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"Ours," Tye said as he rocked against me.

His hands slid up my thigh and ribs, finding my hard nipple, stroking it through my nightgown — teasing me, and I gasped, dropping my head back against the wall.

"Fuck! So fucking good!" I moaned.

"You. Are. Ours."

Ours?That word again. Something about it tugged at me.

The bond burned hotter. But there was something about his words …

I froze, realization hitting me like a splash of cold water.

Tye didnotgroup the wolf in with himself. Notever. He might slip up and saymine. But neverours.

No — the wolf was the one in charge now!

How had I missed it?!The golden eyes — the "Mate" — the way he'd been so free with his attention!

The bond was riding me hard. I couldn't imagine what it was doing to his wolf!

Grabbing his face, I turned it so he had to look at me, those golden eyes wide with confusion. There was a wild, primal look to his glowing eyes, andnoneof Tye's restraint and control.

Damnit!

And was that alcohol on his breath? If Tye had gotten drunk, it must have given the wolf a chance to take control …

Disappointment and frustration — and maybe a bit of sadness — doused the charisma and our bond.

Wolf-Tye kissed my neck, playing with my nipple, and the bond inside me tried to reassert itself. It wanted this …wewanted this.

But Tye would not. He had made that very clear.

I shoved him away, dropping to the ground.

He stumbled back and into the light of the hallway, and for the first time in minutes, I could fully think.

His golden eyes were full of confusion and pain, and my chest ached at the sight.

"I'm sorry," I bit out the words. "We can't do this. He doesn't want me. And I'dneverwant to trap him into something like a mate bond."

"Trap him?" Wolf-Tye snarled, golden eyes snapping with anger. "Wewantthis. We wantyou."

"What? No. You might want it, but not him."

Frustration knitted his brows.

"Him too. He lies. To himself. To you. You felt danger before. We ran to you, only to find you safe in the alley."

"That's what I am saying. You want me, but he doesn't."

Wolf-Tye smiled. "No. HE ran first. I was locked away. He sensed your fear. He ran to help you, just as much as I did … if not more. Don't listen to his lies. Listen to his heart. His actions. Listen — before you lose him."

My stomach lurched. "Lose him?"

Those golden eyes flickered to yellow, then gold, then back to yellow again, and he stumbled further away from me.

I stepped after him. "Are you okay?"