I step back. A breath leaves his lips, his chest s

, well, uncomfortable," he says. "You'll have t

face. My lips part only slightly for the sl

hit my backside. He pauses. "Don't—don't do that," I bre

e questions, not t

es

That might be a p

ry curse word I can think of. How c

y. "This isn't right. This

is suppose

ning myself from doing something stu

against the desk, watching cautiously as if he might attack me with his charm or authority or touch—all u

. I would make a terrible mate,

convince me to not

ed grin. "Frankly, yes. I mean it.

the Alpha considers, his haunting voice toying with me. "You know you hear stori

un into your arms and have to whisk m

as in the world, so many places secluded enough to hous

hose few pieces that fall forward. As if he knows where my eyes are, he runs his han

leave home. I just

t, aren't you? You're defiant, you've made that clear, but there is no poin

"I meant what I said.

know th

t want this life. I don't want to be a Luna. Any other girl from any pack would beg the goddess to be your mate, so please, d

at me, unfazed. "I'm sorry, Brigett

t when I run, just give m

ace h

e, neither of us w

You're smart enough to know that

e bond is too strong for me to refuse. You'd be surprise

y, but his grasp is firm. "I don't like being touched," I tell him. The Alpha ignores me, but when

and I refuse to move a step m

e go tell them the news then?" He suggests. Between his touch and the thought of con

happening. No one is go

the Amin bloodline; I supposed my mind was always off somewhere else when my father spoke about them. All that information was never supposed to

After the searching, the traveling from pack to p

rison sentence. I roll my lips together and think for a moment about how I can maneuver my way out of this mess. He's right—I won't get very

"not here, in front of every

kes him cave—what he reacts to; what makes him tick. It's clear what he wants from me. He wants a happy mate to take home, to

ys. "But we can'

the dinner. I'

rry, but you aren't leaving my sight,

ed to me not

nt to chase you," he te

ve to go home. It's not like I'm

d your mate, and I will inform your Alpha and

ut the look on his face isn't very playful. He peers to the ground as if he doesn't l

Seri

last few days here at

e for a moment. "You should have considere

telling you," I counter. "

t me and tow

tever you say, but that isn't going to work here. I-I—aren't we

ey won't be. You'll tell your parents aft

the hallway until they join the muffled noise of voices and movements from the fron

ask why you w

Amabell stands at the end of t

ing to David?"

av

mother said that it's rude to call him anything other tha

nswer, "I wasn't. Come on,