Page 37 of Entwined
“Hey, Con,” Vaelor clears his throat, subtly tightening his hold on me. “Is that how mates work in the shifter world? Fathers shaking hands, making deals for their children?” An intentional pause has his lips lifting in a smirk. “Like humans.”
Selena’s hiss is more feline than wolf. “Shut up,warlock.” She says it like he’s some kind of disease. A scowl twists my mouth.
“What’s your damage?” I demand, shaking off Vaelor’s hold and stepping around him. “Are you mentally unstable or something?”
She slowly turns to look at me, her stare deadly. A frisson of alarm rolls down my spine, but I lean into it, never letting it show on my face.
“Seriously,” I tell her. “You keep going on about weak humans, yet you were the one who felt so threatened by one that you had to ambush me.” Several shifters standing behind her perk up at that, their heads cocking to the side with interest. “I thought wolves came at their enemies from the front, all teeth and claws. Yet, there you were, dragging an unsuspecting human into an empty classroom, just so you could warn me off a man who’s made it extremely clear that he doesn’t want you.” Selena’s face flushes, but I’m not quite done.
“And that’s another thing. When didnostop meaningno?” I demand, my voice climbing an octave. “You’re acting a little predatory, and not in awolvensense, if you get what I mean.”
There’s a breathless pause before Connor adds helpfully, “She’s calling you rapey, I think.”
“Israpeya word?” Vaelor asks with interest, but doesn’t seem to expect an answer, turning to me and saying, “This is all a little ironic, coming from you, Princess.”
“Shut up,” I mutter. “It’s still too soon. And you’re still not forgiven.” An icy touch slides down my back and over my ass, cupping me firmly.
“Whatever you say,” he says with no small amount of amusement.
“I amnotrapey!” Selena lets out a piercing screech that has several shifters wincing as it echoes around us, sending birds scattering from a nearby copse of trees.
I let out a mocking, sympathetic noise. “Are you sure, though? Connor tells you he doesn’t want you, so you break into his room. He tells you to leave him alone, so you plant cameras in his dorm room.” Her face is an alarming shade of red now. “That’s not normal behavior, even for someone like you.”
“Someone like me,” she repeats, looking lost before rage chases the expression away. Her eyes glow preternaturally, fur sprouting over her skin before disappearing again, her nails sharpening into claws.
Vaelor reaches out to hook an arm around my neck, yanking me back into his arms. The move is territorial, but there’s a thrum of agitation in my chest that’s too icy and controlled to be mine.
“Connor,” he states intently, distracting me from my new discovery. But our wolf doesn’t even look at him.
“Trust me,” he tells Vaelor shortly, and then flashes his fangs at Selena. I think he’s going for a smile, but he just looks menacing. “So, Selena. The video.” His tone is conversational as the she-wolf drags her attention to him. “Why did you do it? And why block out mine and Vaelor’s faces?”
She glances over her shoulder at her audience before turning back, something calculating flashing through her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” There’s the slightest tremble to her voice, but I can’t tell if it’s nerves oranger. “Maybe you should be asking yourhuman”—she sneers—“why you’d suddenly turn on your own kind.”
“Turn on my own kind,” Connor repeats. “Is that what I’m doing by claiming my fated mate?”
“She’s not your fated mate,” Selena screeches again. I see more than a few people sharing doubtful looks.
“Oh, really?” Vaelor murmurs, his voice carrying easily. “Explain this, then.” Before I realize his intention, he hooks his fingers into the collar of my shirt, yanking it down to rest just above my nipples. I make a noise of outrage, futilely trying to pull his hand away, but he doesn’t budge, and I have to give up before everyone gets a flash of my tits.
Selena’s eyes drop to my exposed chest, landing on the still-healing bite wound before shifting over to the rune, stark black against my pale skin. Her eyes widen in shock, and she stumbles back.
“W-what?”
“Hey, Con,” Vaelor calls, his other hand collaring my throat, fingers resting on my pulse. “What happens if a shifter bites someone who isn’t their mate?”
“We don’t.” Connor grunts. But Selena doesn’t seem to notice, still transfixed on my chest.
“This isn’t—She’s not—” Selena pulls in a sharp breath through her nose, like she’s trying to calm herself down. But the way her teeth lengthen out over her bottom lip gives her away. “You’re confused,” she declares patronizingly.
“Confused about what?” Connor asks. Before she can answer, one of the other shifters steps up, setting her hand on Selena’s shoulder.
“Sel,” she whispers urgently. “You need to let this go. If you piss off the Thorntons…” She gives Connor a fearful look, and he chuckles.
“She’s not going anywhere,” he says easily. “Not until she gives us some answers.”
“I don’t owe you anything,” Selena hisses at Connor. “You’re the abomination here, and this”—she points a clawed finger at me—“proves it. It was bad enough that you had a warlock dogging at your heels, but knowing you’ve willingly claimed ahuman. And not just any human, but someone like her.”
Vaelor’s fingers tighten around my neck briefly, but then drop away. I take the opportunity to get out of his hold, sending him a vicious glare as I right my shirt.