Page 14

CHAPTER 14

N athan came over for dinner or took me out most nights. He was scrupulously polite to my mother and charming with my little sister, but as we ate our lasagna one night, he was subtly a condescending dick to my little brother Aiden. Aiden pretended not to notice, but his cheeks reddened, and Nathan seemed to enjoy the fact no one wanted to challenge him now.

I fumed inside. And most of all… I worried about what would happen to Aiden when I ran. So far, Nathan had begun to win the pack over, after their initial burst of fear. He’d seemed fair and kind so far.

But I didn’t trust that impression one bit.

Afterward, Nathan and I went out for a walk down the road. I knew we were being watched, and it would be my chance to ask him about it.

Lawson was out splitting wood, and I waved at him. He propped his axe over his shoulder and waved back.

Nathan stared at him in a way I didn't like.

I explained, "Lawson and I grew up together since we're next door neighbors. We're like brother and sister."

"Is that right?" Nathan asked. "You think you're friends?"

"Absolutely," I said. "We used to play X-Men and Barbies. It was quite the crossover story. Barbies could fuck some shit up."

He frowned at me. "I never heard you swear before."

"Oh," I said with a laugh. "Well, I don't swear around my mom. She washed my mouth out with Dawn when I was in fourth grade and it traumatized me forever."

"Someone should do it again," Nathan said, and I frowned at him. He frowned back. "You're going to be an alpha's wife. You should be classy."

"I can be classy and curse."

He made a small, disgusted sound, then let the subject drop, but I had the sudden feeling that if everything went wrong and somehow I did end up married to Nathan, he'd try to control everything about me, from how I spoke to who I counted as friends.