Page 14 of Married to the Wolf

“Sophia.”

He strode over to her and touched gentle fingers to her arms. She lowered her eyes, but he raised her chin, forcing her to look at him. Her pulse raced when he planted a featherlight kiss on her lips. A thumb stroked her cheek, and he lingered close. She almost parted her lips in invitation, but he moved back. The loss was hell.

“I have your best interests at heart.”

“You mean you want to control me.”

He frowned. “That’s not true. Sweetheart, you must understand that we are a people of—”

“Violence?”

His displeasure radiated. “I was going to say passion and conviction. There are those who would try to harm you in an effort to get to me. When we became mated my drive to protect you grew exponentially. It’s a natural occurrence.”

“Does that mean you would kill someone if they threatened me? Or if you thought they did?”

“Yes.”

She gaped. “I thought you were going to dance around it or lie. You would take a human life?”

“Or a shifter’s, yes. I’m not going to apologize for what I am. I’m not ashamed of what I am, and with time you won’t be either.”

“What if I can’t ever accept it?”

“You will.”

“What if I don’t?”

At that point, she was half mad with fear and confusion. He’d just confirmed Jack’s claims. She didn’t need to wonder if he spoke the truth. Her husband had said it to her face. Passion? Yeah, right. He meant violence just like she said. A sense of panic washed over her, and she panted. She pushed at Sebastian’s chest, but he held on.

“Easy, baby.”

“No, let me go, Sebastian. I gotta get out of here.”

“Easy,” he insisted.

She broke away and ran for the double doors that led outside. The doors banged the walls, rattling the glass, but she darted full tilt into the night. A grove of peach trees beckoned in the moonlight, and she made a break for them. Her heels sank into the soft soil, and when one shoe came off, she left it.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Sophia. You’re supposed to be playing it cooler than this.

She kept moving, and when she reached the peach grove, the scent of peaches assaulted her nose. Winded, she stopped to catch her breath. A look behind showed no sign of Sebastian. He was fast. She couldn’t have distanced him so easily unless he was fed up with her attitude.

“Or he likes the chase.” She groaned, recalling that fact and wandered alone in the dark. A part of her wanted to go back, but frustration kept her moving. Okay, she didn’t want to accept Sebastian’s truths of who he was, but he didn’t get her either! He didn’t get that saying he’d kill someone in bloody murder just for threatening her was unnatural. People said it, but most didn’t mean their big talk. She knew Sebastian was different and had seen it in his eyes.

“Well, well, look what we have here.” The slimy tone set off alarm bells in her head, and she turned around to find a man stepping out from among the trees. He wore nothing other than old ratty jeans, and his feet were bare.

Sophia’s eyes widened. “I think you wandered onto the wrong property, buddy. You don’t want to cross the people who live here.”

The man, a wiry five foot nothing, cackled. “Oh, I know just where I am.”

He breathed in deep and noisily, and she imagined he flared his nostrils for dramatic effect. A prickly suspicion rose inside her, and fear clenched her stomach muscles. This was a wolf shifter, one Sebastian said would try to get to him through her. Maybe if she played it off she could get out of there before he found out who she was and that she wasn’t one of them.

“Well, I guess you’re here to apply for a position just like the rest of us. You should go inside because it’s about time. I was heading back myself.”

He cackled again, grating on her nerves. The ugly grin made her want to slap it off his face, but she didn’t dare provoke him. He tapped his nose.

“Can’t fool me, girl. You’re the one. Smell human too—sweet and stupid. He made a big mistake pretending a human is his mate.”

“Who are you calling stupid, and what do you mean Sebastian is pretending?”

---