I’ve had anyone actually give a shit about me, care for me, hell even look at me adoringly. It’s a punch right to the heart and I can’t deny the pull he has on me. Wow. It’s almost unreal. “Lead the way.” I motion with my arm.
This right here is the only hope I have for leaving my pathetic existence behind. But it’s not only that. He’s my mate. My one. I can’t help the giddiness that comes along with that, but I suppress any outward expression of my emotions.
“Hand.” I raise it automatically without thought and he grasps it, holding me close to his body. “Change,” he orders the two wolves and they instantly listen. “Grab the clothes and the car. Get us home now.” The men run off, their fine asses moving as they go. Hey, the mating is there, but my eyes still work.
He yanks my arm. “You fucking look at their asses again, I’ll throw you down on the grass and make you forget about everything but me.”
Well, all righty then. I quiver at his words. “I won’t.” It barely comes out, but it’s there. He nods and pulls me past the open field where they all met, and into the woods. We reach a parking lot where a black SUV awaits with Shaggy Blond at the wheel.
“Get in.” I do and he quickly follows. “Go. Long way, take many turns and detours,” he commands and the vehicle dashes into the sunlight. The tension in the car is thick, wafting off the two wolves in the front seats.
‘Does he not realize she smells like another male?’ the brown-haired wolf thinks. Shit. I’d better address this.
“They can’t smell us ,” I tell Xavier. “I was given a pill. I don’t know what was in it, but by me swallowing it, it gave off the scent that one of those wolves you just killed was my mate.” He growls deep. “I have no doubt that other wolves think I still belong to Ian, but I don’t.” When I finish, I feel so stupid. This whole thing is fucked as hell.
“They can’t smell our link, because you took some pill?”
“Yes, that is really all I know about it. My entire pack thought Ian and I were mated, but it’s the furthest from the truth.”
“You have a lot to explain.”
“I know.” I look down at my entwined fingers and focus on them as we drive. The sexual tension between Xavier and me is so thick I’m surprised the windows aren’t fogging up.
‘Shit, are they gonna fuck in the back of the truck? I just had this shit cleaned.’ Shaggy moans lightening the mood and I giggle.
“What the fuck is so funny?” Xavier snarls, obviously on edge, which I should be too. Shit, I just saw my pretend mate and two of the enforcers taken down. I should feel something, right? Nope. I don’t. Why? Because there is hope.
“Shaggy, you wanna tell him?” I joke, but my mate is having no part of it.
His hand cups my chin and pulls my face around until I’m looking into his crystal eyes. “First, you don’t use that flirty shit with my wolves. You’re my mate, end of story. Second, when I ask you a question, I expect it answered.”
The fuzzy feeling I experienced from finally getting away from my father dissipates into a puff of smoke. Xavier’s demanding tone sears my gut. It’s going to be exactly the same as if I lived in Alpha’s house. I won’t be able to do that with Xavier. His scent is too strong and my wolf wants him as fiercely as do I. The pull is too magnetic. I regress, searching for the imaginary bubble I used to protect myself all of these years. I find it and lock myself inside.
“I’m sorry. He said that he didn’t want us fucking in the back of the truck because he just cleaned it.” The change in my voice is clear as day, my tone utterly steady. I should have never used my real one. I should have known better.
Xavier’s brows draw together. He notices the change. He feels it. It’s written all over his face in a mask of confusion. This is Stepford Wife Zara, monotone, compliant. The one that has covered me up for years. While the hope of