It was as if I had been doused with ice water. I hadn’t told anyone except Ty that I’d stopped taking my meds. I’d made the decision after we’d slept together. It wasn’t that I wanted to get pregnant or anything, but something inside told me I no longer needed them. I followed my instincts, and my wolf seemed to be in full agreement not to take the pills.
“How the fuck could you possibly know that? Have you been following me? Spying on me?” I punched my hands onto my hips and narrowed my eyes. This bastard knew way too much.
A sly grin spread across his face. “Your true nature is making itself known. I’ll be the one to fully bring you to your glory.”
Just like all the other times I’d interacted with Stone, I had no damn clue what he meant. I didn’t have another chance to ask because suddenly Ty was there. I recognized his aura before I saw him.
He moved quickly across the banquet hall. Growling, he shifted right there in the middle of the room, not caring who saw.
Stone didn’t even flinch. “Ty, good to see you. You’ll be happy to know that everything is going as planned and that I won’t be able to keep your secrets for very much longer. Her wolf is trulyawakening, and when she finally breaks free, you’ll no longer be able to hide your deception.”
Secrets? Ty?
Ty didn’t hesitate. He charged toward Stone, who stood his ground, again not showing even an ounce of fear.
“No, Ty! Stop!” I tried to jump in between them, but I was too woozy to move fast enough.
Bryce came out of nowhere and slammed his shoulder into Ty’s body. “This isn’t the time or the place.”
Ty turned his feral eyes on Bryce. He didn’t have to talk for us to know his goal. He wanted to kill Stone.
Stone glared at Ty, who snarled, baring every tooth. “I’ve given you time to decide, and I’m tired of waiting. You know exactly why I’m here, and I won’t wait for you to give it to me.”
Ty snarled viciously as Bryce dug his heels into the floor, trying to hold Ty back from completely ripping Stone to shreds in the middle of the banquet hall.
“Sorry to say that your time is up, Ty.” Stone took a step forward, mocking Ty. “You need to decide by the end of the full moon, or a decision will be made for you.”
Stone turned and walked back to Cecily. She cocked her head and slapped Stone’s chest. “What the hell is so special abouther? Was it really necessary for you to give her that much attention?” Her loud voice carried across the hall, and I cringed.
Stone shrugged and put his arm around Cecily’s waist. “It’s time for us to go.”
He took one last look at me before turning and leading her away. I stood there speechless as Bryce released Ty from his grip.
He stayed close in case he decided to go after Stone again. “Calm down, man. He’s gone.”
Ty growled, but the fight left his body.
“Remember why we came here in the first place,” Bryce murmured in Ty’s ear. “You can’t shift back now, you idiot. If youdo, you’ll be as naked as the day you were born.” He shook his head at me. “His clothes are shredded.”
Ty glanced back at me. I was too stunned to speak. Everything had happened so quickly, and I was still recovering from my panic attack. I hadn’t expected this sort of reaction out of Ty.
Something told me Stone wasn’t in town for a business deal, which only raised my suspicions.
Stone’s words settled deep within me as I tried to make sense of them. What did he mean byher wolf is awakening? Why was Ty so intent on keeping me in the dark?
Questions raced through my mind, and I had no idea how to find the answers. All I knew for sure was that something strange was going on, and it seemed to have everything to do with me.
Bryce went to get a change of clothes from his car, and when he came back, he and Ty went to the restroom. Shaking my head to return to some semblance of normalcy, I headed back to the kitchen to check on my staff.
“Liza? Is everything okay?” Sabrina walked to my side and laid a hand on my arm. “I hope you don’t mind me calling Ty. You were freaking the fuck out and I didn’t know what to do. I figured he could calm you down.”
“Well, he certainly got my mind off the panic attack.”
Adam pretended like he hadn’t been listening and turned from the stove.
“It sounded like a full-blown brawl out there. Did Ty win?”
I shook my head. “Nobody won.” That included me. I squeezed the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes. My energy had been zapped right out of me. I couldn’t think straight. No way I’d be able to manage an entire kitchen tonight.
