Page 55 of Freed Wolfsbane

Malachi swivels his head to glare at Xander. “I would never,everdo anything to harm Briar. You should fucking know me better than that, Alexander. But I do need a goddamn minute alone with my mate before my wolf loses his fucking mind.”

My eyebrows rise at Xander getting called by his full name, but Malachi makes a good point. I’m not scared for my safety or worried he’s truly going to hurt me. I just know he’s probably going to yell at me, which I’m not really looking forward to. “He’s right. We need to talk it out, so I’ll see you guys later.”

I almost snort at saying “we need to talk it out” because I doubt there will be much calm discussion. Yelling, sure. But talking? Unlikely.

Bastian stares at Malachi apprehensively before focusing on me. “You sure, sweet girl?”

“I’m positive.” I give him a small smile to reassure him.

“Well, I’ll be in the gym if you need anything, little shadow.” Saint hesitates for a moment before he turns around and starts for the staircase down to the basement. Xander and Bastian follow him without a word, leaving Malachi and me alone.

Before I can ask what now, Malachi barks, “Come on.” He stalks to the grand staircase without even glancing back to make sure I’m following.

“I’m not a dog,” I grumble under my breath. I mean, I am a wolf, but that’s different and really not the point.

Malachi clenches his jaw, but he doesn’t respond as we ascend to the second floor in tense silence. Our soft footfalls on the plush carpet runner are the only sound as he marches to his bedroom. I follow like a lost puppy.

Yanking open the door, Malachi waits until I’m through before pushing it closed. It shuts with an ominous click as I stand there, unsure what I’m supposed to do.

Without a word, he walks over to the couch and lowers himself down. He throws one arm over the back of the charcoal sofa and crooks a finger at me with the other. “Come here.”

I shift from foot to foot as I eye him uncertainly. “Why?”

His hand resting on the sofa tightens into a fist, and he closes his eyes to gather himself. When he opens them, he stares me down with a deceptively blank face. I can see his gaze roiling with a potent mix of anger and anguish. “Because I told you to. Now stop stalling and get your ass over here.”

CHAPTER27

BRIAR

Shaking my head, I stay where I am. “I’d rather not.”

“I wasn’t asking,” he growls through clenched teeth. “I’ll throw you over my shoulder if I have to, but I promise you won’t enjoy the consequences if you make me do that.”

I bite my lip, wishing he would just tell me what he’s going to do. The anticipation is driving me crazy, which I’m pretty sure is the point.

He stares at me for a beat longer. “Fine.” Letting out a sigh, he makes a move like he’s going to stand up.

“Okay, okay! I’m coming over.” I hurry to cross the room, absolutely believing him that I won’t like whatever the consequences are for disobeying him. When I come to a stop in front of him, his mouth is tilted up in a satisfied half smirk. I narrow my eyes at him, and he raises a challenging brow at me.

“Get on my lap,” he orders in a deceptively quiet voice. I can still hear the warning simmering just below the surface, though.

My nose scrunches in confusion because that’s not what I was expecting him to say. “Why?”

He pinches the bridge of his nose in exasperation. He then pins me with a glare. “Just do what you’re fucking told to for once in your life, Briar.”

I throw my hands out in frustration because he’s not being fair. “I was trying to listen to you! You said to look for anything out of the ordinary. I did, and, spoiler alert, I found it. It’s not my fault I tripped.”

My voice is steady, but inside, my heart aches at upsetting him so much. I honestly didn’t mean to go off on my own or get sucked into another dimension. I know I would be sick with worry if any of my mates did that, so I can frustratingly enough see his side to it. It makes it hard to hold on to any anger when I know why he’s acting this way.

He jumps up from the sofa and gets in my face. Pressing an almost burningly hot hand against my back to keep me in place, he roars, “I don’t fucking care that it wasn’t your fault you tripped. I care that I almost lost you, yet again, goddamn it! I care that if you had listened to me, you never would’ve been too far away for me to get to you in time.”

“I’m sorry, Malachi!” I shout at him, my voice breaking. “What do you want me to say other than I’m fucking sorry? I don’t want to keep worrying you.” I hang my head and squeeze my eyes shut, pushing back the traitorous tears that want to trickle out.

“Then don’t! Jesus fucking Christ, Briar, you drive me insane sometimes.” He breaks off and tilts his face up to the ceiling, looking like he can’t decide whether he wants to strangle me or hold me. Eventually, he looks back at me, his lips pressed into a thin line. “You have one last chance to follow directions. My patience is wearing very,verythin. You do not want to see what happens when I finally run out of it.”

I grind my teeth as Malachi sits back down. Part of me wants to ignore him, turn around, and leave. If I tell him no, I know he’ll let me walk away, even if it hurts him and his wolf. But I can tell by the wildness and hint of desperation in his gaze, he needs this, whatever this is. And, truth be told, I think I need it too.

Briefly closing my eyes, I open them and walk over to him. I climb onto the cushy sofa on my knees and sit on my heels. I bite my lip. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

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