Dante eyeballs the big red ‘Emergency Exit’ sign. “Is this going to set off an alarm?”
I chuckle and shake my head. “Fire code requires the exit, but they leave the alarm disconnected. Some of the employees like to… get together after their shifts.”
Julien growls at the implication in my words. The sound is hotter than I’d like to admit. I’ve never liked the jealous, possessive type before, but I can certainly see the appeal now.
Dante pushes the door. As I expected, no alarm sounds, and the door swings open, revealing a narrow alleyway with three dumpsters along one side. My nose wrinkles at the overwhelming scent of rotten food and who knows what else, but the smell should also cover our retreat. Shifters tend to avoid unpleasant scents if they can—I would know since this isn’t the first time I’ve used rotting garbage to disguise my scent.
The five of us walk to where the alley opens onto the street. I move to poke my head around the corner and check things out, but Julien pulls me back, wrapping his arms around my chest and holding me against his body.
“Dante,” he says, jerking his chin toward the corner of the building.
Dante presses his back against the brick and slides to the edge, extending just the side of his face around the building. His nostrils flare, then he ducks back into the alley.
“Well…” he says, an uncomfortable look on his face. “It’s not Rossi.”
“Who is it then?” asks Julien.
Dante’s gaze darts to me before returning to Julien. “It’s Meredith and her brothers.”
A jolt goes through Julien, his muscles going tense.
“Who’s Meredith?” I ask, glancing over my shoulder.
Remy lets out a wry chuckle and Julien grimaces before saying, “Until this morning, she was the woman I intended to negotiate a mating alliance with.”
Thirteen
Keir
Thegrounddropsoutfrom beneath my feet—well, figuratively at least—as the stability and hope I just fucking got myself to accept is destroyed by a cold wash of betrayal, taking that tiny bit of rebuilt self-confidence with it.
Was it all bullshit?Of course it was.
The frantic touches, the whispered words, the heated kiss… I see it all in a brand new light. Julien wasmanagingme. Sure, I’m ninety-nine percent sure the fated mates thing is true—it’s a hard feeling to deny—but the emotion I thought was behind it, not so much. Julien was possessive, protective, and a little growly. All things you might expect from someone who knows what a potential liability I am.
I had a make-out session with a guy I barely know in a dirty bar bathroom and my brain turned it into some sort of romantic epiphany.
I am such an idiot.
I take a step away from the other shifters. And another. If I can just—
“You promised,” growls Julien. “No more running.”
I curl my hands into fists to stop them from shaking and inject anger into my voice to hide the hurt I don’t even want to admit to myself, much less this asshole Alpha. “That was before I found out you’reengaged.”
“I’m not,” says Julien. “It never got that far and—”
“So you’re saying you’re just going to give up a potential mating alliance forme?” My gaze darts around, all my instincts transitioning back into flight mode. Too bad the only way out of this alley is through Julien.
“Yes,” he says simply. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” He walks toward me, his hands held to the side, palms out.
I force myself to hold still. My brain is still screaming at me that I’m being stupid, but I can read the truth in Julien’s eyes. He means what he says. He’s not just going to abandon me.
Maybe if I repeat those things to myself enough times, they’ll stick.
“Look,” says Remy. “I realize trust is a hard thing for you, Keir, but my brother is an honorable Alpha. Even if he wasn’t, I owe you one. You put your neck on the line for me last night and I won’t let anything bad happen to you. We can get this all straightened out once we get back to the hotel.”
“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath and willing my body to relax.
