Thane takes a step closer. “Maybe she just wanted to give you a better life than the one she could offer.”
When I look up, he brushes the hair out of my eyes, tucking it behind my ear, and to my surprise, I don’t flinch or pull away. I just let it happen, closing my eyes to bathe in the comfort of his touch. When his hand falls away, I take a step back, turning away from him.
Stupid bond.
“A lot of good that did,” I mutter, as my resentment flares with the thought of being abandoned by the woman who was supposed to love me unconditionally.
Silence radiates between us, neither of us knowing what to say next. Eventually, I turn to leave, no longer wanting to sit in the uncomfortable quiet that has fallen over us.
“Do you like your other rooms?” Thane calls out when I step into the hallway. “I didn’t know what you liked to do in your spare time, so I figured I’d give you options.”
I turn on my heel, shock plastered all over my face. “Youdid that for me? When?”
He shrugs, running his hand over his stubble. “After I let you go, I guess a part of me had hoped you’d come back. Or maybe part of me knew I wouldn’t be able to stay away, but I knew if I took you prisoner again, it couldn’t be like last time. Not after—”
He doesn’t finish his thought, but he doesn’t have to. I know something changed for him the night of Halloween.
“Well, thank you. The rooms are perfect.”
“Good.”
Again, silence fills the space between us, neither of us knowing how to navigate this new dynamic. Who are we to eachother now? I’m no longer his pet, and he’s no longer my tormentor.
Still, it’s like we’re both prisoners to this bond that binds us to one another. Locked in a twisted partnership neither of us wanted.
“You’ll join me for dinner and stay with me tonight,” he orders in his stern Alpha tone that I loathe.
“A please would be nice next time!” I call out, as he stalks down the stairs.
Apparently, the old Thane is still alive and well. Bond or not, there’s no getting rid of the Alpha asshole that lives within that ridiculously attractive exterior, and that’s just something I’m going to have to accept if I want this little arrangement we haveto work out.
Thane
How dare she look at me like I might actually be a decent person just because I made up some rooms for her. It wasn’t like I really wanted to do it. I was just trying to please this stupid fucking bond. That’s all it was. That’s all any of this is. The contract, my feelings, the attraction. It’s all just consequences of the mark. It’s like a disease that’s infected me. It’s not like I actually care about her. She’s a human for God’s sake. I’d have to be out of my mind to fall for her.
Tonight, I’ll make that clear. She may not be my pet anymore, but I’m still the Alpha.
Chapter 28
When I make it down to the dining room, Thane is already seated at the far end of the table, so I go ahead and take my place opposite him, appreciating the ridiculous amount of distance between us. The man, who I now know is named Percy, strides into the room with two covered dishes in his hands. He delivers Thane’s first before making his way to me. When he sets it down, he flashes me a gentle smile before scurrying off.
Thane and I eat in silence, the clink of silverware echoing around us. I guess whatever momentary lapse of sanity had him talking to me so openly an hour ago has passed. I quickly finish eating and head back to my room without a word. If that’s what the rest of our dinners together are going to be like, then maybe I can convince Kole to join us every now and again. If anyone can break up the awkward silence, it’s him.
After I practically shrivel up in the bath, I slip into one of the floor-length nightgowns, making a mental note to ask Sienna to go shopping with me whenever we decide to go to Seattle this month. Just the idea of getting to be out in the world againmakes me giddy. Of course, I’ll have to get over the fact that there are vampires and werewolves walking around, but going to a restaurant or movie is something I never thought I’d be able to do again.
“You ready?” Thane asks from outside my room.
I swing the doors open to find him dressed in a pair of grey sweats and a white tank top that shows off his massive arms. He runs his eyes down my nightgown and then turns around and heads down the stairs without a word.
“This is gonna be fun,” I mutter to myself, closing the door behind me.
“It’s not supposed to be fun,” he growls from three steps down. “It’s supposed to satisfy the bond so that I don’t lose my shit and accidentally hurt you.”
“Jeez, ever heard of sarcasm?” I huff, following him down the stairs.
He turns around and stalks back up, stopping on the step I’m standing on. “This isn’t going to work if you don’t lose the attitude!”
“You’re one to talk,” I bite back. “If anyone has an attitude, it’s your grumpy ass.”
