I narrowed my eyes at Joseph over Cynthia’s head, daring him to act against me. My wolf itched under my skin, primed for action. We would protect Cynthia and her pup from any threat. Even Joseph. No, especially Joseph. Joseph didn’t move, except his eyes, which looked between Cynthia and me wi
So exhausted from my weekend, I slept through my morning alarms and didn’t roll out of bed until someone knocked at my door around noon. I thought of ignoring it, I was so comfortable under my blankets. But then I realized it might be Asher. Sighing, I wrapped my blankets around me like a cloak
He stepped closer, pressed further. “You think he likes you? Asher hates you. Do you know what his life was like before?” “Stop,” I whispered, but he just kept going. “Women, parties, glory. What is it now? Chasing after you to clean up your messes.” “Stop,” I said again, louder. This time,
“Maybe we shouldn’t see each other anymore,” I’d said. Silence followed. The air cooled and grew thick with tension. Then, voice very low, Asher replied, “What?” Suddenly he was standing, and I was too. Everything felt like a dream, distant and hazy. I couldn’t think clearly. Yet even with t
So I said, “And I don’t think you do either.” The girl glared at the cover of her book. “If you can tell me what happened,” I continued. “Then maybe I can help her. I just want to be her friend.” The girl still seemed unsure. “People mock her everywhere she goes. You sure you want to be involv
Over the next few days, Joseph sent so many flowers, they covered every flat surface of my room with the exception of a narrow pathway I’d made across the floor. This morning, the housekeeper grumbled as she tried to clean around all the vases. Her dustpan was full of dried-up flower petals. The
I nodded. She waved both hands up and down. “One lies. One doesn’t. I wonder who you should be believe.” The last sentence dripped with saracasm. “Oh.” Oh. Had I really been so blind? Had I let my own insecurities about myself dig so far under my skin that I was willing to not trust Asher? A
Then let him date, Cynthia. Give Asher the chance to find love. Elena’s words sliced through me. Of course I cared about Asher and wanted him to be happy. But I was selfish. Knowing that he had been turning down other women gave me a deep feeling of satisfaction. Elena’s implication that he’d be