Page 42 of Unbreakable Bond
Chapter 17
It was strange,being so close to Michael and not feeling anything but the warmth of familiarity. No longing. No sadness. Just comfort andfriendship.
Still, she’d ducked inside and pulled a jacket on over her tank top. She’d thought it would make Rafe a little more accepting of her talking to his brother privately. Instead, he’d unzipped it and pulled it to the side, kissing her mark that he’d put back on display before letting her step off theporch.
Darius glared at her as she slipped past him and she contemplated flipping him off. Asshole Enforcer. Darius was stone cold and he cared about exactly one person and one person only. Michael. He protected his Pack Alpha at all costs and he’d clearly decided that Michael now needed to be protected fromher.
She didn’t bother waiting to comment on it until they had walked out of earshot because they were all wolves here now, “I take it Darius now considers me theenemy?”
Michael shot a look at his Enforcer and his friend, “Don’t take itpersonally.”
“Oh, I’m taking it personally because that’s exactly what itis.”
“Zo,” Michael used that warning tone with her, “He protects me from anyone that’s notpack.”
“And I’m not pack anymore.” She scoffed, “So it doesn’t matter that I’m your best friend? That I’m your brothers mate? I’m a threatnow?”
“No. You’re just… different. And Darius doesn’t like different. He doesn’t likechange.”
“Yeah, neither doyou.”
Michael scrubbed his face and then tucked his hands into his pockets, “You’re right. I don’t. I don’t like surprises and I don’t like change and I really, really don’t like that you’re a wolf,Zoey.”
She winced, “You really never wanted me to be a wolf, didyou?”
“No.”
The slash of pain in her chest surprised her. She hadn’t thought her heart would still hurt so badly to know that Michael had never considered her worthy of truly being part of his pack. Somehow, her wolf growling at him didn’t surprise her at all though. She was strong, even newborn, and she wasn’t a big fan of Michael saying she shouldn’texist.
He sighed, “It’s not what you think, Zo. It’s just… being what I am, it’s controlled my entire life. I never had a chance to make my own decisions. Being a shifter, having a wolf, it takes away your freedom and I never wanted that for you. I wanted so much more for you than thislife.”
Zoey jammed her hands in the pockets of her jacket and considered what he was saying as they walked along the edge of the forest. She knew Michael wanted the best for her. She’d always known that. But she still couldn’t understand why he thought there was a better life for her than thisone.
The one fate had chosen forher.
“Michael.” She chose her words carefully, “This is the life I’ve always wanted. To be one of you. To be a wolf and truly be part of the pack. To bewith…”
“Me.” He snorted, “You wanted to be withme.”
She winced because she’d been going to say that she wanted to be someone’s mate. She wanted that kind of love and devotion. The kind that meant two souls were stitched together as one. But he was right too, as much as it made things awkward. She wasn’t confused anymore. She didn’t want Michael anymore. She only wanted her mate because he’d given her those otherthings.
“Michael…”
“Don’t bother denying it, Zo. I know you. I know you wanted it to be me just as much as I wanted it to beyou.”
She groaned because she knew those words would hurt her mate, could practically feel him flinch through the bond, “But it’s not. It’s not and we were only hurting each other pretending otherwise. You said soyourself.”
“Iknow.”
“So why can’t you just be happy forme?”
Michael sighed, “Zo, if I thought you were happy maybe I could bebut…”
“I am.” She growled when he shot her a skeptical gaze, “Iam!”
“Zo…”
“Damn it Michael! You’re a wolf. You can sense that our scents are already mixing. You can sense our bond and it’s strong. I know you damn well heard us before you slammed that car doorand…”
