Page 18 of Married to the Wolf

“I know you don’t like me, and you don’t trust me either. I promise you. I would never let anyone hurt you.”

“Why would I believe you?” She didn’t end the sentence with ‘when you and I both know you want Sebastian.’ The expression on Ava’s face said she understood what wasn’t spoken.

Ava dropped into a seat down the table from Sophia, as far as she could get. “Because if anything happened to you, it would destroy Sebastian. I can’t let that happen.”

“Destroy is a strong word.”

“You only think so because you don’t understand mates.”

Sophia decided to test her. “I’ve heard that some of your people think Sebastian is lying, that he’s only claiming I’m his destined mate.”

She jumped to her feet. “Who’s saying that? I’ll—”

“Calm down. I don’t know who I heard it from. I don’t know everybody’s name yet.” She lied, but Ava looked too ready to prove herself to Sebastian. For all Sophia knew, the woman would take someone out for lack of loyalty to the alpha.

Ava sank into her seat and resumed eating. Between bites, she said, “Sebastian would do anything for his people, but he wouldn’t lie to them. He’s the most loyal of us all. He puts us all first before himself, and he wouldn’t marry a human for selfish reasons.”

Sophia didn’t bother telling her she heard the slight gag as Ava pronounced human. This person wanted trust. Yet, what Ava claimed rang true. She cared about Sebastian enough to protect his mate so he wouldn’t be hurt. Sophia wasn’t sure she could do that in a reverse situation.

“Why are you so desperate to be one of my Guard? To get closer to him?”

Ava colored. “You don’t bite your tongue, do you?”

Sophia shrugged. “Why should I?”

“Because it can be dangerous.”

“Is that a threat?”

She opened her mouth and then snapped it shut. A deep breath, and she blew it out with all the air of a harassed woman who needed patience to deal with ignorant people. “I’m not saying I’ll hurt you, but some of my people have short fuses. If you set them off by running your mouth, it will end badly for you.”

Sophia ticked the points off on her fingers. “In other words, you’re all animals pretending to be human. You’re prone to violence, and you’re sensitive because a person can’t speak their mind without you getting offended. Did I get everything?”

Ava’s expression turned sour. “I don’t think I’ve ever met someone like you.”

“You haven’t. Don’t forget it.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “You’re either brave or stupid.”

“That’s a new one.” Sarcasm etched Sophia’s words. “Look, I’m a black woman. I don’t know if you know any or if any of your people are black. I just realized I’m the darkest spot around here. We don’t take anything lying down. I’m not going to let you or anybody else intimidate me because you’re the big bad wolf.”

And we talk a good game to cover our fear.

“So save the warnings, okay? I’ll choose who sticks close to me. End of story.”

Ava seemed to come to the conclusion that there was no talking to her. She let the matter drop and finished her food. When she was done, she stormed out of the dining room without another word.

Sophia stood to clean up her plate, but Lucille whisked in as if she picked up the scent of someone taking over her job. The plate disappeared with the housekeeper through the swinging door to the kitchen, and she had no choice but to move on.

Just like the night before, the mansion was overrun with people Sebastian called the elite. Sophia had never had to raise her chin so often as she strode by them. More than one threw her a look of curiosity, but she didn’t pause long as she searched for Sebastian.

Raised voices echoed in the hall. A man stood outside the room where they had had the party, and a small crowd of men and women gathered behind him. They all faced Sebastian and his Guard.

“No disrespect, sir,” the man was saying. Sophia hated when people began a statement with those words. It always meant they were about to disrespect whoever they were speaking to. “But we need to see some proof. No one believes she’s your mate.”

Sophia rolled her eyes. “That again?”

Several of them looked her way, and she covered her mouth. She’d forgotten they could hear well. Not to be intimidated as she had told Ava, she straightened her back and started toward the group. She hadn’t taken more than a couple steps before Ava blocked her path.

---