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This whole situation is insane. I turn my head to look away from him—it makes me physically ill to even look him in the eyes. My palms are sweating and my knees feel like they could give out any second. I expect him to walk away, but Paxton Glass clearly has no intention of meeting my expectations.
He wraps his fingers loosely around my neck and gives me a warning squeeze.
“Look at me.”
I drag my eyes back to him, but I barely get the chance to look him in the eyes before he’s too close. His mouth descends on mine, hot and demanding. I try to pull away, but he cups the back of my head and holds me to him. I’m too surprised to react as he claims my mouth as if he owns me.
His tongue teases the seam of my lips, but he doesn’t push me any further. And then as quickly as it started, it’s over.
You could have kissed him back,my traitorous wolf points out. Her interest makes me bristle. I can feel him staring at me as I drop my chin and stare at my feet. He has no right to kiss me. None.
Jimmy is my mate. Not this pushy stranger who can’t take no for an answer.
“I need to talk to Leah alone. Zeke is going to keep an eye on you, so don’t give him any trouble.” Paxton’s sharp tone is a warning, but it sounds like possibility in my head. Maybe I can convince the guy to get me the hell out of here. He seemed nice enough. As if he can read my mind, Paxton continues, “He owed me a favor so he helped me today, but I don’t know how trustworthy he really is. If he tries to put hands on you, yell for me.”
His words send an uneasy feeling through me. I can’t tell if he’s being sincere or if he’s just trying to scare me into not trusting the other guy.
You’re all strangers to me. None of you are trustworthy from where I’m standing.
I peek up at him to see his eyebrows rise. He’s probably surprised I’m talking to him through mind link. There’s something… unsettlingly intimate about it. I have no idea what compelled me to do it.
Well settle in, Kitten. Until you stop fighting our bond, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know me.
Don’t call me Kitten.I wrinkle my nose.It’s insulting.
Not a fan of pet names?The words sound teasing, but he’s studying me carefully as if my answer really matters. I don’t like it. I don’t like him pretending we’re building something here. Clearly, he’s pulling some kind of elaborate trick.
I slip away from him and start toward Zeke.Not from you.Jimmy used to come home and call me sweetheart after a long day apart.Never from you.
* * *
“This is boring.”
It turns out that Zeke has one defining personality flaw. He has the maturity of a pup—and I have no interest in entertaining him like one.
“We should spar.” Zeke perks up. “Clearly your self-defense skills could use some work, and maybe you’ll learn something with some practice.”
“Paxton was very clear that I shouldn’t let you touch me.” I raise an eyebrow at him, but he laughs it off. This shifter laughs everything off, I’m learning.
“Of course he did. Territorial prick.” Zeke shakes his head, his boyish smile not fading in the slightest. “A mock spar, then. I won’t actually put my hands on you. Scout’s honor, as the humans say.”
That’s another thing I’ve picked up on. Zeke is oddly enamored with all things human. Shifters in human form aren’t so different from true humans, but there are some traditions we don’t share. The scouting thing being one of them, which means his scout’s honor promise really means nothing to me.
My silence makes Zeke’s smile falter for a second, but it brightens again almost immediately. “How about if you beat me, I’ll give you the car keys?”
“Really?” I inhale a sharp breath that makes him chuckle. Those car keys could mean my freedom.
“Yeah, really. I don’t really care one way or another if you and Paxton work it out. I owed him a favor, and at this point, I’d say the favor is repaid. And now I’m bored, so if this is what it takes to get you to play with me, then yes. I’m definitely willing to put the keys up for the winner.”
His expression turns a little smug like he doesn’t think I stand a chance. And for most Luna Sovereigns, that would probably be true. The position is notoriously peaceful.
But I’m not really the Luna Sovereign yet. Not until the Sovereign Pack believes I’m ready and sends me up to the house for official duty.
“Okay, tell me what to do.” I won’t lose to him, not with my potential freedom on the line.
“Let’s get further away from the house,” Zeke suggests. He starts to move out into the closest empty field. A prickle of unease works its way up my spine. Paxton was very clear that he expected us to stay within hearing distance. The further away we get from the house, the more likely Paxton won’t be able to hear me.
“Come on,” Zeke urges with a smirk. “I don’t want to risk damaging the house if things get too intense.”
