Page 16 of Moonlight & Mayhem

Moon’s expression hardened. “Don’t say that.”

“Why?” he asked.

“You know why,” she challenged.

“No, I don’t,” he insisted.

“We barely know each other,” she said.

“We know enough about each other, Moonlight,” he countered.

“That isn’t how this works,” she insisted.

“It’s exactly how fated mates work,” he reminded.

“For you, maybe.”

That stopped him. Mayhem studied her. “What does that mean?” Moon looked away, but he waited. She didn’t answer, and his irritation shifted into something else—concern. “Moonlight.”

“Don’t ask me for answers that you won’t like,” she said.

“Tell me, and let me decide if I like them or not,” he ordered.

“There’s nothing to tell,” she lied.

“Bullshit.” Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, and Mayhem could smell her sadness. He could tell that the pain didn’t belong to tonight, but it was still there.

He carefully slid off the table, and Moon immediately stepped forward to help him. “I swear to⁠—”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he assured.

“You shouldn’t be standing on your own,” she said.

“Then stand with me,” he insisted. Her gaze met his, and Mayhem held out his hand. For several seconds, she didn’t move, and then she took it. His wolf sighed—actually fucking sighed, and Mayhem nearly laughed. Instead, he curled his fingers around hers. “There,” he said. “Now talk.”

Moon shook her head. “Bossy.”

“Says the woman who threatens me with sedatives,” he teased.

“That’s medical care, not a threat,” she insisted.

“That’s assault with a needle,” he countered. A reluctant smile tugged at her mouth, and God, he wanted to kiss it—badly, but he didn’t, not yet.

“What are you afraid of?” he asked quietly.

The smile disappeared. “Nothing.”

“You’re a terrible liar,” he insisted.

“So you keep telling me,” she said.

“Because you keep lying to me.”

Moon looked toward the closed clinic door. “Mayhem, this isn’t the time.”

“It might be the only time,” he warned. Her gaze snapped back to him, and he gestured toward the black veins in his arm. “The Capitol Wolves put something inside me. They deliberately infected me. They called me a carrier. You just told me shifting makes it worse.”

Moon’s eyes softened, and Mayhem squeezed her hand. “So forgive me if I don’t feel like wasting time pretending this bond isn’t happening.”