Page 23 of Auctioned Mate

“If you believed that, you wouldn’t keep jumping in to help me.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and towered over her. “So, I should have left you to that mob of half-crazed centaurs, wolves, and mages?”

She puffed up. “I would havediedin that fight.”

“With your pride intact, if I’m to understand you correctly.”

Crimson the same shade as those dastardly doors splotched her face as she flipped her hair over her shoulder and grabbed another two of the velvet pouches. “There. You can have that one. As payment for whatever services youthinkyou provided.”

“I’m to be paid for protecting you,” I pondered aloud. “So, you think of me as your bodyguard then?”

“I think nothing of you.”

My eyes narrowed. “That wasn’t what I sensed when you wrapped your legs around me.”

“You’recrude.”

She flipped around on her bare heel while cringing and then attempted to stomp off. Whatever disagreement she had would have to be saved for another day. There wasn’t time for arguments or whatever it was she was doing. Was this a tantrum? I’d only ever known children to do such things, yet it seemed this woman wanted to fight me at every turn.

She was like a cornered animal, a caged being suddenly dropped into the world at large without anything to protect her.

Except for me.

I zipped around her faster than she could see and stopped her from wandering off. “How am I crude? I’m being candid with you, Macy. Your body told a different story than your mouth.”

“It’s rude to discuss that in front of other people!”

Ah, so she was shy. I didn’t understand why wolves or other creatures were so abashed about their bodies and carnal needs. Every being, from our species to varying animal kingdoms, did much the same. Some of them performed out in the open.

Her frown deepened when I chuckled. “What’s funny, Juriah?”

“You get a wrinkle in your forehead when you’re angry.”

While she scrubbed her forehead, I glanced at my friends who were attempting not to laugh. I checked our mental connection, finding it void of commentary. What were they hiding from me?

“They sound so much like that married human couple from…which show was it, Galanthia?”

“I quite agree, Izzy. Much like married human couples.”

I glowered at them. “Would you twofocus?”

Macy hissed at them, “Cut it out!”

Silence settled over the alleyway. It seemed my friends were not keen on laughing out loud, but I could tell they were quite amused by Macy and me bickering. They were right about us acting like one of those married couples on sitcoms, but I despised thinking that they were correct, seeing as Macy and I were far from being engaged.

Marriage was the furthest thing from my mind. Protection and justice were my main focal points, and my friends would do well to think similarly. Macy also seemed rather committed to her situation, even if she was doing so incorrectly. She turned so her right shoulder faced me and part of her profile was in shadows.

This alleyway was drab and wet. The rest of the city had been so full of life, brimming with the kind of activity any nocturnal creature would enjoy. It seemed we were miles away from all of that now, completely separated from the things that gave beauty to this city. Though shadows weren’t inherently ugly, these felt like heavy drapes ready to unleash hell at any moment.

“You’re the weirdest angels I’ve ever met,” Macy spat. “I can’t believe I trusted you.”

I gaped at her. “When did you trust me?”

“I just wanted to get off that stage and out of that bar.” For the second time, she hugged herself and scrubbed her shoulders as if she was trying to wash away the darkness from that club. “The way those men stared at me made me feel disgusting.”

Anger returned with a vengeance. “You’re nothing of the sort, little wolf. You’re a gorgeous being, and you deserve to be protected.”

Her attention snapped back to me, a passion infecting her gaze that instantly transferred to my body. Much like the way her desire took hold, her devotion to justice did the same. Yes, I could tell she wanted justice as well. Revenge wasn’t enough when it came to a woman like Macy. Her feistiness told me so.

---