Page 108 of The Werewolf’s Wrong Mate

“Naturally.”

“This is not for you.”

“Few things are, yet somehow I keep being included.”

His expression gave nothing away. “Sava.”

Sava came to my side and checked the small monitor clipped to my wrist. “Her pulse is up, but not dangerously.”

“Can she tolerate Ian leaving?”

I looked at her. “Love being discussed like luggage with a heart rate.”

Sava ignored me with the ease of long practice. “For a short time. Inside, resting, with medication ready.”

Ian didn’t like that. I felt the dislike before he said anything, a hard pressure under my ribs, controlled but immediate.

“I can go inside,” I said.

Ian’s eyes came to mine and for a second, the air between us felt too…aware. I had the sudden, unwelcome understanding that he knew I was tired because my shoulders had dropped half an inch. He knew the letter had bothered me because I had stopped making jokes for nearly a minute. He knew my pain was manageable because I was irritated rather than quiet.

And I knew he wanted to stay. Leaving me after that letter felt wrong to something in him that didn’t care about Ronan’s investigation.

I looked away first.

“Go do the wolf thing,” I said. “Find the missing guard. Snarl at a tree. Whatever the job requires.”

His mouth didn’t move, but something in his eyes eased. Not humor exactly, but close enough to bother me.

“I do not snarl at trees.”

“Good. I’m sure they have enough problems.”

Sava took the handles of the wheelchair before Ian could.

Ronan started toward the service path with Lucien at his side. Ian stayed one second longer.

“Cassie.”

I looked up.

His voice was lower now. Not soft. Ian didn’t do soft in any obvious way. But careful.

“If the mark pulls too hard, tell Sava.”

“I was planning to suffer in silence for dramatic contrast.”

His brow drew slightly.

I sighed. “Yes. I’ll tell her.”

He nodded once, then he followed Ronan.

The moment he passed through the hedge, the mark tightened. I gripped the armrest and said nothing as Sava began pushing me toward the service lift.

Chapter 14:

An Uncomfortable Amount of Awareness