Page 34 of Mated to the Wolves

“Do you know how I arrived here? Shackled, drugged, and forced to leave behind my old life.” I

turn to face him.

“You don’t expect me to believe that do you?” Bo delivers a fake laugh. “Always over dramatic.”

“Wait.” Kirk glances at Cadoc. “Is she serious?”

“Am I, Cadoc? He was there.” I turn my ire to the tall man looming behind me. “He initiated the capture.”

“Is that true,” Fell’s forehead wrinkles.

“I did acquire her?—”

“You’re right. ‘Cause she’s not a piece of property you can purchase,” Fell’s eyes narrow. The strong menthol aroma of agitation comes off him.

“Gentleman. Another argument will do us more harm than good,” Kirk says.

“Speak for yourself. I could do with a brawl.” Bo’s black eyes light up with mischief and blood lust.

“I did what my Alpha told me, the same we all do,” Cadoc says unapologetically.

Fell turns away at his statement and I study the two. There’s something between them I don’t understand.

I wander away from the testosterone-fueled stare-down and explore the chrome kitchen. I run my fingers over the handle of the double oven and admire the farmhouse sink.

The stainless-steel fridge has a water and an ice dispenser with three settings for the cubes.

“At least we’ll have good ice,” I tap the pellet symbol.

“You always liked that kind best,” Fell appears beside me.

I refuse to lean into him because he’s familiar.

“Um Hmm.” I move to the dining section which houses a large round table made of maple wood with eight matching chairs. It’s the perfect layout for a group that wants to spend time together without feeling overcrowded.

A large sixty-inch television is mounted on the wall. I move up the stairs, admiring the wolf photography hung up.

I ignore the blond traveling a few steps behind me and pause at the second-floor landing.

Fell grunts. “Are you honestly going to keep this up, Yl?”

I turn to the left. “Keep what up? We’re strangers who used to know each other.”

“We’re far more than that?—.”

“Funny. You didn’t want to talk before, now you can’t shut up.” I smile cruelly.

“I didn’t know what to say.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and shrinks into himself.

His pitiful expression doesn’t move me at all. “Anything would’ve been better than ghosting me. You turned me into a fool. I asked myself what I did wrong so many times over the years.”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.” The words explode from my mouth as my emotions overflow. I shove his chest, and he takes a step back.

“Why would you do that? The drive was torture. There were times I had to pull over because I was crying too hard to see. I was so sure something horrible had happened to you.” My chest squeezes tight. “I called everyone I could think of.” I grip his shirt, pulling him toward me like a mobster collecting money.

“That was the cruelest part. You didn’t even bother to message me.” I take a breath. I feel like I’m breathing underwater as my nostrils burn. “I trusted you.”

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