Page 80 of Haze

“Mind your business and keep my mate’s name out of your mouth.” I don’t threaten him directly, not for lack of wanting to.

“I’d watch how you speak to me.” Brayden tries to threaten me.

I rise to my full height and tip my head to the side, examining him. “You’re out of line and talking about things you know nothing about.”

“I’m the one out of line?” Brayden’s voice falters as I step around my desk.

Growling, I lock eyes with him. “Let me make this abundantly clear. Nothing about Lena concerns you. Her study, research, lab results, anything relating to her is completely none of your fucking business.” I step forward again. “She’s my mate. I know that doesn’t mean anything to you, but to our people, it’s a stronger bond than marriage. There’s no way you get between us. You’re wasting both of our time. Move on.”

When I thought Brayden couldn’t get any stupider, he does. “You come in here high and mighty with your dress shirts, trying to look better than us, but I’ve been reading about bonds. They can be broken. All Lena has to do is reject you. It won’t be hard to change her mind. I’ll make her see I’m the better choice. Would be a shame if something happened, like if you’ve been reported... Cade wouldn’t have a choice but to take you out of the picture.”

With a low growl, I roll up the sleeves of my dress shirt, displaying the ink darkening my arms, and correct him. “I appreciate your concern for my bond, but it won’t be broken. She won’t reject me. If you want, you can waste your time trying to convince her that you can provide better for her and her wolf. But you may want to think through the consequences of anything before you do it. If you know all about bonds, then you’ll know what would happen to Lena if they killed me.”

Brayden’s scornful and yet defeated look brightens the darkness I’m feeling. He shakes his head, walking off without another word. It’s a small victory, and I do enjoy his defeat. However, I’m still on edge from being away from Lena.

We don’t need to be here. You can do this job in your sleep. We need our mate. My wolf concurs. Doctor Thorpe will need to wait for more analysis and reports. As is, I’ve already found a way to make him four grand a month.

I need my mate.

Doctor Thorpe is judgmental of my request to leave, but thirty minutes later, after delivering a brief summary of my findings so far, I’m in the black Chevrolet and on the road back out to the Aldens’ property.

My phone rings when I’m halfway there. The Bluetooth I’d connected to my phone for music picks it up.

“Finn, when I said I’d clear you with Doctor Thorpe, I thought you understood that you would contact me to tell him,” Cade groans, moving past polite pleasantries.

“Small oversight?” I wince.

“I’ve handled it. Going forward, communicate with me.” Cade doesn’t mince words. “We’ll talk when you arrive.”

The phone clicks off. He hung up on me.

Chapter 26

Lena

I’m cozy and warm, and I never want to leave this spot ever. Problem: the doorbell is ringing and it won’t stop. I know someone else is in the house. Anyone else at all could open that damn door. It’s someone else’s problem.

I pull the pillow over the top of my head and roll over toward the windows, blocking out the world behind me.

The doorbell rings again, and despite its best efforts, the little pillow cannot withstand the annoying fucking ding of the bell. With a sigh, I roll back over, abandoning my blissful nap, and make my way to the front of the house.

Cade was right about doorbells. How much does it cost to uninstall one?

My legs are still jelly and I’m exhausted, but I get closer to the front door. Frantic knocking grows louder as I cross the foyer.

“I’m coming. I’m coming,” I call toward it. Under my breath, I mutter, “It’s fucking open, but apparently you need to be let in.”

I swing the door open, and Aunt Alora and Uncle Elliot are looking back at me across the threshold.

Fuck. That’s it. I’m never opening this fucking door ever again.

Stepping aside, I open the door all the way and walk away. It’s up to them to decide whether they’re coming or going.

“Lena?” Aunt Alora calls to me as I walk away.

I should have taken the shortcut to Cade’s office through the hidden passage in the wall. But I might need it later, and they don’t need to know about it. With a hard right around the island and then a quick turn left, I’m beelining straight toward the hallway where Cade’s office is.

When I get there, I’m out of breath. The house isn’t that big. Worthless fucking wolf. Not waking up, can’t fucking heal.

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