Page 16 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

A growl rips out of me at the thought of someone else eating the food she made for me. I’m part animal, and she’s teasing me with food. A male wolf is a simple creature.

I sit across from her and pick up a piece of bacon. “I need coffee, or I’ll bite someone. Fair warning.” I crunch the bacon. Yum.

Runa reaches up for the coffee. Her thick white sweater rides up over her faded blue jeans, revealing her skin.

I look away. “Where is your sister?” I bark.

Runa turns, coffee bag in her hand. “She’s in her room.”

“Sleeping?”

Runa shakes her head. “No, she’s mending her wedding dress and dreaming about you.”

The fucking sass, I swear. I crunch my bacon so I don’t bite her.

Runa laughs. “I thought that was a good one.”

I scoop up eggs. “You stayed up late last night. How come you’re not sleeping?”

“I lost a bet. Morning chores for me.”

An awkward silence descends. I regret asking, as it brings up the conversation we had before I knew who she was or she knew me.

Runa dangles the coffee in front of me. My gaze catches the red burn at the top of her hand. I imagine it will heal by tomorrow.

“Does your hand hurt?” I ask. My eggs taste good. They’re fluffy.

“No.”

“Thank you for stepping in the way you did. That was very brave of you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You think you could help me out again and fix the coffee?” I could do it myself, but sharing space with her is difficult already. I’m not going to invade her over there, across the counter.

“At this point, you’ll have to beg.”

“You want me on my knees?” She ought to have put glue in this food to seal my lips shut. “Don’t answer that.” I shove eggs into my mouth and chew.

Runa opens the bag of coffee and offers me a whiff. “Smell it.”

“My nose works fine from here.”

“You’re a killjoy, Ashling.”

Did she just give me a pet name? “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t call me that.”

“I mean no offense.”

“If I accept it as not offensive, then it’s a term of endearment I’m allowing you to use.”

“Then get offended.”

“If I am offended, then I have to discipline you.” I turn on the barstool and slap my thigh because there’s only one way an alpha disciplines a naughty omega, and she knows what it is. Over the knee.

Runa’s mouth opens, and her blue eyes widen.

“Do you understand now?” I ask.