Page 16 of Fated to the Wolf Cowboy (Cowboys of Collier #1)

Tricia

I knew my face wasn’t masked as usual. I was too shocked to hide it.

His words sliced through me like a blade through butter cutting me to the core.

The look of shock and self-hatred that hit him when he realized he hurt me, broke my heart.

What had this man been through to lash out the way he had this morning and even now?

Maybe it should have scared me.

Perhaps I should have turned tail and run away.

But something within me wanted to understand his pain and fix it.

That wasn’t like me either. I looked out for myself and that was it.

I’d learned at a young age that I couldn’t trust anyone to protect me, especially not my father.

While I’d cared for him through the years, as I grew into maturity I knew he would be the death of me and I’d cut him off. He was no longer my problem.

Would I do the same to Brady?

Maybe I just wasn’t cut out for this mating stuff. And so far from what I’d witnessed, I suspected he wasn’t either.

Had I made a mistake staying here?

Yes. I most certainly had.

The harder he stared at me the more I knew I was in over my head with this man. The best thing I could do is get the hell out of here.

Despite my desire to know more about it, it would be best for the both of us if we just steered clear of each other.

I just had to keep reminding myself why I left New York.

“Look. We don’t need to make this any harder than it already is. I’m already feeling better and regaining my strength. A day or two tops and I’ll be on my way. Forget about me.”

“Tricia,” he said, sending sparks into my heart at the sound of my name rolling off his tongue. “Forgetting you is not an option.”

I shook my head. “I’m not staying.”

“Oh yeah? So where are we going? Because you’re mine. I already thought I lost you once. I’m not making that mistake again.”

I shook my head harder this time. He couldn’t possibly mean that.

“You don’t mean that. You don’t even know me.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re mine.”

He was so aggressive and possessive that I didn’t know what to do or say about it.

“You should get your things and go.”

He nodded. “Okay. Clearly, we were both caught off guard and I’m not exactly on my best behavior. It’s been a week. But if you try to run, know that I’ll be right behind you every step of the way.”

My body reacted as if that was a promise we liked a whole lot more than we should.

But my mind went straight to the dark side. Was he a tracker? Would he kill me when he discovered the truth of what I was?

In the midst of my freak out, he seemed oblivious to it all.

He turned and grabbed a duffle bag from his closet before stuffing it fully of clothes.

Then before he left, he stopped at the door and turned back to me.

“No good will come from you being anywhere near Kenneth. He’s my kid brother. Please don’t make me do something I’ll regret again. You’re welcome to stay here in my room though.” He sniffed the air and smirked like a man who was used to getting his way. “My scent smells good on you.”

Then he turned and left as I melted into a pile of goo right onto his bed. I sat there staring at the door until I could no longer hear the sound of his motorcycle pulling away.

“I’m in way over my head,” I admitted to myself.

There was a part of me relieved to see him go, but also a bigger part that wanted to beg him to stay.

How was I supposed to sleep here in his bed after that kiss?

I’d always imagined what my first kiss would feel like. Never in my wildest dreams did I suspect anything like that.

Damn, he could kiss.

A growl escaped me.

He was a man he knew how to kiss a woman. I’d be willing to bet he got plenty of practice too.

I growled again.

And I was a girl who had no clue what I was doing. It did seem to come naturally though. He certainly didn’t seem to complain.

I started to giggle.

Reaching for the pillow, I covered my face with it to stifle the sound.

Instead, I was rewarded with a lethal dose of his scent.

“Gah!” I threw the pillow across the room.

Then I immediately jumped up and retrieved it, hugging it to my chest.

What was I going to do?

It was insane that I was still here. If Peyton knew the truth about me, she wouldn’t want me anywhere near him.

And if he discovered the truth, he’d throw me to curb.

Who could love a witch?

No one by my experience.

Staying here was nothing more than a childish dream of a true mate—something I didn’t believe in until now.

It was only going to hurt more later. I was stubborn and reckless earlier deciding to stay. After the kiss I knew I was only here for heartache. And right now, there was simply too much at stake for me to take a chance on a mate while risking my own life, and possibly his.

They could very well still be tracking me, even here.

I could put Brady and his whole family, hell this entire Pack, at risk.

I’d already grown to like those I’d met here: Lily, Ruby, Peyton, her family, and of course Brady. I liked them more than just about anyone still alive back home. That meant I couldn’t put them at risk by staying here.

It was time for me to go.

Tears stung my eyes as I realized I didn’t want to, but this was a sacrifice I could make for him. He may never know it or understand it, but I could do this to keep him safe from the trackers.

Pulling myself together, I packed up what few things I had.

And then I went through his drawers and found a shirt that smelled like him and stuffed it into my backpack too.

Maybe I was crazy for wanting to carry a little piece of him with me, but it comforted to know I’d be taking him along for the rest of the journey.

I was on the stairs on my way out when a car pulled up the house.

Peyton and her family spilled out of their family van and came inside laughing and enjoying each other.

I had never really witnessed that kind of closeness before, only in movies.

“Hey. Where are you off too?” Peyton asked.

“I think I’ve overstayed my welcome. It’s time for me to move on.”

“Why the sudden change of heart? I thought you were hanging around a few more days.”

I shrugged. “It’s just time.”

“Did Brady stop by again?”

“Actually, he did.”

Oliver shook his head and ran a hand through his hair.

“I’m so sorry. Please, don’t let him run you off. I’ll deal with him.”

“That’s really not necessary.”

“I talked to Sydney and Luke already and made arrangements for a house of his own. Honestly, it’s past time for this,” Peyton confessed.

Her mate sighed. “I know.”

“He’s a softy and very protective of his brothers.

We’ve liked having them all here with us and this will always be their home.

Tim moved out when he took a mate. I don’t think you’ve met him yet.

Brady isn’t likely to ever settle down, but he’s a grown man now with his own life and really needs his own space. ”

“Uncle Brady moved out?” her daughter Eve asked.

“He did,” she confirmed.

“But I don’t want him to move,” their son said. “Who’s going to teach me to ride my bike?”

“Hello. Dad here. But also, just because Uncle Brady is moving to his own place doesn’t mean he can’t do stuff with you. Uncle Tim doesn’t live here, and you see him all the time.”

“It’s not the same,” Meg whined. “He has Aunt Jessie. Who’s going to take care of Uncle Brady?”

As if I didn’t already feel bad enough, it now felt like these kids were reaching into my chest, ripping out my heart, throwing it on the ground, and stomping all over it.

I was so torn that I didn’t know what to do now.