For the first time that night, I got a reaction out of Cade. Something dark and dangerous swam in his eyes. “Have you been forced into situations you didn’t want in any of your previous packs?”
That was a complicated question.
“No,” I settled on, not wanting to get into this topic any more than my family. “Just wanted to make sure that wouldn’t be part of the agreement.”
“Nobody here is gonna force you into their bed, sweetheart,” Bastian drawled, finally contributing to the conversation. “But if you want to fall into it, I won’t complain.” He gave me a wicked smile that I was sure had had more than one person shredding their clothing and throwing themselves at him.
I arched an eyebrow. “Not interested. Also not a fan of boring terms of endearment.”
Bastian tilted his head, and the light from the Fae lantern caused a sheen to roll over his eyes as he chuckled. “So she does have claws. I was beginning to worry you were going to be boring.”
“And I was worried you were going to be something more than just a pretty face.” I shrugged. “It seems neither of us have cause for concern.”
Internally, I winced at the meanness of my reply, but I kept it off my face. Usually, I did my best to appear agreeable and laid back, but I’d been here less than twelve hours, and I could feel my facade already breaking.
Rynn and the Alphas weren’t exactly what I’d thought they’d be, and it was throwing me off.
“Well, I like her,” Ryker said, still not taking his attention off Rynn.
“Your opinion doesn’t count.” Bastian snorted, his bright green eyes looking at me with curiosity. “Since we’re all being so honest, how about you tell us why you’ve had multiple failed packs? One or two happens, but we’re what, your fourth one?”
“Sixth, but who’s counting?” I flashed him a humorless smile.
“Someone’s been busy.” Bastian held my gaze, and there was a coldness in it that sent my instincts on edge. I’d met more than my fair share of beautiful faces, perhaps not as gorgeous as Bastian but close. I knew the cruelty that could lurk beneath.
“Careful,” Rynn rasped, her unusual eyes locked on Bastian.
To my surprise, his expression thawed slightly. “Apologies, Selene. I’m sure you’ve been through a lot. But knowing a little more about you and your past would be appreciated.”
Oh, that’s an easy answer. It’s because I don’t enjoy sex. No, nothing bad has ever happened to me. There’s no trauma in my life to explain why I don’t like it. I simply don’t. The way some people don’t like potatoes or don’t like to be hugged. I do like to be hugged, by the way. I like to kiss. I like to hold hands. But those things always seem to lead to sex, so I’ve decided it’s just better to go without. Because when I tell people all this, they usually respond with, “Oh, you just haven’t met the right person yet,” or “You weren’t doing it right,” or “You’ll like it with me.” And then when I, in fact, do not like it with them, they get mad and blame me. Even though I was nothing but honest from the beginning. Then the relationship becomes tense and falls apart. Every. Single. Time. All because they had the audacity to believe they knew me better than I know myself.
That would have probably been too much honesty.
I fixed a polite smile on my face. “Nothing all that interesting. I was merely unlucky and was bartered to clans where our personalities simply did not mesh. But given that this is my sixth attempt, I would prefer that it was successful. So I’m more than willing to work with the unusual circumstances. Based on what Rynn has told me and what I’ve seen, you don’t have much help around here. I’m more than willing to fill that need, to an extent.” I wouldn’t be anyone’s servant, but I also hated to be bored, so occasionally cleaning didn’t bother me. “And I do love to cook and bake.”
Ryker stirred to life. “You do?”
“What do you bake?” Rynn asked before catching herself and quickly adding, “Not that you have to. You are not a servant for me. Or them.”
She pointedly looked at everyone around the table, and I couldn’t help but see how much she held herself apart from them. I’d noticed it during my early interactions with her, and now I understood why, but I was still surprised there was so much tension between them all. I mean, Rynn had been living here for almost a year.
I was missing something but didn’t know what.
My expression softened a little. “Actually, I really enjoy cooking. I do have one rule though, and that is that you don’t complain about whatever I make.”
“I’m pretty sure nobody here will have any criticisms if it means I’m not the one doing the cooking,” Cade said dryly.
“It’s true,” Rynn confirmed quickly. “I haven’t even been here a year yet, and he’s already set the kitchen on fire three times. Once when making boiled potatoes.”
I frowned. “But that isn’t hard. It’s just boiling water.”
“Oh”—Bastian grinned—“we’re aware. He’s been banned from anything that involves fire, even in a simple manner, which explains our dinner tonight.”
“Didn’t see you volunteering,” Cade muttered.
“Because while Warrick doesn’t like me or Ryker in his kitchen, he has expressly forbidden you from stepping foot in it, and we all know how he feels about Rynn.” Bastian popped a cube of cheese into his mouth.
“I feel it’s my turn to ask for a story.” I glanced at Rynn.
