Page 38 of Red

“Juny and Bynn. Though you are both mated, you will no longer be welcome to stay with your partners here as of now.”

Everyone’s heads turn away from Stark, but I keep my eyes on him. The Alpha energy radiates off him, every subtle movement a command in itself.

“Stark—” A light-haired man—the one who asked about his mate in the first place—steps around who I assume is either Juny or Bynn.

“If you have an issue, feel free to exit my home.” Stark doesn’t drop his gaze from me. The deepness in his voice is invigorating, and my legs clamp closed.

This is wrong, Nikki is sitting just down the table. I shouldn’t be reacting to him like this, not when he’s already chosen her. It’s better that way. No one wants a human for a mate, and I am a liability in more ways than one. The man’s stance falters, and he turns back toward his mate and shrugs.

“All essentials, please finish eating and join us in the forum to formulate the details of the next few days,” Graden chimes in from his place next to Stark.

The three exit the room together, and many funnel after.

“I wish he protected me like that.” Jocko nudges my arm and winks.

“Prison, protection, all the same right?”

I leave the table, and Jocko rubs the side of my arm as he passes me for the other side of the house. I decide to follow him toward the small hallway, but so does the man who stood up to Stark about his mate. Maybe I’ll see the forum another time. I keep my eyes on the knots in the hardwood floor and head the opposite way into Stark’s office. If I’m stuck here, I should find more to read. This prison just got way too crowded.

In the office, sunlight creates a glow on either side of the large desk as the door latches behind me. My shoulders drop from around my ears. Much better.

There must be a way to shut out everyone in this damn house and not the minds I want to hear. I begin scanning the shelves for anything on wolf telepathy. It’s not like I’m going to go tell Stark someone made a comment when he’s not here. I don’t need more problems. Some of the looks tonight made it seem like they’d end me on the spot, while others were more on the repulsive side. I should have asked to go home, but I have a new angle now.

Stark told me there were books on legends in his collection, but the shelves at my height and down are filled with nothing significant. I go behind the desk and grab the chair, rolling it out to the first shelf. I lift myself onto it, my weight squishing out a soft bit of air from the leather fabric. It twists below my feet when I stand, but I grip the hard wooden bookcase edges for balance and slide myself along. Finally, A Wolf’s Thoughts catches my eye. I pull all three volumes out. Folding my knees under myself on the twisting chair, I flip through for anything that might be useful. One out of the three talks about communication with each other. I place it on the corner of the desk before going back for more books. After a few more rounds, I’ve found two solid options. This collection is magnificent.

Wheeling the chair across the room to the other wall of shelves, I’m grateful for his organization by topic, and not by alphabet. There are only a few spots left for books on legends. I find books on wolf scents, sleep habits, history, and even a collection of cookbooks. As I reach for one, the chair slides out a bit and I wobble, but manage to pull myself back in tight to the bookcase. I may suggest a ladder to Stark. One of those beautiful rolling ones that exist in movies.

There must be something here. I find a few books on thoughts, but also so many on lakes, rivers, and geography. Nothing like what I expected him to keep on his highest shelves.

When the door creaks open, I twist to see, and the chair slides out farther from the bookcase. I collapse onto my knees, clinging to the armrests to keep from falling.

Stark and another man stand in the doorway.

“I’ll come find you,” Stark says to the man.

Awkward.

I spin the chair back around, away from them, and hear the door shut.

“Didn’t expect you in here. What are you sneaking around for?”

“I’m not sneaking. I’m book hunting,” I say, still turned toward the shelf.

“Anything in particular?”

I glance over my shoulder at the mini stack I’ve acquired.

He moves to the desk while I hop down, sending the chair backward, I don’t need him seeing my interest in werewolf thoughts. My hand stops midair as his wraps around my forearm, those foreign tingles shooting up my arm as his wide eyes lock on to mine. I pull—a ridiculous effort, since he’s as solid as a spruce tree. I go for the books with my other hand, but he tugs me away and lifts two of them into the air above me to read. I look up at them as he tries to read the spines. His forearms flex, sending veins down his arm. I’m so glad he can’t hear me drooling at him right now. I rip my arm free and grab the other three off the desk, hugging them to my chest.

“Can I have those back?”

He reads the spines and hands them back to me, looking at me like I’m a puzzle he can’t quite figure out. “Yes.”

“You’re welcome for the books by the way.”

“Right. Thank you.” I roll my eyes at him.

She’s adorable.