Page 58 of The Weakest Wolf

I rip my gaze from his and turn, avoiding Galen’s eyes. “Nothing. I’ll get the rest of the breakfast.”

Before I can step into the hallway, Galen’s hand closes around my arm, halting me. I glance up at his face, but he’s not looking at me, his attention is on the table. “What are you doing here?”

“All the previous alphas would have breakfast with the most dominant wolves in the pack. It’s a tradition,” Bowen murmurs.

“Is it?” Galen asks in a flat voice. “Funny tradition.”

After a pained silence, Bowen clears his throat. “I was thinking we might go on another pack run, since the last one didn’t work out.”

“Were you, now?”

Another silence falls. This one stretches for so long that I’m opening my mouth with an excuse to slip away when Galen speaks.

“Get out. Now.” Galen’s voice is so cold, I swear I feel a chill blast me. “Come back without my explicit approval, and you won’t be walking out again. You won’t be walking at all.”

No one moves, and I don’t think anyone will.

I could turn to see what’s happening at the table, but I’d rather keep my eyes on Galen’s face. If Bowen or the others try anything, I’ll see the first sign of it there. I’m sure of it.

The scrape of chair legs against the floor makes me tense. Bowen and the others are leaving, but to do that, they’re going to have to pass me. But since Galen doesn’t seem worried, I tell myself not to be either.

When footsteps approach, there’s still no change in Galen’s expression. He steps to one side of the door, pulling me along with him, and Bowen walks out of the room with the others close behind.

Bowen may have left the farmhouse, but he’s still won this round. He still has my necklace and he knows how much I want it.

The only way I see myself getting it back is to offer him something in return. It’s also going to be the only way I can get him alone so I can kill him.

“What are you thinking?” Galen asks, curiosity deepening his voice.

I jerk my gaze from the hallway and to his face. “Nothing. I’ll get breakfast.”

When I tug at my arm, he doesn’t release me. A second later, he lets go and I make my escape.

The breakfast is ready. All I need to do is grab the serving dishes and take them to the dining room.

But I don’t do that. I stand in the kitchen, my hands on the counter, and stare at bacon that’s probably cold by now.

Take the breakfast, Sierra, and then you can come back and hide.

I’m pushing off the counter when a body curves around my back. My heart spikes, but not in fear. With excitement. I don’t say a word, and neither does Galen.

The clean scent of soap drifts from his skin, dragging my mind right back to all the things I shouldn’t have been thinking while he was in the shower.

His hands grip my hips and I release a slow breath. I know he wants me. The hard ridge pressed against my ass makes that perfectly clear. The growing scent of my arousal must make it just as clear that I want him to.

After a moment, he steps back before turning me so my butt rests against the counter.

I lift my gaze from his gray t-shirt to his face.

“You were thinking about me in the shower.” His voice is huskier than I was expecting. Deeper, too.

I clear a throat that’s suddenly dry. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He lifts a hand from my hip and collars my throat. “Liar.”

Knowing where this is leading, I move to cut things off before things go any further. “I don’t want sex.”

I need it. With you. Right now.

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