Chael’s eyes widened and he sat up straight, evidently surprised by my switch from fear and disbelief to anger.
I moved away from him and climbed out of the far side of the bed. “The fact that you’re not really a private investigator like you said? Or the reality that you’re some sort of… half man, half wolf, like one of those shape-shifter books I used to read? Or…” I snapped my fingers, working myself up even more as I paced the wooden floors. “That you’ve kidnapped me and brought me to…” I flailed my arms and looked around the room. “Your lair or whatever this place is.”
Chael slowly stood from the bed, but he must’ve known better than to approach me.
“Reese, this is our—”
I cocked my head sideways.
“My,”he gritted out with his hands fisted at his sides. “My home. It’s not a lair.”
“You have wolves here, Chael! Like they’re your pets or something.”
He shook his head. “Not my pets. My pack. My family.”
My knees weakened. Either this man was just as crazy as I was or this was a never-ending dream. I pinched my forearm in another failed attempt to rouse myself out of this hallucination.
“Look at me, Reese.”
A chill ran down my spine. Anytime he said my name, that same feeling overcame me. Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet his.
“I had to bring you here. It’s the only way I can keep you safe.”
My heart thundered, my emotions warring inside of me because his voice held such deep sincerity. Yet, he lied to me. This man I hardly knew, claimed to be a wolf shifter and had brought me out to God knows where.
“Safe from who? Are you the reason those wolves attacked me last night?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted before running a hand through his hair.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” I screeched and began pacing back and forth.
He moved closer. “You’re overwhelmed.” His lips pinched. “It’s a lot to take in, and I didn’t handle any of this the right way.” He lowered his hand as a remorseful look passed over his face.
“You think?” I shrieked.
He pushed out a heavy breath, his face dropping, looking remorseful. With that tender look in his eyes that almost broke my resolve, he lifted a hand and ran it down the side of my cheek.
I didn’t want it to be, but his touch comforted something deep inside of me. Almost as if he caressed my soul.
“It’s not safe in Texas for you. Not safe for you to be away from me.”
“Where did you bring me? Where is here?” I had to know where I was.
“New Mexico. A couple of hours outside of Santa Fe.”
“That’s a long way from home,” I said.
His eyes glinted, and for a second, I thought he was going to say something like, “this is your home now,” but he didn’t.
“We’ll talk more. First, you need to eat something.”
He held his hand out to me, but I ignored it, looking around.
“Where’s Henry?”
“I’ll take you to him, but you should eat first.”
“Where is my dog? Is he hurt?” I asked, alarmed at why he hadn’t been there when I woke up, and why Chael was being cagey.
