Page 4 of Wolf Bonded (Rejected Moons 2)

He hesitates. Then he meets my eyes.

“Thank you,” he says. “For coming, I mean. I really think you’re going to be glad you did.”

“I hope you’re right about that,” I say.

He turns and starts back down the stairs.

My mates and I exchange glances for a moment. Then, one by one, we push through the hanging curtain and make our way into the apartment.

3

IknowthatIpromised to leave them alone for the evening.

I see how little they trust me. I see the glances they exchange between themselves every time I open my mouth. I’m pretty sure they’re putting everything I say together into some kind of complete picture about me, and probably one I’m not going to like. It’s probably not going to be accurate, at any rate.

I was telling them the truth. I really do want us to help each other. After all, given what’s been hunting them, they must knowsomething.

And they might be hybrids, but it was obvious from the battle I saw that none of them is highly trained or specialized. I could give them that. I could help them access their power.

They shouldwantmy help.

Still, I promised I would leave them alone because they’re awkward around me, and I’m hoping that having some time alone together will let them talk. The woman likes me more than the two men do. Maybe she’ll convince them.

Or maybe not.

I turn back, suddenly sure I’ve made the wrong choice in leaving them for the night. What if they convinceher, and they’re all gone when I wake up?

So I turn and walk back to the makeshift door.

Of course, you can’t knock on a curtain, but I knock on the wall beside it. It’s not like I’m going to just barge in on them.Though that’s probably exactly what they expect of me. No need to prove them right.

The big burly one, the one who haughtily told me that hewasn’ta hybrid, whips the curtain aside. He looks at me like I’m some kind of cockroach. “What?”

“Do you mind?” I ask him. “You are a guest here.”

“You invited me,” he says. “I guess you have to put up with me talking however I want.”

If that’s how he wants to try to flex on me, I can’t stop him. And I don’t care anyway. I don’t need this guy. It’s the other two I’m really interested in.

So I look past Captain Bodyguard. The two others, the hybrids, are in the middle of the room watching me.

“Just thought I’d see if either of you wanted a tour of the place,” I say.

“We’re good,” the guy says.

But the woman breaks free of him. “I’d like to see it,” she says.

“Emlyn,” the guy hisses.

She ignores him and crosses the floor to me. “Nate,” she says, looking up at the burly shifter. “You want to come too?”

Oh, that was well played. It’s not like I can refuse to take Nate along now. Obviously, if I did that, I’d break trust with all of them since it’s clear Emlyn wants him there. With one sentence, she’s completely undone my control over this situation.

“No,” Nate grumbles. “I’ll stay here.”

“You sure you trust me to bring her back in one piece?” I can’t help taunting him a little.

“I think she can take care of herself,” Nate says. “And I also think you’re smart enough to know that if anythingdoeshappen to her, my friend and I will make you wish you’d never been born.”

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