Page 30 of Tide Touched

He pauses before a set of double doors. ‘I am very fun,’ he says indignantly. ‘I’m not stupid. I’m not sure you can separate the two.’ Without giving me a chance to respond—rude—he pushes the doors wide.

Two men dressed in silvery-blue suits bow as we enter, but their gazes catch on me, as though put off that their gesture of respect was wasted.

The room is dominated by a long, wooden table. Everything here is wooden, I notice. I guess they don’t have the same problem of potentially burning everything down. At the head of the table is the man I met briefly upon my arrival, though that feels like weeks ago rather than a few days.

I can see the resemblance between alpha and his nephew. Good looks, blond, and that same cool stare. But the alpha is big, bearded and much more intimidating.

Julian raises a brow when he sees me. ‘I see you’ve brought a guest.’

It’s only at that moment that my gaze finds the last person I want to endure a meal with. Courtney. Damn it.

Carter gives a smile-grimace. It’s an odd look. ‘Hey,’ he says to her in the very definition of the word ‘awkward.’

Courtney glowers and I swear she somehow sends a cold chill down my spine.

‘Well, come in.’ The alpha waves to the table. Not exactly welcoming, but I haven’t been kicked out yet, so yay.

I offer what I hope is a better smile than Carter’s. ‘Thank you, I hope it’s okay I join you. You have such a lovely home.’

Julian regards me. ‘I expect so, young lady, it’s an alpha estate. What brings you to my table, uninvited?’

My cheeks heat. Well, that’s a good start. I shoot Carter a look for not clearing this with his uncle. Not cool. ‘Um.’ I swallow, suddenly parched. ‘I was uh, bored up there. Locked in my room.’

Alpha gestures to one of the suited men, who nods, and they both disappear. A moment later, they’re wheeling in a silver cart, with steamy plates filled with food. They start setting the plates before us. It doesn’t seem to matter I was unexpected, there’s plenty.

Julian picks up his cutlery, glancing side-long at Courtney. ‘Do you not think it inappropriate for you to dine with us?’

It takes me a moment to realise he’s speaking to me. ‘Do you not think it inappropriate to kidnap young women?’ I take a bite of my veal before I can be thrown out. I at least want a taste of it. I stare at the knife on the table, wishing I could take it but a, everyone would see, and b, I have nowhere to hide it on my person.

Carter winces across the table.

Courtney’s mouth twists.

Julian raises his brows. ‘You should mind your mouth, little wolf.’ He turns to me, his gaze piercing. ‘And as for taking you. I take what belongs to me.’

A shudder passes over me even as anger boils up. ‘I don’t belong to you.’ I stand so fast my chair screeches back. ‘I don’t even belong to him.’ I jut my chin at Carter. ‘I’m tired of being locked up—’

‘Shit.’ Carter comes around the table and grasps my shoulders. ‘Katie, shut up.’ There’s desperation in his voice. He turns, standing between me and his uncle. ‘She’s sorry—’

‘I am not fucking sorry—’

Carter squeezes my arm. The alpha nods to someone behind us. ‘Leave.’ His voice is soft. ‘All of you.’

The two shiny-suited men approach, dragging me by the upper arms out of the room. Even though Courtney has been dismissed, she looks positively gleeful. The three of us pool into the foyer, the massive space joining the four large staircases and the front doors.

Some wild instinct takes hold of me. I rush for the front doors. One of the guards by the doors, which I didn’t even see—this is a very bad escape plan—steps before the doors, not even bothering to strike out at me. He’s over six feet, and just snarls down at me. I skitter to a halt. ‘Going for a walk?’ I suggest innocently.

I’m spun around; one of the shiny suit guys is looking at me like I was born an idiot. He might not be far off. I watch the other suit guy slink upstairs for some reason. It’s then I realise their shiny suits remind me of fish scales, glinting in sunlight.

Carter is standing there, head in his hand, looking weary.

A grip on my elbow, Suit Man leads me up one of the staircases. ‘You’re pretty, for a Fire wolf, but no brains, apparently,’ he says.

I elbow him in the gut, and turn and try to run back toward the door. Come on, fire power. I try to summon something to use against them, but I’ve always sucked at this. I manage to dodge Suit Man’s outstretched hand. Now that I have my wolf, I’m lithe and fast too. If only I knew how to shift.

The guards still stand before the front doors, looking entirely unconcerned by my escape shenanigans—I admit, I probably won’t get far—but it’s worth a shot.

I aim for one of the opposite staircases. If nothing else, I am determined to piss some Water wolves off the way their alpha pisses me off. My feet thud dully on the hardwood floors. Then I remember—wood.

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