Page 35 of Love Bites Hard

“Arthur had his hands in your hair,” Porter snarled. “He needs to die.”

“He braided my hair for me. I don’t know how to do it myself,” I said. “If you kill him for that, I’m going back to the vampires.”

“Go ahead and try. My wolves have orders not to let you leave.”

“You’re trapping me here?” I raised my voice, anger rising with it.

“Of course I am. You’re my mate, and my alpha female. You’re safe here.”

“How can I be safe surrounded by wolves who want me dead, Porter?” I stepped away. “Go ahead and kill Arthur. I don’t care. I’ll find someone else to braid my hair tomorrow. Maybe someone who’ll actually spend the night with me instead of leaving me to sleep alone after screwing me in front of his pack.”

Porter roared, and I resumed my walk to the lake without looking back at him.

Part of me expected him to catch me, or stop me, but he didn’t. I heard his paws on the dirt a moment later, and knew he was leaving me.

Again.

I reached out mentally to Evan.“He was just here. He’s pissed. The plan failed, so I hope you hid Arthur really well.”

“We’re good, Porter won’t find him. And when he can’t get to Arthur, his instincts will drive him back to you.”

“Sure they will.”

“They will. Trust me.”

“I’ve known you for less than an hour.”

“Trust the process, then.”

“Alright.”I grabbed a candy bar out of my snack basket. Sugar therapy was definitely needed after this conversation.“I’ll be under the water when you need me. Cross your fingers that the lake is too deep for Porter to reach me.”

“It’s not, but the water is too murky. He won’t find you.”

“That works too. Thanks.”

“Good luck.”

The conversation ended, and I kept walking.

Less than five minutes later, I finally reached the lake.

Somehow, it was even better than I’d hoped.

It stretched further than I could see, with a boat dock a few yards to my left and a single, small boat tied to it. It was a boating-sized lake, so I couldn’t believe there weren’t any wakeboarding or surfing boats out there. It was September, so the water was a little cold for anyone who wasn’t a siren, but notthatcold.

And with the forest tucked around it and gorgeous rocks surrounding it, it looked like a natural sanctuary.

Yeah, the water was pretty filthy, but my magic would make it clear and blue over time. If I could get a few of my sisters out to swim with me, we could take care of that even faster.

I snapped a picture and sent it to them, along with a message.

Me

So there are two perks to being mated to a wolf

But I might need some help cleaning the water

Clem

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