Page 11 of Plus-Size Bullied Mate

“No,” I say instantly, backing away more. “Absolutely not.”

His jaw tightens visibly. “Tessa—”

“No.” I shake my head harder, and panic crawls beneath my skin. Being closer to the pack grounds is the last place I want to be. “I’m not going there.”

“You’re not staying alone after this.”

“I’ve been alone for years. This is no different.”

The words come out sharper than I intend, but I don’t take them back.

Hunter goes still, and something unreadable flickers across his face before disappearing beneath irritation again. “That ends tonight.”

My chest tightens, and everything in me is screaming for the isolation that has become all too familiar. Distance means facing fewer opportunities to get hurt.

He doesn’t get to decide things for me now just because he stepped in and decided to actually acknowledge me.

I know exactly what it means to be in his house. Pack eyes will be everywhere; there will be whispers, judgment, and opinions I’m not interested in hearing.

I’d rather walk back into the woods with Hayes than willingly place myself in the center of pack attention again.

“I’m fine,” I say tightly, but I already know it isn’t enough.

Hunter looks down at the bruise already forming on my wrist where Hayes was pulling on me, and his expression turns instantly murderous again.

“I can see that,” he utters, not at all swayed. “You could’ve been killed.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Because I got here before that could happen.”

The sharpness in his voice makes me recoil slightly before I can stop myself, and regret flashes across his face so quickly I almost miss it. Then those untouchable walls of his go back up again, pretending like he didn’t notice.

“You’re staying at my place until we know Hayes won’t come back.”

I stare at him incredulously. “You can’t just force me to stay there.”

“I absolutely can.”

Rage sparks hot through my chest. “So what, I’m just supposed to fall into line because you want to make a point to anyone who might oppose you?”

His eyes narrow. “You think this is posturing?”

“What else would it be?” I ask with a scoff. “You’re the new alpha, and Hayes crossed into your territory. Of course you had to make an example out of him.”

Something dangerous yet annoyingly calm settles into Hunter’s features. “You think I fought him for appearances?”

“I think you fought him because that’s your job, and you have something to prove.”

Everything around us goes incredibly still, leaving me to question his next move.

Hunter stares at me for several long seconds, then he steps toward me, placing that dominant focus on me now.

Instinct immediately sends me backward again, but with a tree behind me this time, my spine hits bark before I can correct myself.

Hunter cages me there without touching me, one arm braced against the tree beside my head, while his scent hits me so hard, he might as well have hit me with his fist.

He’s way too close now, and I have nowhere left to run.