Page 68 of The Secret of Pain

"Thank you," I say shakily and roll over, sitting up, careful not to knock the material on my leg.

"What the fuck are you doing out here alone?" he roars down at me, and it raises my hackles.

"Who the fuck are you to shout at me about being out here? You don't own me, and you sure as hell don't get to dictate my actions."

"Who the fuck am I? I swear to all the Gods of the realms… Fucking hell, Remy." He paces in front of me and pulls at his hair. His chest heaving as his anger rolls off of him. "Who the fuck am I…?. Do you not remember?"

I just look at him and cross my arms, raising an eyebrow. I'll be fucked if I'm going to tell him. He might have just saved my ass, but he does not have the right to speak to me like that.

"You must remember—you let me help you. Who the fuck am I… really? I'm just the guy who saved your pretty little ass." He rolls his eyes at me as he continues to pace.

"Are you going to tone down your inner asshole, or are you going to get the hell out of my face?"

He barks out a laugh at my words and the two wolves beside me just whine, lying down and putting their noses beneath their paws. I'd laugh if I wasn't so focused on the man in front of me. The bigger threat, no matter our history.

"Tone down my inner asshole, nearly get pulled to pieces by twelve fucking Lycans, but I'm the asshole." As he paces, his movements slow as if he's working through the anger inside him, settling his wolf, as if tearing the other Lycans apart wasn't enough to let his wolf know I'm okay. Although his pacing does give me a chance to check him out properly, not that I should be right now. I have more than enough to deal with as it is and I mentally scold myself for potentially making things even more complicated than they already are, and curse past Remy yet again. "Fucking woman, doesn't understand. Yes, yes, she's alive, she's safe, but fucking hell."

He pulls at his hair, his musings quieting before he stops and just stares at me.

"You remember me? Who you are to me?" he asks, his eyes finally calm, no longer glowing.

"I remember," I tell him, unwilling to be the one to break eye contact, and he laughs before walking away.

"The only female in all of history who refused to look away." He shakes his head but smiles. "Why are you out here?"

"I was meant to patrol two towns over. Your arrival and the surge of Dracul has the Hunters on edge."

"I had a feeling Kain would be here too." He frowns. "You met with him?"

I keep quiet, not yet trusting him with that information. I may be his mate, but the wolf inside of him is a tricky beast. It would do anything to protect me, even from myself.

"Of course you have. Your bleeding is slowing."

I roll my eyes at his ease of conversation switch.

"Why was there a rogue cluster so big?" I ask him, pinning him with my gaze.

"The same reason there are issues in your own house. War is coming," he tells me, his face unreadable.

"And where do you fall in this war?"

"Wherever you stand," he says, and the wolves beside me howl their agreement, loud enough to make my ears ring. “Did you get my flowers?” he asks, and I look back at him, puzzled. “For your birthday,” he sighs, exasperated. “Purple peonies.”

Oh, holy crap. “That was you?”

“It was me—they used to be your favorite.”

“They still are.” I smile at him. “Thank you.”

“Are you ready to head back?” he asks, and I nod as I reach out to him to help me stand. He moves toward me and rather than helping me stand, he scoops me into his arms.

"I can walk," I tell him with a huff.

"I know you can, but let me do this. For me, not you. The wolf will not settle until the bleeding stops. Keeping you close makes him happy." Frustration trickles through me at his words but I don’t argue as he begins the walk back toward my city. I get the feeling that arguing with him is a battle I’m not going to win, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to make it easy on him.

I’m Remington Bennet, dammit. I’m not some damsel that needs saving… well I mean, I guess I did, but still. So not the point.

I’ll let him take this win, promising myself I’ll take the next one.

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