Peter looks at me with wide eyes. “Riley, what’s wrong?”
“What did you do to me?” I demand. He takes a step towards me, but I step back. “Don’t touch me.” His eyes go wide, and he glances at Reid and then back at me.
“Riley, I’m your mate,” he argues, his eyes pleading with me. There’s a fierce growl, but I ignore it.
“No, you’re not.” His eyes widen in shock, but I’m not done. “You’re not my mate because that’s my mate.” I jerk a thumb at Reid, who hasn’t moved from the door. I don’t look at his face because I’m not ready to enter those waters yet. Right now, I need to deal with Peter. Only then, will I deal with Reid. I watch the moment reality sets in for Peter. I watch as his eyes change. The eyes that once beheld me in awe turn dark with...hatred. It’s so fierce, I stumble back a step. Then, before I realize what’s happening, he shifts and turns into one of those skinwalkers. I’ve never seen one, and now that I have, I never want to see another one. It’s hideous with its fangs dripping saliva. I feel the stir of power in the office as my dad and Reid both shift. I stumble back, needing to shift; but I can’t. The creature jumps at me, and I scream and fall backwards. I close my eyes, waiting for it to land on me; but it never touches me. Reid’s wolf slams into it in the air, knocking it away from me. I shuffle backwards, trying to get out of the way. Reid’s wolf stands protectively in front of me, his teeth bared and hackles raised. I glance around the office frantically for my dad and see his giant wolf standing near the fight but not interfering. Reid’s wolf doesn’t wait; he pounces, going for the kill. It’s over so fast; I almost miss it.Reid’s wolf rips its throat out, and I stare in horror. The door to the office slams open, and an angry Zane steps inside. “What the—” His gaze falls on me. “Riley!” He moves towards me, but Reid’s wolf jumps in front of me once again, blocking Zane’s access to me. Reid’s wolf lets out a warning growl. Zane looks down at him in confusion. “Reid, move.” But Reid’s wolf only growls louder. “What’s wrong with you? Move out of the way, so I can check on my sister. There’s a dead skinwalker in here, and I’d like to make sure she’s okay.” But Reid’s wolf doesn’t move.
I finally come to my senses and push myself to stand on shaky legs. “Zane, it’s okay. I'm okay.”
His eyes flash with the presence of his wolf. “What happened? And why won’t Reid let me pass?”
He gives me a hard look, and in that moment, I know that he knows. I’m pretty sure he just figured it out because he looks mad. I suddenly need to know. “Did you know?” I don’t wait for him to answer, feeling like I’m barely holding on here. “Did you know?” I demand again.
Zane puts his hands out. “No, Riley, I swear. I had no idea.”
He glances down at the wolf snarling in front of me and then back at me. “Peter?” he asks. Reid’s wolf growls so loudly, it shakes the room. I point with a shaky hand to the skinwalker. Zane swears vehemently. “How?!”
I shake my head because I don’t know. I can’t process any of it. My dad finally shifts and pulls on a pair of pants. I look over at him. “Didyouknow?” His look says it all; he doesn’t even have to answer the question. Of course, he knew; he’s the alpha.
I’m suddenly over all of this. I feel my stomach churn, and I turn away from Zane and my father. That forces me to face the throatless skinwalker, what’s left of Peter, and I gag.
Chapter 9
Riley
I race for the nearest bathroom and get there just in time to empty the contents of my stomach into the toilet. I drop my head onto the toilet and give myself this moment to feel weak, overcome, and confused. And then I lift my head and flush. Standing to my feet, I wash out my mouth and wash my hands. I take a steadying breath. I’ve stayed out of this war with the skinwalkers because I was too young; my father and brother have protected me. But tonight, it just became personal. I stare into the mirror as a horrible thought hits me.What if I’d bonded with him?I don’t even know if that’s possible, but...a shiver runs down my back. How long had he been planning this? I’ve been friends with him for over a year now.I feel my stomach cramp as I realize how I’d been played. I close my eyes feeling stupid and simple. Somebody knocks at the bathroom door, and I know it’s Reid. I glance at the door, not wanting to open it; but I know I’m going to have to face him sooner or later. Before I can overthink it, I pull open the door; and there he is.
Too many things hit me all at once. The first is his scent. I’ve always known Reid’s scent; I grew up with Reid. He’s my brother’s best friend and was and still is always around. We used to be close, once upon a time; until we weren’t. His scent now hits me differently, much differently. The next thing to hit me is the reminder that Reid is tall, like really tall. The worries I had about my mate not being tall are certainly no longer valid. Reid almost makes me feel short with his six-foot six frame. Then there’s the worry that my mate would be human and weak; well,that’s certainly not the case. I’d just watched his wolf tear the throat out of a skinwalker. Obviously, strength wasn’t going to be an issue.
“Riley.”
My eyes jerk upward and meet his. I take in the brown of his eyes that matches the rich brown of his hair. They've always had a golden sheen to them, especially when his wolf is present. I’ve always thought Reid had gorgeous eyes. I realize belatedly that he asked me a question. “What?” I make the mistake of meeting his eyes again and get sucked right in.
“Are you okay?”
His words are so soft and gentle, so very different from the wolf that just brutally killed Peter. My stomach churns again. “No. Tonight has been,” I pause, trying to find the right words. “A disaster.”
“Did he hurt you?”
I open my mouth to tell him no, but the word gets lodged in my throat. I shake my head instead. I don’t want to process that particular question. He didn’t physically hurt me, but I thought we were friends. I can’t believe who he turned out to be, and I’m seriously doubting my discernment. There are so many things I want to say, but I settle on one. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Regret flashes in his eyes for a moment, but it’s gone so fast, I wonder if I imagined it. He glances over his shoulder and then back at me. “I want to have this conversation, but I don’t know that right now is the best time. You still have people here to celebrate with you.”
I cross my arms over my chest and rub my arms. “I don’t really feel like celebrating, but you can.”
“Riley,” he starts.
“Why didn’t you just tell me, Reid?” The question comes flying out once again. Then I lift my chin. “Is it because you don’t want to be my mate? I mean I’m not quiet. I’m loud andstubborn and—” I don’t get to finish my thought because he steps right into me, making me move back a few steps, so he can close the door behind him.
“Whatever thoughts you’re having right now, don’t even bother finishing them. That’snotwhy I didn’t tell you.” His voice is low and stern and...sexy.
Oh boy.I shut down that thought quickly, and I stare him down. “Then why? I deserve an answer.”
His eyes are earnest when they meet mine. “Because when I found out you were my mate, you were fourteen, Riley.” Shock keeps me silent. “Fourteen.” He lets that sink in a moment. “There was no way I could tell you. First of all, your father or your brother, or even your mom, for that matter, would have killed me. Second, you were way too young to have our bond hanging over you.”
Our bond.The words play over and over again in my head, and I have to force myself to focus.
“I wanted you to be able to grow up free and not have a mating bond hanging over your head. I wanted you to be able to experience everything you wanted to experience.”
