Page 8 of Her Arranged Alpha
"I'm getting to know my surroundings."
"Or are you trying to find a way out?"
She shrugged. "I guess you'll never know."
I grunted. "Rule Four, you will be expected back in the house at a responsible time. If you plan to be out late, I want to know. I don't care what you do, but I want to at least know you're safe."
She turned, leaning onto the counter. "Are you also going to be abiding by these, or just me? Like I'm a child?"
"It's for safety."
"Or is it because you don't trust me?"
"Well, you did try running for it, so trust isn't exactly up there right now."
"Obviously," she grumbled.
Jillian looked around, and I watched sadness flicker over her face for a split second, showing something besides anger or a neutral expression. But it was gone just as quickly as it came.
She took a deep breath before she looked at me, squaring her shoulders. "So, where am I supposed to sleep in this cold dungeon you call a home?"
I sighed and pointed towards the stairs.
Jillian turned, starting up the stairs, and I followed, pointing towards the third door. She opened the doors, and her shoulders seemed to relax at the sight of a bedroom.
She glanced at me and offered a genuine smile. "So, I have my own space." She seemed stunned by this information, and I looked at her, confused.
"Were you really thinking I was going to make us share a room?"
She chewed on her lower lip for a moment before she shrugged. "I know the others do."
I snorted. "And I can assure you they didn't at first. I'm not terrible, Jillian. Just because they stated we are to mate doesn't mean I'm forcing you into anything."
"Says the man that's forcing me into marriage."
I crossed my arms. "And where exactly were you going to go? Let's say you did get out, what are you going to do? Where are you going to go?"
"I don't know," she grumbled, chewing on her lip. "I was going to figure that out."
"Yeah, well, figure this out." I waved a hand around the room. "I have some phone calls to make."
I walked past her and back down the stairs. I ran a hand over my face and decided to call Frank. I'm sure he heard the news now.
I stepped into the kitchen and called Frank. It didn't even get a full ring before he answered. "Am I correct in the fact that you came and dragged Jillian from her home?" His voice came out snipped, and I sighed.
I pinched my eyes, rubbing my fingers roughly on the bridge of my nose. "Who told you that?"
"She texted Nina."
Of course she did.
"I did not drag her from her home. I caught her trying to make a run for it and calmly asked her to walk back to my car." I hadn't picked her up, but if she had tried to run again, I would have.
"She was trying to run? That doesn't sound like Jillian. What did you say to her?"
I leaned back, resting my elbows on the counter. "What makes you think I did it?"
"Because I know Jillian."
