Page 48 of Wolf Bonded (Rejected Moons 2)

“So,” he says. “That’s how I do it. What did you think?”

“It’s a different kind of shield,” I say. “You’re not protecting yourself from attack, you’re shielding yourself from perception. Right? Did your coven teach you that?”

“I think I picked it up while I was with them,” he says. A moment, then he adds, “I wasn’t exactly anybody’s favorite kid in that coven.

I can imagine that. Growing up a hybrid must have made childhood challenging before he struck off on his own.

“Well, it seems like it works pretty well,” I tell him, bending down to pick up the rabbit. “Now, here’s what I would do to make it even more effective…”

28

EMLYN

“Staysafeoutthere,”Nate calls after me as I climb the steps of Giuseppe’s up to the street.

I roll my eyes. “You know I’m not going far.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No,” I say. “Stay. Seriously.” I’m going looking for undergarments today, and although I know any of the guys would be perfectly willing to come with me, there’s something about this particular errand that makes me want to go alone.

It’s probably because I’m surrounded by men all the time. I can’t get away from them. I want shopping for bras to be a feminine thing, and the only way I get that experience is by going on my own.

I mean, I dolikebeing surrounded by men all the time. I like the way I feel when they look at me—powerful and desired. I like the way all I have to do is take one of them by the hand, or give him a meaningful look, and I can pull him away from the others as if by magnetic force for a quick fuck or a long, slow, luxurious lovemaking session—whatever I happen to be in the mood for. They’ll do whatever I want.

Butsometimes, I just need some girl time.

Wilder has given me directions to a nearby department store where I’m hoping I might get lucky. I find it quickly and duck inside, picking my way through trashed racks and piles of clothing that previous raiders have left behind on the floor. The place is a mess, but there are signs on the walls that indicate which sections are home to which garments. I scan the words—they’re written in script, which is hard for me to read since I’ve only ever learned to read print, but I can sort of make it out. This one definitely saysmen, and that’s wrong.

I keep moving.

And then I hear the sound of voices.

“We’ve got to get back,” one of them says. “We don’t have time for this.”

“Look, I just want to see if they have silverware.”

“Only bitches eat with silverware. How do you plan to explain the fact that we’re late for the rendezvous? Are you going to tell everyone you’re a little bitch?”

I press my hand over my mouth. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone talk to anyone else like that, and honestly, for a moment, it just strikes me as hilarious.

Then the second voice says, “Don’t be such an asshole, Harley.”

Harley!

I haven’t thought about Harley in a long time, but immediately his face jumps to the forefront of my mind.

He was always so gentle when we were kids. He was never a part of the pack of boys who ran around picking fights, scrapping with each other. He was softer. And when he was chosen as the alpha mate to my best friend, Jessica, I was thrilled for both of them, because they both had such kind natures.

It’s impossible to imagine the Harley I knew calling anyone a little bitch for wanting to eat with a fork.

But it’s definitely him. Now that I’ve heard his name, I recognize the voice. I’ve known him long enough that I would know him anywhere.

And I know that I need to get out of here.

My old pack isn’t hunting me actively anymore, but if they find me, there’s no way they aren’t going to want revenge. I’m sure they think I’m responsible for the death of Bruce, the old alpha. Not to mention the fact that Victor died trying to get his revenge on me.

They sound like they’re two or three aisles away from me, and I think I can probably make it to the door if I go quietly. I’ll have to come back for the bras I wanted some other day, but that’s okay.

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