Page 16 of Wedding for My Werewolf

“I’ll come by in the morning to move you to my cabin,” he added.

“Wait, what?” Her voice threatened to break. “What about my job?”

“You don’t need to work there anymore.”

Her spine stiffened. “I’m keeping my job. I’m making that one of my conditions.”

“I can provide?—”

“This isn’t about money.” Not entirely. It was about not being dependent on anyone. “I like working. And Garrick’s been nothing but kind to me.”

His jaw tightened, a muscle ticking beneath his skin, and he seemed to loom even larger in the small office.

“It’s not appropriate for my mate to work in another male’s house.”

“Fake mate,” she corrected. “And I won’t quit just because it doesn’t fit some werewolf protocol. The job gives me purpose, independence.” She swallowed hard. “I need that.”

The silence stretched between them. She braced herself for an argument, but his expression softened.

“You’re right.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “Keep the job. We’ll make it work.”

The knot in her chest loosened. She hadn’t expected him to yield so easily. His willingness to bend, to consider her needsalongside his own, eased some of her doubts about their arrangement.

“Thank you,” she said. “For understanding.”

“However,” he continued. “You’ll still need to move in with me.”

“You want me to live with you?”

“The job is one thing, but a werewolf would never let his mate live apart from him, especially not with another male,” he said firmly. “Even Garrick would find it suspicious.”

The walls of his office seemed to close in around her. “But my job?—”

“I told you I wouldn’t try to stop you from working. I just want you to spend your nights with me. My cabin is safe—it’s isolated, surrounded by forest, and I’d know if anyone approached.”

The thought of living with him sent a jolt of something that wasn’t entirely panic through her system. “This wasn’t part of the deal.”

“It’s necessary for the ruse.” His eyes softened. “I have a guest room, little bird. You’ll have your own space. But if we’re going to convince people—especially my Pack—this has to look real.”

She twisted her hands together, thinking of Rick’s predatory smile. Living in Eric’s cabin did sound safer than remaining in town.

“When?” she whispered.

“First thing tomorrow. I’ll help move your belongings.”

Less than twelve hours to prepare herself for living with a werewolf. A big male werewolf who made her pulse race andawakened feelings she didn’t understand. The universe had a twisted sense of humor.

“All right. But remember our terms. No?—”

“No unnecessary contact. No personal questions. A time limit.” He repeated her conditions with that infuriating hint of amusement. “I remember.”

She drew a steadying breath. “And not tomorrow morning.”

“I can be there at dawn?—”

“Evening.” She lifted her chin. “Garrick was nice enough to give me this job and I won’t let him down. I’ll pack tonight and be ready when I finish tomorrow.”

Golden eyes studied her face. The intensity of his gaze made her want to look away, but she held firm and he nodded.

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