She frowned. “Why not?”
“Because…” I drew another steadying breath. “They’re not my secrets to share.”
Another falsehood. As alpha, I waspreciselythe person to divulge Bear Cove’s secrets.
Charlotte’s frown deepened. Then the color drained from her face.
“Are you in some kind of cult?”
“What? No.”
“Drugs?”
“Of course not.”
“Illegal mining?”
I put up a hand. “Charlotte, look?—”
“Then what?” she snapped. “What could possibly be so important that you’d sabotage my research and risk my career?”
The truth hovered on my tongue. But if I told her, I’d have to test her blood—assuming she consented.
And then what? If she wasn’t compatible, I’d have to walk away from her forever. If shewascompatible, she’d have to choose: me or the life she’d built.
Did I really expect her to drop everything and decide to stay with me? Leave years of work behind for a life in the Alaskan wilderness with a man she’d known for less than a week?
“I can’t tell you,” I said, the words scraped from the back of my throat. “I’m sorry.”
Her mouth tightened, and the look in her eyes was brittle as she said, “I don’t believe that, either.” She turned and stalked to the doorway.
“Charlotte,” I called. “Wait.”
But she was already gone, her footsteps rapid on the stairs. A second later, theclickof her door shutting drifted into the kitchen. Not a slam. That would have been better. Somehow, the final, deliberate sound of her door snicking shut was worse.
I stood in the center of the kitchen, my chest aching and the helplessness sliding into my gut. I’d handled things badly. But what choice did I have?
My pocket buzzed, and I pulled my phone out and swiped the screen. It was a text from Everett.
How’s it going?
I typed back.
Not great
A second later, his incoming call appeared on the screen.
“Hey,” I muttered, putting the phone to my ear.
“She’s figuring it out, isn’t she?” Everett asked.
“Yes.”
His sigh was loud in my ear. “I figured she would. People with scientific brains are curious by nature, Beck. The more you try to keep her away from something, the harder she’ll fight to find out what you’re hiding.”
Swinging away from the doorway, I lowered my voice. “I can’t just tell her?—”
“She’s not going to stop. You know that.” Everett paused. “And the rest of the clan wants to know what’s going on. They’ve seen you leading her around the mountains. They’re getting nervous.”
