Page 24 of Auctioned Mate

“You’re just saying that,” she said flatly, though I got the impression she didn’t believe her words, “and you’re just playing a part.”

She didn’t mean that either.

“I’m doing what I’m trained to do,” I explained. “I’m a commander and these two were of my fleet. I’m doing exactly as I should. I’m doing—”

I snapped my mouth shut.

I’m doing what I couldn’t do then.

No, that would ruin whatever trust she dared keep after that poorly executed escape. To be fair, our escape would have been much smoother if she hadn’t insisted on stealing from the underground black market as she had called it. I toyed with the bag tied to my belt, feeling its hefty contents, wondering if it was gold, silver, or some other material worth something in this realm.

I hummed curiously. “No matter. We should get moving back to Silverdawn territory.”

She was startled. “Silverdawn?”

“They’ll protect us,” Izdor repeated. “Raven is a good leader. She’ll make sure you’re comfortable.”

But it didn’t matter what we said for Macy had started waving her hands again. How incredible the many meanings of such a moment. Earth certainly had curious ways. As Macy backed away into the darkness, I advanced, promising quietly never to lose sight of her again like I had back atMoss.

There was a moment—just a split second—when I’d been blinded by my cause. Macy had blended into the background as I handled Rick in his wolf form. The way he trotted around and nipped at my ankles was pure mockery. He had been toying with me back there because he knew he couldn’t handle me with his own strength.

He had been trying to irritate me. And it had worked.

While trying to pulverize him into the concrete, I became distracted, and that group had gotten the jump on Macy. It wasn’t about to happen again. Losing sight of her meant losing sight of my goal. And my goal was to make sure she never suffered such a ghastly experience again.

“Macy, please, don’t run,” I urged as softly as possible. “If you go by yourself, I can’t protect you.”

“I didn’taskto be protected,” she argued.

But again, her tone betrayed the validity of that statement. She didn’t believe it.

I held out my hands. “Just come with me for a while. We can get you somewhere safe. You know I can fly quickly.”

“Don’t touch me. Don’t come near me.” She backed up faster, taking choked breaths that marked another panic attack. “Just what thehellare you—?”

She yelped loud enough to yank my wings out of my back. They flourished in their glory, widening so much that I chipped both brick walls flanking either side of me. Macy stumbled toward me as if she had seen a ghost—and then I noticed the figure behind her.

I sniffed the air, then I turned to hold out my hand to the others. “It’s alright. It’s just Raven.”

My wings retreated as Izdor and Galanthia stepped forward. Macy took a wide step away from me, shivering as she leaned against the brick wall to steady herself. I wanted to reach out to her and take her into my arms. Comfort would surely be a soothing gesture. But she had stated plainly how much she didn’t want my help.

If that were the case, then why had she run toward me when she thought she was in trouble? And why had my body reacted?

I struggled to keep my jaw from clenching. “Raven, I’m sorry we disappeared. Are you alright?”

“Don’t be sorry,” she said while stepping out of the shadows. “We were worried, so I went looking for you. But we don’t have much time.” She motioned for us to follow her. “We have to get back to the packnow.”

Chapter 10 - Juriah

Flying back to Silverdawn territory took half the time with my senses soaring. With Macy under my arm and my heart in shambles from her rejection, my adrenaline had skyrocketed. By the time we landed, it felt like I had run circles around the world several times.

The moment I released her, she shoved me away, showing me a coldness that confused me. Lust changed people in this realm. Perhaps it was me who had changed. But it was baffling to sense that she wanted to be as far away from me as possible when a mere hour ago, she had begged me to breed her into the couch.

I made a mental note to ask Izdor again later about his hookup culture experience. I must have been missing something. By definition, Macy and I had hooked up. Yet when I mentioned it in those terms, she appeared offended. Standing aside from me only affirmed that sentiment.

I had done something wrong. I was sure of it.

While the Silverdawn wolves welcomed us back to safety, Macy stood aside, avoiding meeting anyone’s eye and keeping her arms crossed. Raven gestured for her wolves to give the little wolf space. Though I was apt to heed her instruction, my heart screamed for me to keep an eye on the feisty woman.

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