Page 55 of Twisted Mates

I sigh and lean back against the island countertop, crossing my arms over my stomach. “Xander, stop. You can’t blame yourself for that. Someone entered our home when we thought it was secure. You were downstairs. It’s not like you threw me to the wolves.”

“Our home?” He shakes his head as he moves the French toast from the skillet to a plate that’s already piled high with delicious-looking slices. “I would never keep you locked up here. You deserve to be wild and free. I would take you to the beach, show you all the best spots, take you to eat at the finest restaurants. Never would I let this be your home.”

Those butterflies in my stomach turn to the size of that giant creature from theGodzillamovies. That he’s spent time thinking about what our future might look like sends a chill up my spine that is completely unrelated to the temperature in the room.

“Take me.”

His eyes widen. “Pardon me?” he asks in an incredibly amused tone.

I roll my eyes. “Take me there. To the beach. I’ve never been further away from home than Richmond, and I’m dying to see what your life is like away from here.”

“Well, if you’re really that curious, I’m happy to oblige. Let’s eat and then we’ll get ready and go.”

It’s then that I really focus on what he’s been doing and look around at all the other things on the countertop—butter, syrup, bacon, scrambled eggs, orange juice. My heart swells. “You made breakfast for me?”

He smiles and his eyes dance over my face. I know he wants to kiss me right here, but we’re too exposed. “I made breakfast for anyone who wants to eat it,” he replies, but the wink he gives me says this is all for me.

The days since I arrived at the chateau have been turbulent at best. Every day brings on a new issue to overcome—the newprecarious nature of my friendship with Carrington, Kai going missing, Clayton’s disregard for my feelings. One thing has been a constant—my mounting feelings for Xander. At this point, I think it’s safe to say he feels the same.

After eating breakfast and cleaning the kitchen, we go our separate ways to get ready for whatever Xander has in store for me. I’m about to head down the stairs when I come to a halt. Voices billow from Clayton’s office, both of them familiar. As I inch down the hallway toward the sound, it crosses my mind that living here has also taught me a thing or two about sneaking around.

“What can I say, Xander? The security system is top of the line. If someone broke into the house, there must have been a glitch.”

“A fucking glitch,” Xander says with a laugh that is void of humor. “What kind of security system doesn’t keep an intruder out? I know I set that alarm before I went downstairs to work out.”

“One that’s made by humans,” Clayton shoots back. “Clearly, I’ve already made a call, and someone is coming out today to assess the issue and repair the broken cameras. So stop trying to act like such a badass and go make yourself useful.”

I can practically hear Xander’s hatred rolling off him in waves. “Make myself useful? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Stop messing around with your brother’s mate and go back to work.”

Xander’s voice turns menacing... cold. “Don’t say another word about Alexia. She is none of your concern. And as far as work goes, you just worry about yourself. My work is handled.”

“Sheismy concern. If she is to become?—”

“I’m going to stop you right there. Do not speak of her again.”

“Who areyouto commandme?”

“If you don’t get out of my face, Clayton, I’m going to be your worst nightmare.”

“Is that a threat?”

Xander laughs again, and it sends a shiver down my spine, straight to the spot between my thighs. “No. It’s a fucking promise.”

“Watch yourself, boy. It seems you are getting attached to another shifter’s mate. You know the consequence if you fuck her. And I’ll make sure she’s there to watch as your head is sliced from your neck.”

Shit, he knows.I kind of thoughtmaybehe did after the discussion about the shift, but I wasn’t sure. It’s pretty clear now. Clayton—the king regent of our pack,my estranged mate’s father—knows.

An even more horrific thought pops into my head. What if it wasn’t the Jeep at the overlook that night? What if it wasClayton? A full body chill passes over me and I feel like I could be sick.

“Fuck you.”

A door slams and footsteps head my way. I leap into action, scampering down the stairs and flinging myself onto the couch before Xander can catch me eavesdropping. I’m scrolling through my phone as if I’ve been there for fifteen minutes by the time he reaches the living room.

I glance up at him. “Bout time you made it down here. You ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” he says, clearly distracted and irritated.

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