Page 87 of The Enforcer's Rejected Mate
“I didn’t know.”
“No, I swear I didn’t know, I-”
“I…well, she…”
Lucian looks up at the ceiling and comes to a full stop with a sigh. “You didn’t listen to her, did you? You let your temper get the best of you. I know it.”
“She’s planning on leaving us.”
He looks down from the ceiling to me. “That is undesirable but shifters are free to come and go from our pack. Why would it matter if she stays a day or a week? She can go where she pleases.”
My wolf growls low and sits up at the thought of Cordelia leaving.She can’t leave us. She’ll be unprotected.The omega isn’t safe outside of our territory. The thoughts from my wolf arequick and fast but I agree with him. We have to be the ones to protect her.
“It’s not safe,” I settle on. “If she’s dealing with fairy witches, she has no business on her own, and besides that, she’s an omega.”
Lucian narrows his eyes. “Is she now?”
“She is and stop looking at me like that.”
“No, I don’t think I will,” Lucian says and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m guessing when you made your wild leap about her colluding with fairy witches that you didn’t listen to her for even a second because you were already thinking about the fact that she might leave you.”
You.
She might leave me.
I stiffen at his words. I’m lucky we’re alone in the hallway, the quiet around us is a gift with the way my wolf has started snarling. He bares his teeth and pushes to take our skin but I force him back.
“Thorne…”
“Maybe you’re right,” I admit.
“Of course, I’m right. I’m your best friend. I know how you get when you think someone special to you might be in danger.”
“And what gives you the idea that I think she’s special?”
The words taste like ash in my mouth because even I’m not delusional enough to convince myself that Cordelia doesn’t feel special to me. omega, or not, she’s special. The restless feeling that drove me to patrol the borders until I came across her in the meadows wasn’t by accident. It couldn’t have been, not if it started when she left Frostclaw Pack.
I knew she was coming, didn’t I? I know it in my bones now that I’ve had a day to settle into Cordelia being here. The Soul Tie is proof. It was destined to happen, everything already set inmotion before I even stepped into the Meadows. She called me to the Meadows.
And why do you think that is?
I push the thoughts away and focus on Lucian’s smug face. “I’ve seen you doting on her at meals. I also know there’s not an alpha here that hasn’t been stared down by you when they try to approach her.”
“I don’t trust them.”
“They’re pack,” Lucian reminds me.
“I don’t give two shits about pack. Those alphas aren’t strong enough to protect her.”
Lucian’s eyes light up. “You like her. I fucking knew it. Had your scent all over her in the Meadows for a reason then. Claimed her the second you could.”
“I don’t like her,” I lie. “She’s newly returned to the pack and needs protection. Besides, I need to keep an eye on her to make sure she’s not a spy or a fairy or whatever the fuck she is.” I’m scrambling to come up with reasons why I need to watch Cordelia. I know it. So does Lucian.
“Now I get why you scent-marked her. Why your wolf has taken a liking to her when no one else has been able to turn your head. Luna knows Cassidy tries her best.”
My eyes narrow when he brings Cassidy into this. “She’s on thin fucking ice after the way she spoke to Cordelia today. Morgana is getting a visit from me today, just like Annie and Ceelie.”
“You mean from us.”
