Page 73 of Beast

But I have no business feeling that way.

The next day,I wake up alone and immediately my head churns with questions. Where is Beast? Why didn’t he come to bed?

But then I remind myself he’s the president of this club and wherever he is, he’s doing something important for the club. And perhaps this is something I need to get used to.

It sucks. But in order for this to work, I need to roll with the punches and not let my emotions tie me up in knots.

So I dress and get ready for the day and tell myself I won’t give my fiancé a hard time for not coming to bed.

After dressing, I visit my uncle again and am relieved when Annie says he’s doing much better. His bruises have begun to fade and the swelling around his face has softened, but he’s still heavily medicated, and I’m not sure if he even realizes I’m here.

“Of course he knows you are here,” Annie says with a comforting smile. “Keep talking. Keep holding his hand. It all counts.”

So I bring him up to speed with what’s been happening. About being engaged to the club president. About Mayor Boney ruining the club’s fundraiser. And it suddenly occurs to me that I sound like I am talking about family.

I blow out a huff of breath and remind myself it’s not true. The clubhouse isn’t home. And the Knights are not my family.

Which becomes even more evident when I arrive back at the clubhouse.

When I’m walking along the hallway toward Beast’s room and I hear him arguing with a woman.

At first, my stomach tightens because he didn’t come back to our room last night, and there is a part of me that still feels strange about that.

But then curiosity takes over, and I stop before I reach the open door to listen.

“Does she know?” the female voice asks angrily.

It’s Annika. And she sounds pissed.

“No, and she’s not going to, not yet,” Beast growls.

“This arrangement is dangerous, Beast. Hangman was prepared to forsake the club. How do you know the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree? What if she learns how much this club owes her and decides to cash in?”

For a moment, I think they’re talking about me. About our arrangement to pay off the debt. But they can’t be. Because I don’t know a Hangman.

“This will blow up in your face,” Annika warns Beast.

Whatever they’re talking about is clearly a sensitive topic, and I shouldn’t be here eavesdropping because it has nothing to do with me. I sure as fuck don’t want to give Annika another reason to not like me.

I turn around to creep away but as I do the floorboard beneath the carpet creaks.Loudly. I pause and curse under my breath, wondering if I just found the only loose floorboard in the goddamn hallway.

When I look up, Beast and Annika are in the doorway. Annika has her arms folded and is glaring at me.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” I say.

“And yet here we are,” Annika replies.

Beast gives her a warning glare, and she sighs, rolling her eyes and dropping her arms to her side.

“Whatever,” she says, walking off.

I watch her go. She doesn’t look back.

“She doesn’t like me very much,” I say to Beast once she disappears out of view.

“That’s why I’m sending you both to town to spend some time together.”

“Great, I can’t wait.”

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