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At least now I know my theory was right. He’s trying to set me up with somebody. He’s that much against me mating with Wilde.
I don’t like the feeling of being up for bid like a prize heifer, but there’s nothing I can do about it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned to deal with, it’s living with the unthinkable. I’ve been doing it for years. I’m a master at it.
I wonder if Wilde suspects any of this. As I return to my chair, he makes no effort to show his interest. He can’t fool me. He doesn’t like watching me like this, the center of attention, no matter the reason why. I can feel his growing unhappiness no matter how he tries to hide it.
That’s why I give him a broad smile from ear to ear. Hell, I even wink, and my gods, I would swear I just heard the gauntlet being thrown down between us. Take that asshole!
Well, I’ve spent my entire life in the background. It’s about time I put an end to that.
We’ll see how he likes it when I decide to play along with Dad’s plan. He’s not the only one who can play this game.
20
WILDE
“It wasn’t bad enough that we had to do this last night?” Like me, Forrest wears a suit and a pleasant expression as we enter the meeting hall once again. It’s decorated, and the sounds of soft, light music fill the air.
“I’ve never heard anyone complain about putting on a suit and enjoying a party,” Dad mutters, waving at a handful of our wolves in passing. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you complain just for something to say.”
“For what it’s worth, this isn’t my style, either,” I offer. My heart isn’t in the complaint—if anything, I’m speaking for the sake of having something to say that doesn’t involve my marked female. The sooner I can put this nightmare behind me, the better.
She’s not here yet. My wolf would have scented her immediately upon entering. That doesn’t stop me from scanning the room time and again, waiting for her arrival. Is it obvious how much of my attention is focused on her? It had better not be since I’m not a fan of looking like a whipped asshole.
As if reading my thoughts, Forrest elbows me playfully. “I figured the two of you would show up here together.” He snickers. The smartass. He knew damn well the two of us weren’t coming here as a couple, but he couldn’t resist the chance to make a joke in front of Dad.
“It could be that her wolf isn’t interested,” Dad concludes with a wink at my brother. All that does is remind me of the way Lili winked at me earlier today. Openly defying me in front of others. Letting those assholes drool all over her. Pathetic. Do they have any idea how pathetic they are? Knowing she’s marked but pursuing her anyway. As if they have a fucking chance.
Not that it matters. None of this is real. it never was. My wolf’s fucked up about her, that’s all—he doesn’t get it, can’t reason through things the way our human conscious can. There’s no getting him to understand it was all a matter of saving us from my brother’s reckless choices. My brother, who now has the fucking nerve to laugh at me like he doesn’t know the full story.
Hannah is here, hanging out with some of her friends by the bar. The way they laugh as a group tells me she’s spreading the word of what happened last night. If only she knew how much we both despise her. Yeah, she was fun in the moment, but that’s all her worth. For her to brag about it to her friends leaves me disgusted, not to mention feeling a little sorry for her.
Forrest notices her, too, and lifts his chin in casual recognition as if he didn’t have her tied to his bed with his cock in her mouth last night. It was clear he thought it strange that I didn’t want to fuck her, and I can see why. It’s the first time in my memory either of us has refused the invitation.
My wolf wouldn’t allow it—the very thought was abhorrent, even if I did successfully jerk off at the sight of their rough, raucous fucking. When it came time to touch her, everything in me rejected the idea. It was unthinkable.
Forest elbows me again. “I’m telling you, you missed out,” he mutters, his back to our father.
“I’ll learn to live with it.”
“Are you sure you weren’t sick? You’ve never turned down the chance to fuck.”
I’m growing more frustrated by the second. “Would you let it go? It’s not like you needed my help.”
They aren’t the only women watching us right now. That comes as no surprise, either. These females are all alike, ready to kill each other for the chance to play a brief supporting role in our beds. All of them hoping it will turn into something more than that. It’s sad, really, but I grit my teeth and pretend to be cordial and polite while Forrest does the same.
