better or worse. And I’ll likely challenge that worse side.”
