26. Chapter 26 #2
“Are you sleeping with other people? Because if that’s how this works, I need to know now.
” I couldn’t stay with him and keep my sanity or my self-respect.
“I may not be a shifter, or come from a wealthy, powerful family. But I deserve better. I don’t care if the mating sickness kills me in the end. ”
He waited until I finished speaking, then stalked slowly toward me.
I backed up until my shoulders hit the wall.
His hands came up on either side of my head as he leaned in until there was no room between us.
A wall of heat hit me as he unleashed his energy, and the bond flared bright.
His fury and a thirst for vengeance burned through him, and my breath hitched.
“I didn’t touch either of those female shifters.
” He leaned in until his lips brushed my ear.
“I should’ve been more careful and called or texted you back as soon as I could.
It won’t happen again. The shifters are from the Northeastern States Pack, and they came to my hotel room the first time I was in Washington.
Both Sawyer and Ash were with me, and you can verify with them. ”
“Why did they go to your suite?” I whispered. He might be offended by my questions, but I didn’t care.
“Christopherson sent them, so it stands to reason he’s responsible for the photos. He obviously wanted to cause trouble. Which he did.” He held my gaze, eyes narrowed. “I told them to tell Alexander to go fuck himself.”
I stared up at him, my back against the wall, his forearms framing my head. He wasn’t touching me, but his presence and his scent surrounded me, the bond humming steadily between us.
He leaned in and gently ran his nose along my cheek. “You told me you’re basically a human lie detector, so you know I’m telling the truth. I’m sorry they stirred up old wounds. I’m even more sorry I hurt you.”
As I read his energy, the implant analyzed his words with cold, analytical efficiency. His tone was even, not defensive, and his wolf shone in his eyes as if asking me to believe Conall. He’d given me specific details about the Northeastern Alpha, and Sawyer and Ash being present.
My shoulders relaxed. “Okay. Why would Christopherson do that?”
“Leverage or blackmail. Or maybe to distract me. He probably also wants to damage our bond.” His hands found my hips as my eyes slid shut and my forehead hit his chest. “Look at me.”
I raised my head. “What?”
“I have not touched or wanted another woman since the day I tracked you down on campus. And we sure as hell are exclusive. If another male ever touches you in that way, I’ll hunt him down, eviscerate him, and kill him slowly. You are my mate for as long as I live, a stóri mo chroí.”
The implant went silent, and it was just me and the ache inside as he pressed his body against mine.
I wrapped my arms around his waist. “I believe you.”
His forehead dropped to mine. “Next time, blow up my phone, yell at me, or destroy my things. Just don’t go quiet.”
“There shouldn’t be a next time.”
His lips curled. “Fair enough. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Both my wolf and I crave you, and we go a little feral at the thought of you being hurt or someone else touching you.”
A tear trailed down my cheek. “Okay,” I whispered. He tilted my chin up, and his mouth found mine again, slower this time, with careful, devastating thoroughness when three sharp knocks came at the door.
Neither of us moved. Another knock sounded, this time accompanied by the thin, piercing wail of an infant. Conall’s jaw tightened.
“Go. Away,” he growled.
“She won’t stop crying, and I can’t—just help me,” Owen whined.
I sighed, my body still humming with lust. The wailing grew louder, a sound that went straight to my heart.
Conall reluctantly let me go, and I pulled the door open. Owen stood there with Feeny in his arms, his shirt untucked, and his hair sticking up. The baby’s face was red and scrunched as she wailed her displeasure.
“I changed her, tried feeding her, and walked her around, but nothing works.”
I wanted to tell him to go get Jamie or Sahara, that I wasn’t equipped. But the implant kicked in and started feeding me information.
Sighing, I held out my hands, and he carefully handed her over, her tiny body rigid with distress.
Her wails bounced off the walls, and I laid her upright against my chest. Then I sat in the rocking chair in her room and patted her tiny back, trying to work out whatever bubbles might be trapped in her tummy.
She finally let out a few burps, her breathing evened out, and her tiny body softened against my chest.
Owen leaned against her crib and looked at us. His energy had shifted from hate and resentment to grudging curiosity. “You’re not Pack, and you don’t know shit about kids. Why does she like you so much?”
I glanced down at Feeny’s face with her tiny fist scrunched up under her chin. Her mouth worked as she slept. “Maybe she knows I’m terrified I’ll damage her somehow, so she cuts me some slack.”
He was quiet for a long moment as Feeny’s tiny chest rose and fell against mine.
“I don’t like you.” His words didn’t have the usual venom. “You don’t belong here, and you make my brother weaker.”
His words scraped against me. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
“That makes it worse.” He let out a long, heavy breath. “You’re better for Feeny than Anna could ever be. And most female shifters I know,” he grudgingly added. His gray eyes met mine in the dim light. “Feeny wouldn’t even be alive if you hadn’t shown Anna mercy that night.”
Conall spoke from the doorway. “You’re a fucking hypocrite.
” Owen turned, his shoulders stiffening.
“You tell her you don’t like her and that she doesn’t belong.
But you knock on her door, hand her your daughter, and admit she’s the best role model you know.
So she’s good enough to help raise your child but not good enough to be Pack? ”
Owen’s jaw worked. “It’s not that simple.”
“It’s exactly that simple.” Conall stepped into the room. “Take your daughter and get out of Riley’s face.”