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“It’s not like that.” He steps in front of me when we’re close to the door, keeping me in place. “I don’t want you to think that.”
“I don’t think that,” I murmur, looking at the ground.
And he snickers. “Yeah, that was very believable.”
What does he want? Absolution? He’s not going to get that from me. I’m too busy wishing my wolf would get her act together because, even now, I want to lie down in the grass with him. Or get on my knees and let him take me from behind. Whatever works.
He takes a step closer. My heart is going to explode if he doesn’t stop this. I don’t know how much more I can take. “Believe me. When a beautiful woman is involved, I don’t turn her down. And you are the most beautiful woman I’ve seen since we got here. If we weren’t in meetings morning, noon, and night, I’d want to spend a little more time getting to know you better.”
His gaze lands on my mouth, and he growls softly. “If I can make it up to you, I’ll do my best. You have my word on that.”
Oh, my god, he’s going to kiss me. I need him to. I crave him, his lips, and everything else about him.
He leans down, and I tip my head back, silently accepting him. My body is a live wire, crackling, ready to explode in a shower of sparks. And I’m going to. All I need is the touch of his lips…
“There you are. Dad was looking for you.” Emma’s standing at the top of the short flight of stairs leading to the front door. She lets out a soft whistle, nodding approvingly. “You look hot. That dress is perfect on you!”
Forrest growls louder this time, backing away while wearing a knowing grin. “She’s not wrong.”
I’m going to have a discussion with my sister about her timing.
16
WILDE
He’s got to be fucking kidding me.
The banquet is, by all measures, a success. Everyone’s enjoying themselves—mingling, making plans, and looking forward to a time when we no longer have to worry about the undead rising and wiping out entire swaths of the population. The energy around me is upbeat, positive, and even full of hope. I’m sure the strategy meetings we’ve held these past few days have gone a long way toward leaving everyone with a sense of security. We’re going to get through this.
I should be enjoying this, too. I’m not riding high on the idea of shedding blood the way so many of the others are, but there’s plenty of booze and plenty of interested women to fuck around with.
Yet all I can do is stand here, my back to the wall, and watch my brother flirt with Lili.
I excused myself from the table once I knew it was either walk away or tear Forrest’s throat out. I can’t avoid them the entire evening, and I know it, but that doesn’t stop me from avoiding them all I can right now. The less time I spend watching them, overhearing them, and having to witness the intimacy with which they lean in to speak directly to each other over the low roar of conversation throughout the hall, the better for all of us.
If I didn’t know for sure it would cause strife for our pack, I would haul him out of his chair by his lapels and throw him outside where we could settle this one-on-one. I can imagine myself doing it, too, and the image brings me nothing but pleasure. He needs to be knocked on his ass, among other things. Who the hell does he think he is? He rejects her out of hand without thinking about it, then goes out of his way to turn on the charm. Somebody needs to set him straight. You don’t break a fated bond, then change your mind and decide to be flirty. That’s not how this works.
What am I going to do about it? Take it to Dad? Right, and that would lead me straight back to square one. The possibility of war breaking out between our packs. Her father is pretty damned protective of her, too—the memory of his reaction after I left my mark on her is fresh as if it happened only moments ago. His threats, his snarling. He wouldn’t let it rest until blood flowed.
But she’s mine. I’m glad no one is standing close enough to hear me growl when Lili throws her head back and laughs at something my brother said. How could anyone fail to see her beauty? The way she holds herself with dignity. Who the hell am I noticing something like that? But it’s clear as anything that she’s special. She has a way of carrying herself with grace, like she’s some exiled queen waiting for the opportunity to reclaim her throne. For years, everyone overlooked her, assumed she was nothing, no one, thanks to her unshifted status.
