Page 23 of His Bullied Fated Mate

And she calls me the smartass.

“I'm just surprised at how much you've changed since high school.”

She snorted. “And you've not changed at all.”

“You know, I’m not as terrible as you think. It’s been a while since high school. I've grown.”

She paused her cup to her lips. “And from what I’ve seen, you haven’t changed one bit.”

I disagreed with that. I’d changed a lot. I put a lot of wants and needs aside so I could keep the pack happy. I felt that anger flaring up again, and I knew it wasn’t because of her. I hated how angry I got. I had little control over my emotions, and I hated it. I was a calm person. I walked around with a cool head, but each day it seemed to get harder. It was especially difficult when it involved her.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. She was still angry, and she had a right to be.

“I disagree.”

I watched her eyes narrow on me, and she tilted her head. “Fine. Can I make a request to go home?”

I froze at her words and frowned. “No.”

She frowned. “Riley, you need to be reasonable about this. You quite literally ripped me from my life. I didn’t even pack. Let me go back and forth.”

“You can buy what you need here.”

“Like a vehicle? Because my perfectly amazing car is still at my work.”

I tilted my head. “You still haven't told your boss the truth yet? Or was that a lie, and he was more than just a boss?” I felt jealousy suddenly. I knew it was stupid, considering how this all happened. But we were married now, and whatever she had needed to end.

She tapped her hand onto the table, and I watched as she held a vixen smirk. “And what if he was, Riley? Not much you can do to stop me.”

I stiffened, unable to tell if she was saying it to pissed me off or if she was being serious. I didn't know what her boss looked like, but I could imagine her type. Tall and proper. He probably wore suits and gave her charming smiles.

My mind was suddenly running with images of her with a man. Laughing at his jokes and leaning against him tightly. I could see her placing her hand on his chest, whispering naughty things behind closed doors.

She leaned against the counter. “Does it just rile you up thinking about it? Another man and me hot and heavy in a bed?”

“Knock it off.” I snapped. I didn't like the thought. I couldn't think about it if I wanted to remain calm.

She tilted her head. “Why? You had no care about asking if I was getting ready to bend over for the man walking by me yesterday, so I must just spread my legs for everyone. Right? Imust be such a slut. I must just let any man have his way with me, right? Is that how you view me?”

Shit. I had said that yesterday. “That’s not...”

She rounded the counter. “It’s that’s not true, then why did you act like that yesterday?”

I exhaled heavily. “You are not going back, end of discussion.”

She crossed her arms. “And what if I just decide to go?”

“I’ll drag you back here,” I warned.

I watched her lips press tightly together. She looked away from me, and I could see she was working something out in her mind.

“You just plan to keep me here until what?”

“Until we find a solution to the problem we are having.” That was the entire point. She was here because I needed help.

“The only problem I’m seeing is you have anger issues.” She turned towards the entryway. “And nothing I can do to fix that.”

She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. I heard it slam behind her, and I ran a hand over my face. I wanted to punish her in the wrong way.