Like I cared.
“Why does he have to do what you say?” I asked, my own voice hard.
“Because I am Mason’s intended ma—husband.”
I blinked. Intendedwhat? It didn’t matter. I still didn’t like it. “And when exactly was this marriage arranged?”
Jerome’s eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. “What difference does it make to you?”
My heart pounded. I couldn’t believe I was about to say this, butfuck, he’d pushed me into it.
“Because I have my own claim.”
The silence was deafening, and the looks on everyone’s faces were priceless.
Including my parents.
Mason
The tension in the tackily decorated room was so thick it was almost tangible. I hated that all eyes were on me. My mom and dad were staring openly, but the really weird part? They didn’t seem angry. Jerome, on the other hand, appeared enraged, as if he wanted to rip my head off. On one laptop screen Jerome’s father, Alpha Donnelly, pinned me with a flinty glare and on the other, my own Alpha, John, was somehow managing to send threats without verbalizing them.
I need someone here who has my back.
Kip wasn’t allowed in. I understood why, of course. This was pack business, and being human left him out.
If he were here, he’d stand up for me.
Which meant one thing, given the circumstances. I had to stand on my own two feet. I summoned up every ounce of courage I possessed, because Kip had gone to the wall for me, and I wasnotabout to cave toanyone.
My literal freedom is on the line here.
“Father, he claims he already has someone!” Jerome whined.
“Is this true, pup?” Alpha Donnelly demanded, his voice tight with what I could assume was anger.
“It is, Alpha.” My voice came out stronger than I would have believed possible.
Thank you, Kip.
“And why is this the first time you’ve mentioned it?”
Nowthatwas a good question.
“I feared the pack wouldn’t accept a human as my intended, especially given my station,” I replied. “I would have left with him to spare my parents any humiliation, but then I was told Jerome was to be my mate. I panicked, trying to think of a way out of this without anyone—especially Kip—being hurt.”
The lie rolled easily off my tongue. I was glad no Alpha was present in the room, because they would have sensed the deception right away.
“And are you claiming this is forever?”
This was the make-or-break moment.
If I said yes, that would lock me to Kip for as long as he’d have me. I would be submissive to him in all things.
Better the devil you know than the one you hate.
“I’m certainly counting on it to be, Alpha. I love Kip, and have since we pledged ourselves to each other all those years ago. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think he’d make this claim, despite our vows. Being human, he isn’t bound by our rules.” I took a breath. “I was afraid he’d cast me aside, and find someone new.”
Alpha Donnelly frowned. “And you no longer worry about this happening?”
