Page 38 of Feral
“And you didn’t think there might be a reason for that?”
Bishop looked from her to Sterling, clearly unhappy with the direction the conversation was taking. “Can you give us a moment alone?”
“No,” Sterling answered without hesitation.
Ella couldn’t help but smile at his protective response. At least now she didn’t have to worry about what to say to him the morning after. If nothing else, Bishop’s presence had dealt with the worry of any awkward silence.
“I’d really rather not be alone with you right now,” she admitted. It had been hard to overcome her reluctance to speak her mind, but now she was starting to think she was having the opposite problem. And she really couldn’t bring herself to care. “Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of him.”
She could tell he wanted to argue. That look of indignation in his gaze wasn’t so different from Axel’s, and she’d already learned how to deal with his ego. Bishop’s might have been more well hidden, but she now knew it was every bit as big.
“I guess I can understand that,” he said, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “I know you’re upset at me for what happened, and I don’t blame you. I lost control, and I’m sorry.”
“Are you sorry you lost control, or that I saw you?” she asked, refusing to back down.
Bishop snorted. “A little of both, I guess.”
“At least you’re honest,” Ella muttered.
Sterling’s scoff earned him a filthy glare from the other tom.
“So when did this happen?” Bishop demanded, looking between them.
“It’s none of your business,” said Ella.
“The hell it isn’t,” Bishop said, turning toward Sterling. “The way I see it, this creep lured you out on a trip to a remote location and took advantage of the fact that you went into heat.”
Sterling didn’t blink at the accusation, leaning calmly against the counter. He raised a hand to show the silver ring and Bishop’s eyes narrowed in rage. “Your deductive skills could use a bit of work. Then again, you did score four points lower than your brother on the entrance exam, so I suppose that’s to be expected.”
Bishop’s fists clenched at his sides and a growl built in his throat. He seemed to be ready to start another fight.
“That’s enough,” Ella snapped. “Sterling didn’t take advantage of anything.Hewas there when I needed him.”
“You didn’t exactly give me the chance to be there, did you?” Bishop challenged.
Ella looked away in irritation. He had a point, but she was still furious. “You proved you’re not the person I thought you were. I needed time to think.”
“Yeah. I can tell you’ve been doing a lot of that,” he said, casting a disgusted look at Sterling.
“What happened between me and Sterling is none of your business,” Ella said, intent on redirecting his anger toward her. The last thing she wanted was for Sterling to deal with the backlash of the Academy finding out they’d mated, and given Bishop’s veiled threat, that seemed a likely possibility. “And I’m not going to apologize for it.”
Bishop turned back to her, his jaw set in stubborn agitation. His expression finally softened to something that almost made her feel bad for her harsh response. Almost. “I wouldn’t expect you to,” he finally said. “I fucked up. I know that. I just needed to make sure you were okay.”
“I’m fine,” she said, her anger wavering. It was easier to stay upset at him when they were apart. Face to face was another matter entirely, especially with the puppy eyes he was giving her.
“You’re still in heat,” he murmured. There was no mistaking the glimmer of need in his gaze, and after everything that had happened, he was still capable of stirring the same within her. It was different from the way she needed Sterling, but no less powerful. She’d hoped that she would be one of the rare queens capable of resolving her heat with one male, but his unexpected arrival had made her realize that was a naïve hope.
“I’m aware of that,” Ella said, her face growing warm as she hugged herself tighter. She’d all but forgotten she was wearing Sterling’s shirt, until his gaze traveled over her in approval. Even he wasn’t above the alpha male instinct to have his female marked by his scent, it seemed. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she could tell from the way Bishop was looking at her that it had also had the unintended effect of making her arousal even more obvious.
“It’s not safe for you to be out here,” Bishop said firmly. “If I found you, other toms can.”
“He has a point,” Sterling conceded.
Ella frowned. “Whose side are you on now?”
“I don’t like him being here anymore than you do,” he assured her. “But it’s obvious your heat isn’t ending anytime soon.”
Ella’s blush grew hotter, along with the heat building between her thighs. “It has to eventually.”
