Page 5 of Betrayed Wolf Mate

“Fantastic,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “And I’m guessing I don’t have a choice in the matter?”

His stony look told me everything I needed to know.

“Joy,” I muttered. I sighed, running my fingers through my hair as I braced myself for what was going to happen next. “Let me get my jacket.”

***

Akron lived in a mansion. Not exactly what I’d been expecting.

I looked up at the expansive house as we pulled up to the front. There was something unpleasant and ominous about the whole place. It made my skin crawl unpleasantly, and I repressed a shudder.

Oscar and I didn’t say anything as we got out of the car and walked up to the house. My hands trembled more than I wanted to admit, but I jammed them deep into my pockets. I wasn’t going to let Oscar or any of the demons lurking in the house see me nervous.

The front doors opened as we approached. I kept walking before realizing that my shadow had stopped. I turned to see Oscar standing several feet back, staring up uneasily at the mansion. His gaze moved back down to meet mine. I couldn’ttell if it was fear or pity in his expression, but either way, my stomach twisted itself into a knot.

“I’m not allowed to go any further,” he said. I expected to hear something like “good luck” or “I’m sorry,” but he just turned on his heels and marched away, leaving me to face whatever was inside alone.

My footsteps echoed in the empty halls, muffled only by the lavish tapestries on the wall and the plush carpet beneath my feet. I felt like someone was watching me, but when I turned to look back over my shoulder, I was alone in the otherwise empty room. I would have turned and walked out of the house, which seemed to be closing in on me, but the front doors had closed behind me.

There was only one door open. Inside was an elaborate sitting room with a grand fireplace that had a giant fire lit inside. Sweat beaded on my forehead the instant I stepped inside. The plush chairs looked like you could fall asleep for an eternity in them, but the couch reminded me more of a coffin than anything else.

I moved into the center of the room, looking at the macabre art on the walls. The entire mansion seemed a grotesque blend of modern human architecture and something that literally came from the underworld.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to finally see you in person,” a smooth, poisonous voice said from behind me.

I turned to see a tall, thin man standing in the doorway, blocking my only exit. His face was unnaturally angular, and his hair and eyes were an inky black color. And not just his irises—both eyes were entirely black. His arms were folded as he stared at me, a smug, predatory smile on his too-red lips. “Granted, that photo Farrow showed me doesn’t do you justice.”

My skin crawled under his gaze, and I wanted nothing more than to run and hide. Even my wolf wanted to back away and find somewhere far away from the creature in front of me. But I held my ground, staying silent.

He tilted his head, smirking. “What, no thank you?”

“You’re Akron?” I asked. It was a stupid question, but it was the only thing I could think to say.

“That’s one of my names.” He pushed himself off the door frame and walked toward me. The door shut, seemingly of its own accord, leaving us alone in the room. Though I wasn’t certain, I could have sworn I heard the lock click.

I took an unconscious step back, and Akron stopped. “Are you scared?” he asked. It sounded like amusement tinged the edges of his words.

“Not really,” I lied.

I must not have been particularly convincing, because he smiled, and I could have sworn his teeth were unnaturally sharp.

“I can sense it.” He stopped right in front of me, so close that if I took a half-step closer, I would have been touching him. “It’s cute that you’re lying, though. But I expect honesty as well as obedience from my bride.” He reached out and tugged hard on a lock of my hair. “Do you understand?”

My entire body tensed. I wanted to take a step back, but my legs weren’t listening.

When I stayed silent, he frowned, and the chips of coal that were his eyes seemed to smolder in irritation. He yanked harder on the strand of hair.

“I said, ‘Do you understand?’”

I nodded.

“Good. Farrow said you were…compliant. Now, be honest and tell me what’s bothering you.”

There were a dozen things that were bothering me: the fact that I’d effectively been sold off to someone, the fact that my apparent betrothed was a literal demon, and the fact that I got the sinking suspicion that he saw me as more of an object than an actual person. But I settled on the most immediate issue.

“Are your eyes always like that?” I asked.

Akron blinked, tilting his head as if puzzled. Then he grinned again, showing all his teeth. I’d been right: they were all razor-sharp.

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