Page 25 of Damaged Princess

Wolfe might spend his days kayaking, hiking, and fishing with tour groups, but he was right there with me in the sandbox and when we did contract work after. Neither of us are squeamish about doing what needs to be done. Sometimes the scum of the earth fails to take itself out.

"I'm not your fucking enemy. What the hell, man? I get that you're upset, but don't take that shit out on me. Or Cas for that matter. We're the ones who've been here for you," Wolfe says, sighing. He looks at Cas. "Back me up here."

Cas sighs. "We all care about Anastasia and about you. Don't push us away because you made a mistake."

I scoff. My anger is reaching dangerous proportions and the fucked-up part is I know it's not them I'm angry at.It's my fucking selfthat I'm pissed at. I got tunnel vision on removing the problem and failed to see the big-picture equation.

"We're practically a pack. Then Anastasia comes in and you want her all to yourself. Did either of us show our ass when you wanted us around in case you couldn't manage? No, we fucking showed up and put in time getting to know Ana. I don't know what the fuck has gotten into you, but I don't like it,” Wolfe says, disdain lining his tone.

My stomach drops. He's right.

Cas, Wolfe, and I have lived together for close to three years. I always figured we'd end up together with an omega in the center. Except Anastasia made it clear she didn't know how she'd handle a pack. Her father used her mother as a toy, traded to his inner circle to punish her mom or as a reward for his men.

The absolute rage that pulses through my system when I think about that man is alarming. I never understood the saying about your vision literally turning red, not until recently.

"It's not just me," I say, turning to locate Anastasia. She's standing by a table with the guys from the lodge. She's swaying to the music and talking to fucking Thad. "Anastasia has her own baggage, as I'm sure you've guessed."

"Yeah, no fucking shit," Wolfe says, scoffing. "Next time try talking to your teammates instead of shutting us out." Wolfe glances toward Ana. "Seriously, if that dude doesn't back off and stop giving her drinks… I'm going to have to push him off the side of a mountain during our next tour."

My eyes fall to the table of our co-workers. I suddenly understand Murphy's obsession with bears. Maybe he needs a partner in his animal sanctuary project?

"It's time for us to go," I growl. "Before I go down there and cause a scene."

"No, you'll only make it worse," Wolfe says, leaning over the railing. Ana looks up at him, and Wolfe smirks. "I've got this." He winks at Ana and spins to head down the stairs to where she's standing.

I frown at his back as he saunters away.

"Look," Cas says in his soft tone. He doesn't raise his voice or yell. He never does. I lean close to make sure I can hear what he has to say. "Wolfe didn't deep-dive into the reports of Ana's attack like we did. Once he does, he'll get it. She will, too. She'shurt because she cares. And for what it's worth, I think she'll forgive you."

I sigh. "I sure fucking hope so."

"You made it seem like it was your choice not to let us in the nest for her heat," Cas says, watching Anastasia.

I don't say anything. It was a combination of things. Sharing doesn't come in my default settings. Anastasia was apprehensive, and that's all my inner caveman needed to know to decide I wasn't sharing during that first heat.

"I know it's not what you want to hear," Cas says, patting me on the back. "But give it some time. Let her make you jealous, and when you apologize try not to justify your actions. Sometimes, someone just needs to hear that you fucked up, you're sorry, and you wish you could change it."

"I'm not, though," I growl, swiping a hand over my face. "Okay, I regret not bringing Anastasia with me, but I didn't want her anywhere close to what was going down."

"I get it," Cas agrees.

I've never been in this situation before. I'm not fucking perfect; no one is. But I've never screwed up so royally before. My gut churns uncomfortably as I try to figure out how to fix this disaster.

Chapter Seven

Anastasia

Chance laughs at something one of his friends says. He's very good at feeling me up while simultaneously acting like I don't exist. It's actually kind of impressive how he manages to not care that I'm alive while still groping me.

Wolfe catches my attention and winks. My stomach does a bizarre little flip. I look away and try to focus on the conversation the ski-instructors are having, but they're basically acting like I'm not even here.

Exactly like my father's men.

"Hey Chad," Wolfe says. He swaggers closer with his indefinable energy that screamsI've got a big dick and I know how to use it.

Normally I hate that in a man, but for whatever reason, Wolfe pulls it off.

And I don't hate it.

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