Page 49

Nope. Not going down that road. Because if she was his … Mate—if he thought she was—and that made him behave like this, then she would pass on that completely. No, thank you. She would keep her oak grove, thank you very much.

She had never seen Theo behave this aggressively other than with his brothers. And she’d always wanted to believe that was forced on him. Nymphs didn’t like violence. She didn’t like violence. Especially not after she’d seen first-hand what wolves could do to each other.

And she was absolutely going to ignore her body’s treacherous response to Theo behaving like a complete barbarian. Her fluttering heart and her wet panties could just fuck right the hell off.

Theo followed her into the cabin, stomping his boots by the door. He at least had the decency to look contrite.

“Don’t be mad, Fee.”

“Don’t tell me how to feel, Theo.”

He huffed and ran a hand through his hair, brushing off the snow. “Excuse me for saving your life.”

“He would have backed down. Just seeing you made him change his mind, it was obvious; and then you pounced, anyway.”

“Yeah, well…”

“Yeah, well, what?” She turned to face him, still fuming at his behavior and still annoyingly turned on by the whole thing. He’d never kissed her like that before. She pressed her fingers to her lips. His were swollen from where she’d bitten him. How would she ever get over a kiss like that?

“I think you forget what I am sometimes. I’m not one of your cute little human boys.”

Phoebe scowled at him. “I don’t want you to be.”

“Then, what do you want?” His eyes were dark when he glanced at her and she suddenly wasn’t sure how their day had turned so contentious.

I want you to be safe.

“I don’t know,” she said instead.

He scoffed. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? You make it seem like it was all me. Like it’s all my fault we haven’t been together for the past year, but it’s you, too. I fucked up. I know that. But you’ve been hot and cold ever since.”

“Because of this!” she shouted, gesturing around at what, she wasn’t sure, the whole situation. “Because of this werewolf bullshit! Because of everything with your pack and your brothers, and nymphs just don’t⁠—”

“Just don’t what? Like violence? Have plenty of their own bullshit?” He paused. “Have Mates?” His eyes flashed bright green when he said it and Fee swallowed hard.

“Right.”

“Right.” He nodded slowly, a shadow crossing his expression. “Well, I guess it’s good you’re only my friend, then.”

“I guess so,” Fee said, turning and marching into the bedroom.

She slammed the door behind her.

Chapter Sixteen

“Fee.” Theo knocked on the door. “Come on. Let me in.”

Fee rolled over and looked out the window. The snow was coming down hard now and judging by the tapping sound on the roof, it was mixed with ice. They couldn’t drive home in this. Or at least that was going to be her argument.

She’d managed to hide out for most of the afternoon in the bedroom and the storm had gotten bad enough that maybe Theo would agree that they had to stay.

She was actually mad at him for his behavior in the woods.

And confused by that kiss.

But if her tangled up feelings gave her an excuse to stall, then she’d take it.

“What do you want?” she asked and heard Theo’s responding sigh.