“Anders, he stopped by to browse,” Gran said, doing her best to deescalate the situation. “While he was looking around, June came in. Nothing untoward was happening, son.”
He glanced at her, then sighed. “I’ll believe that. I trust you, Mrs. Hollis.” By his tone, and the way he looked at him, he gave the unspoken signal that he didnottrust Levi.
“Come on, babe,” he said, taking my hand. “Let’s get out of here.”
“See you guys later,” I said as I allowed Anders to lead me out.
After moving a few yards from sight of the store windows, Anders stopped and turned to me. “I want you to stay away from that guy. Understood?”
“Stay away from Levi?” I said, frowning at him. “Why? There’s nothing going on, Anders.”
“I don’t fucking care,” he said, slicing his hand through the air between us like a knife. “He’s here because Isayhe can be here. If I think for a minute he’s trying to pull something, I’ll kick his fucking ass and toss him out.
“You’re mymate, June. Don’t forget that if he comes sniffing around your pretty face. Got it? I’d hate for a stupid mistake to ruin what we’re going to have together. It wouldn’t go well.”
His words rang loud and clear. We were betrothed, but until that became official at the mating ceremony, he could still banish me at any time. I’d grown comfortable being able to see my family and Beatrice any time I wanted, being able to having a normal life. I couldn’t allow any of that to be taken from me. The mere thought of it sent a shudder of horror and fear through me.
“Okay,” I said. “I understand.”
“Good,” Anders said, and appeared to calm down, a smile reappearing on his face. “Maybe I’ll invite Levi to have dinner with us. Really hammer home that you’re mine. Come on. Let’s get some lunch.”
He led me down the street, his hand in mine, and for probably the dozenth time that day, I wished like hell that Levi was the alpha of Idlewild. Had I made a mistake in leaving him for Anders?.
As quickly as that thought slithered into my mind, I pushed it away. Forcing a smile on my face, I tried to look like I was truly happy, like I was with the man I wanted to be rather than thinking about one who was obsessed with a dead woman.
59
LEVIATHAN
Sitting on my haunches, I gazed through the evergreen shrubs at Anders’s house. After what happened at the shop today, I’d been astonished when he texted me an invite to dinner with him and June. I’d stared at the message for a solid ten minutes, wondering if it would be a mistake to accept. So much could go wrong or become uncomfortable in a situation like that.
In the end, I decided I’d rather not piss him off more than he already was, so I accepted the invite. Now, as I watched the shadowed outlines of June and Anders moving through the kitchen and dining room, I was second-guessing myself.
Chuffing out a canine sigh, I trotted forward and shifted to my human form once I was near the porch steps. I’d dressed in a simple button-up, jeans, and boots, hoping to not be too dressed or not dressed enough. Taking a steadying breath to prepare myself for dealing with this jackass all night, I knocked on the door.
Ten seconds later, the locks disengaged and the door swung open. Anders was there to greet me, and of course, June was beside him. He had his arm around her, and the sight of it made me want to growl.
“Good evening, Levi,” Anders said. “Come on in. Food’s on in about five minutes.”
“Thanks,” I said.
June gave me a hesitant smile, but she didn’t say anything as I walked in.
“Nice place you got here,” I said, doing my best to keep things as cordial and comfortable as I could.
“Thanks. Pop had it built about ten years before he passed. My mom lives in a little cabin down the road a little way. She didn’t want to stay here. Said it reminded her of my dad.” Anders shrugged and chuckled. “Good for me. I got a huge alpha house for free.”
Charming, I thought with irritation.
“Great. Lots of room,” I said, already regretting my choice to come here.
“Hey, babe, go check on that roast chicken, will you?” Anders said, then patted June on the rear.
Against my better wishes, I clenched my teeth together. A terrifying and almost uncontrollable rage filled me at the sight of him touching her like that. My wolf raged at me to tear the man limb from limb. No matter what had happened between us, I still loved June. I loved her more than I’d ever loved anything other than Naphele, and if I was honest, the love for her was equal to that love in all ways. Given enough time it most likely would have eclipsed it, and watching another man touch something that should have been mine nearly tore my mind apart.
“Sure thing,” June said, and when she turned to leave, she shot me a nervous glance before vanishing into the kitchen.
Once she was gone, Anders turned back to me, the same shit-eating grin on his face.
