“I know you’re a wolf. I could smell you coming down the stairs.” His tone is smug, obnoxious, and Iama little frustrated that he knew what I was before I even knew he was here.
“Well, I don’t have a pack,” I tell him. “I’m on my own.”
“So then youdoneed help.”
“No,” I say.
“Look, everyone knows a female can’t survive in the wild on her own. Most men couldn’t do it.”
“Just for that, I’m going to leave you here,” I say, completely pissed off now. “Enjoy your cage.”
I start back up the stairs.
“Wait!” he calls. “I really need your help.”
I almost don’t. I almost keep going. But there’s something in his voice—some kind of desperation—that stops me. I can’t just walk away.
Besides, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious.
“Tell me your name,” I suggest.
He nods. “Nate,” he says. “My name is Nate.”
Chapter 9
NATE
IknowI’mbeinga dick to her, this woman with the dark, wild hair and fiery eyes. I know my bad attitude is the reason she’s refusing to help me.
But I’ve been locked in thisdog cagefor the past four days. Anyone would be a dick after four days of this. I don’t feel like I owe her any particular kindness. It’s not like she’s been nice to me, right?
If she lets me out, I’ll be nice.
“What’s your name?” I ask her.
She folds her arms across her ample chest and says nothing.
“Oh, what, I told you my name but you’re too special to tell me yours?”
She sighs. “Emlyn,” she says. “My name is Emlyn.”
“There, was that so hard?”
She scowls at me, and immediately I sort of wish I could take that back. I really am being a dick about this.
“Just let me out,” I tell her. “Then I won’t bother you anymore.”
“If I leave you in there, you also won’t bother me anymore,” she points out. “What are you doing in there anyway? How did you get yourself into that thing?”
“I didn’t getmyselfinto it,” I say, annoyed. “My alpha put me in here.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s an ass who’s threatened by me. Not that you have any reason to believe me, I guess.”
“No,” she says, her arms unknotting. “I know something about asshole alphas, actually.”
“Is that why you don’t have a pack?”