Page 36 of Knot What I Expected

She takes care of Matteo. She works two fucking jobs, smiles at assholes when she’d probably rather throw their drinks in their faces, and keeps moving no matter how exhausted she is.

She doesn’t need some feral Wolf stepping in. But wanting to protect someone and believing they’re incapable of protecting themselves are two very different fucking things.

And apparently? I want to protect Gabriella.

Badly.

The realization scares the shit out of me.

Then she looks up. Straight at me.

Our eyes meet across the crowded bar.

Everything inside me stops. Her gaze drops briefly to my clenched fists. Then rises to my face.

She knows.

She sees exactly how pissed I am.

Her polite smile disappears completely.

Fuck.

Yeah.

She knows I’m pissed.

Good.

Because right now, I’m starting to understand something that should probably have me running straight back up that mountain.

I might not have a claim on Gabriella Santos.

But Monster already thinks we do. And the really fucked-up part?

Every day, it’s getting harder to convince myself he’s wrong.

Because I really am fucking furious at this entire situation she’s put herself in. It’s not fair. It’s certainly not my right.

But here we are anyway.

She worked all day. I know she did because we’ve been avoiding The Joint specifically so I wouldn’t see her.

And now she’s here? Working in some seedy fucking bar where men like this prick can ogle her?

What the fuck is she doing?

Chapter 3

Gabriella

Thank Goddess for my landlady.

Seriously.

I don’t know what I would do without Mrs. Donnelly.

Probably cry. Then panic. Then cry some more.