Page 23 of Elusive Mate

“Yes, I know about Zion. And when Zaiden finally shared with me all that was going on, I left the Navy and came home. I challenged and killed him. Is that what you hold against your brother and I?”

“No. If any man ever deserved to die, it was the bastard that sired me. But what have you done differently? Oh, you may not beat anyone or get your jollies from belittling those around you, but you still refuse to let people, especially women, chart their own course. We are, at best, second-class citizens.”

“Where are you getting this information?”

“I know what I know,” she said defensively. “For god’s sake Lucian, you’ve had people watching me since I left Alaska.”

“Of course I did. You are my fated mate, the beloved little sister of my beta and best friend, and a member of my clan. Ensuring your safety is part of the job description for an alpha.”

“And they ran off any man who looked at me twice.”

“Did they?” he asked, sitting back.

“You sound surprised.”

Lucian nodded. “I am… somewhat. I never told them to do it, but I can also see why they would think that was something I would want. I can’t say that I’m disappointed that they did so.”

“Then what did you tell them to do?”

“I told them to keep you safe. That was all I said. I guess it didn’t occur to me that they would interpret that to mean keeping any men away from you.”

“Didn’t you trust I could take care of myself?”

“It was never about trusting you, Zenya. It was about knowing what you meant to me and to your brother and knowing what the world is like—how harsh it can be to women in general. I always thought I was being fairly benign. After all, you were more than five hours away from where I could personally protect you. Don’t think your brother and I didn’t discuss buying an estate in the area, forcing you to live there with one of us conducting clan business from there.”

“You’re serious,” she said. “God, you’re insufferable. Do you honestly think you could have forced me to live there?”

“Do you honestly think you could have stopped me? I must say, you did surprise your brother and I when you bolted from the restaurant.”

“You mean my escape?”

“You had nothing to escape from.”

“That’s a matter of opinion.”

“If you persist in not seeing what is clearly in front of you, I’m not sure how I can make you understand.”

“What’s to understand? You want me; you take me. Pretty damn clear.”

“If I just took you when I wanted you, you’d have been in my bed and at my side a long time ago. Damn it, Zenya, I am your fated mate. Does that mean nothing to you?”

“That is nothing more than pheromones and fairytales. It doesn’t exist—not in any meaningful way.”

“Can you not feel the bond that already exists between us? Do you not think you feel everything more intensely where I’m concerned?”

“You mean the headaches, dizziness, and feelings of nausea? Not exactly selling points.”

“You will find once we are together, those will dissipate and go away. There is nothing I can say that will convince you that we are destined for each other and will have a glorious future together.”

“Whether I like it or not.”

It was Lucian’s turn to snort. “Exactly. Like it or not, we will be happy.” He stood. “I will leave you and your pet to your determined misery. Can I get you something to eat or drink?”

“No. I prefer not to take anything from you.”

Shaking his head, Lucian started to speak, seemed to think better of it, and walked away, leaving her alone with her misery.

Misery was putting it mildly. She was more than upset. All she could do was see her entire future slipping away. She felt as though she’d worked so hard, and now the future she had envisioned for herself was being snatched away, and there was nothing she could do about it.

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