No. That can’t be right. Those are just stories.
My mouth goes dry and I swallow as my eyes start to burn. I force myself to take a step backward, shaking my head slowly. Even if I wanted to bind myself to an alpha, there’s no way a pack Alpha can take a male mate, fated or not. Otherwise… it’d be just like the cleric said. I’d be leading Julien astray, taking the Alpha from his path and depriving him of heirs.
Does that make me the abomination they said I was?
In all the years I’ve spent running, I’ve never considered the idea that my old pack might have beenrightabout me. My stomach churns and bile bites at the back of my throat.
Julien still hasn’t moved, but I can tell the effort of staying put is getting more difficult as I move farther away from him. He’s fighting his instincts just like I’m fighting mine.
Does that mean he doesn’t want me?
As nonsensical as it is since I’m the one moving away, the thought that Julien might reject me is like a painful stab in the center of my chest. A low whimper edges past my lips and Julien breaks, moving toward me with one hand out, a plaintive look on his face.
But Remy—who I hadn’t even noticed until now—steps into the space between me and Julien. A growl rumbles from Julien’s chest and he bares his teeth at his brother. Remy mutters something over his shoulder and Julien stops in his tracks, closing his eyes and taking a slow, deep breath.
Remy turns to me, his hands up like he’s calming a cornered animal. Which is exactly what I feel like. I take another step backward, and Julien snarls. Remy darts a glance over his shoulder and holds one hand out, signaling his brother to stay put.
“Keir,” says Remy, his voice soft and cajoling. “Come with us. None of us are going to hurt you, my fussy brother least of all since—”
“I’m his fated mate,” I say, my voice cracking like I haven’t spoken in months.
Remy’s eyes widen almost imperceptibly. “Yes.”
My gaze darts to Julien, but I avoid meeting his eyes. “And just how would that work exactly?”
Remy’s brows pull together and he cocks his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“Pack Alphas are expected to have heirs.” I gesture at myself. “Not something I can provide.”
“It doesn’t matter,” says Julien quickly.
“Of course it does,” I snap.
Julien steps out from behind his brother and stalks toward me. I can’t bring myself to turn away, no matter how much I want to. He grips me by the upper arms and waits for me to meet his gaze.
“It doesn’t matter,” he repeats. “My pack will get over it.”
I narrow my eyes. “So itdoesmatter. They’ll just ‘get over it.’”
“That’s not what I meant. I—”
I rip out of his hold and back away. “I can’t do this.”
Julien lets out a frustrated noise. “You can’t walk away from this, Keir.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know all I need to.” Another growl breaks free from his chest and his eyes flash silver. “You’remine.”
“Julien, you need to—”
Julien whirls on his brother, seething. “We’ve tried it your way, Remy, now we’re going to try mine.”
Before I can figure out what that means, Julien takes three big steps forward and lifts me, throwing me over his shoulder and causing the stack of cash to press against my hipbone. I should struggle, but now that he’s so close, now that his scent is filling my nostrils, I can’t bring myself to do so. My wolf won’t let me. Julien walks us toward the back of the club and into one of the bathrooms, then gently sets me down so I’m sitting on the edge of a sink.
He leans down and runs his nose up my neck, sending tingles up and down my spine. “Tell me you don’t feel it. Tell me you don’twantme.” He traces the path of his nose with the tip of his tongue and I shudder, a rush of desire flowing through me as my wolf whimpers in submission. “Tell me that and you can walk out of here. You’ll never see me again.”
“I don’t…” But those are the only words I can choke out. No matter how much I tell myself to say the words to send Julien away, I can’t.
