Page 26 of Claimed By the Wolf
Defensiveness for Nox shoots through me. “Arranged unions are really common. Lots of couples we know are in arranged matings. Besides, you don’t know what it’s like to be the Alpha,” I insist. “Or to be on the brink of war.”
The twins gawk at me.
“Are you okay?” Sierra asks me, concern coloring her eyes. “The Brynn we know wouldn’t just roll over and accept being sold off like this.”
Anger replaces my defensiveness because I know they’re right in some ways. But I also know they don’t understand. Again, I bring the glass to my lips, but the liquor isn’t having the heady effect I’d hoped for.
“This will strengthen our pack. The alternative is civil unrest. Is that what you want? I don’t want to walk down the street and never know if a fight is going to break out. This way, we won’t need to worry about territory lines and jurisdictions.”
The sisters shrug in unison and sit back, looking around awkwardly as if they want to change the subject. I don’t want to be there anymore.
“I think I’m going home,” I tell them, slapping Sienna’s leg gently to move her out of the booth.
“Oh, Brynn, don’t leave,” she begs. “We might not see you again.”
“I should get back and pack. I’ll text you later.”
I reach into my crossbody purse to pull out money for my drinks, but the twins wave it away.
“We didn’t mean to upset you,” Sierra tells me as I turn away. “But you have to admit that this isn’t what you want.”
I don’t respond, and I can’t get out of the place fast enough.
In the humid spring air, I gulp in deep breaths.
Nox’s pull inside me is driving me crazy beneath the mild intoxication of the vodka.
Then it hits me.
I’m all alone.
Brax and Nox have the pack here at Ember Hollow. And when I get to Willow Grove, they will all have each other, too.
But who will I have?
Tears of frustration and loneliness spring to my eyes as I walk, forsaking the taxi service. I want to clear my head, if I can.
Inside my purse, my phone vibrates, but I ignore it. I don’t want to talk to the twins or my brother. I don’t want to talk toanyone who will remind me just how desolate my life truly is and always has been.
My fated mate is giving me to another Alpha, and my brother is helping him. My friends think I’m weak and giving in to the patriarchy.
And maybe I am.
The city’s darkness seems twice as black in my thoughts, even as several cars honk at me, men catcalling me out of the windows.
“Hey, honey! Wanna go to a party?”
But all I hear, all I see, is Nox, summoning me and rejecting me, over and over. I’m never going to make it through the party tomorrow without breaking down.
I gasp as my house appears at the end of the street, the sight of it shocking me. If I’m already on my street, it means I’ve been walking for more than an hour.
I’ve been so lost in thought, I didn’t even realize how long I’d been traveling.
Sighing, I dig my keys out of my purse and unlock the door, walking inside.
“Where the hell have you been?” Nox’s voice is commanding, terrifying me in the darkness.
I reel back as the door closes, and I stumble. I don’t see him, but I feel him whip across the entranceway to catch me, his strong arms steadying me, his strong, masculine scent overwhelming me. A soft moan escapes my lips as that unsettled feeling in my soul finally relents.
