The problem wasn’t that he’d crossed any boundaries. Well, he had kissed me but in his playful way that didn’t stir my hunger. Although, now that I knew what it was, it probably would.
“I’m not sure why I’m upset.” Yet, even as I said it, I knew.
The idea that his father was out there somewhere, worrying about how far I’d go with his son, bothered me on so many levels. I deeply cared how people perceived me. Maybe a little too much since all I could think about was how Fenris said that his father had been pressuring him to choose a mate for years. But then, his dad burst into Fenris’s room in a panic because he thought we were going to have sex. So he wanted Fenris to have sex, only not with me.
That knife of truth shredded my self-esteem.
Fenris inhaled deeply then lunged for me, wrapping me in a tight hug.
“No.” The firm word reverberated against my ear. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and lightly hugged him in return.
“This was never going to work, Fenris. I’m sorry.”
“No, no, no, no…” He smoothed his hands over my back, squeezing me tighter. “You’re the only one.”
I knew he thought I was the answer, but the real answer was to find his mate and be happy.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated before carefully stealing all of his desperation and anger and prying myself from his hold.
As soon as I stopped touching him, his feelings flooded back.
“I’m not giving up,” he said. “You gave me your word.”
Rather than saying anything more, I took my jacket and left.
Raiden was standing by the front door, his expression unreadable.
“It’d be better if you didn’t come back, Eliana.”
“I understand.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“He did what?”Mom demanded, her eyes flickering with black.
I immediately regretted spilling everything.
Mom took a calming breath and gave me a tender look, along with another tissue. The tears had started as soon as I’d gotten into my car and hadn’t stopped since. I’d driven to my parents on autopilot, not thinking of how Mom would react to seeing me cry.
“I don’t understand why he doesn’t like me.”
“Fenris adores you, Eliana,” Dad said. “Even I could see that.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was all an act.
“I meant Mr. Wolcott.” A frustrated exhale wavered out of me. “I’ve been polite and respectful. I’ve tried to do what was asked of me, within reason. I’ve never done anything to give him cause to dislike me to the point that he would tell me not to come back.”
The hurt flared open all over again, and tears streamed down my cheeks in earnest.
“That old wolf just has his head up his tail. Ignore him. If you want to spend time with Fenris, then spend time with the boy. I’d like to see Raiden try to stop you.”
“I think you’re missing the point, Mom. Raiden and the pack elders have been throwing girl after girl at Fenris. Even boys. It’s obvious that Raiden wants Fenris to find someone as long as it’s not me. What did I do wrong?”
“I don’t think I am missing the point, baby. Raiden kicked you out like some piece of unwanted trash. I saw the way Fenris looked at you and how you looked at him. You are not unwanted, and that mutt has no right to keep you from his son. As you’ve pointed out, you’ve done nothing to deserve that treatment. Raiden is being a speciest.”
“A what?”
