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“No.” I pointed to the two bags he had ignored by the door, and his eyebrows raised a notch.
“Those are the only things you brought with you? How did you manage to survive for a month like that?”
Not wanting to argue or further endanger Gabe’s life, Ishrugged and pulled back to get a better look at him. This time, he released me, and I was able to slip out of his strong arms.
“You look tired.” It was an understatement. Bags had formed under Trace’s eyes that looked as deep as caverns, and his skin was an ashy grey.
“It’s been a rough month, but it was worth it.” He gave me a ruthful smile, and I had to look away from the twinkle in his eyes.
“You should get some rest,” I suggested, walking around him to grab my bags.
“I agree. We should go to bed,” Trace retorted. My mouth went dry at the idea that we would be sharing the same room, let alone the same bed. Fear must have flashed across my face again because his voice was filled with concern when he spoke.
“Are you really scared of me, Mariam? Do you actually think I would ever hurt you?”
“You just told me you were going to,” I pointed out quietly.
“I absolutely did not,” he protested. “You’re my mate. I would rather die than see you injured.”
I gaped at him. Was he losing his mind? “You just said that you were going to beat me to a pulp, and then you lunged at me.”
“Well, I might have exaggerated a little bit, but you do need to be punished for running away and for everything that came after. But punishment isn’t the same thing as a beating, Mariam. Didn’t your father ever discipline your mother?”
“Yeah, he did. And that’s one reason I’m not ever goingto have a mate.” I felt my courage building again. “I don’t need or want someone to ‘keep me in line,’ as they say.”
He laughed a genuine, deep belly laugh. “You might not want it, but you definitely need it. Probably more than any female shifter I’ve ever met. And here I thought Randy had his hands full with my sister.”
“Well, then that settles it. You can go and find a sweet, submissive mate, and I can go on doing whatever the fuck I want. We can both win.”
A shadow crossed over his face. “Ah, see, that’s where you’re wrong, little wolf. I’m ready and willing for the task of taming you. Your fire will make you an asset after I harness it. Plus, I’m sure all that pent-up aggression will come in handy when we are together…in other ways.”
I hated him. I really, truly did, and we had only been in each other’s presence for less than a day total. What did he think it would be like in thirty years? If we managed to survive living with each other that long, that is.
But it was pointless to argue. I picked up my bags and walked to the staircase.
"Our bedroom is the second door on the right," Trace called out after me. "I expect to see you there, ready for bed when I join you."
My throat burned. I wanted to shout something back downstairs at him, but I resisted. He could expect whatever he wanted from me, but that didn't mean I was just going to roll over and do it.
My wolf shifted uncomfortably as I walked past the room he said was his and tried the handle on another one a few doors down.
I hit the lights and was greeted by a king-sized four-posterbed, a matching dresser, and two side tables. It was much fancier than my room back home, but something told me I wasn't going to be able to enjoy it in peace. Trace would put up such a fuss that it almost wasn't even worth it. But if I did what he demanded, it would set a precedent for him to start ordering all kinds of shit from me. Submit or fight; neither option would be easy.
I dropped my bags on the floor and rifled through them to find the shorts and T-shirt combination I had been sleeping in pretty much every night. Thank goodness Gabe had a washer and dryer in his unit; it would have been much harder to make do with my limited wardrobe if he didn’t.
The bedroom had an en suite bathroom, and I used it to brush my teeth and wash my face. I was tempted to take a shower, but I didn’t want to be naked if Trace came stomping in.
Exhausted, I turned off the lights and climbed into the bed, loving how plush it was under my hands and knees. I paused, an idea forming in my mind.
Would Trace bother yelling at my wolf for not sleeping in his bed? Or would he just give up and leave her alone? The idea had some merit. It’s not like I had a lot of other options.
I threw off my shirt and shorts before I could talk myself out of it and invited my wolf to take over. Her fur sprouted, and our bones set in place, shifting to our animal form. She jumped onto the mattress and circled a few times before settling in on top of the thick comforter.
We had just started dozing off when the sound of doors opening and closing echoed through the hallway. The noise roused my wolf, startling her and causing her to jump down and hide. I felt her tremble when Trace opened our door,and light flooded the room again.
“Mariam? I can see your bags in here, little wolf. You’ve been caught.”
My wolf stayed hidden, not moving a muscle. The floor creaked as he took a few steps inside. His scent was even more intense in my wolf form, and she found some comfort in it. Her tail wagged softly, catching his eye.
