Page 41 of Wolf’s Fated Bride

I try to tug my hand away, but he turns it to inspect my burn. Which isn’t healing.

“I’m going to see our healer today,” I say.

“I’ll come with you.”

“No.”

“No what?” he asks, smirking.

“You’re not coming with me.”

“I didn’t ask if I could. I told you that I’m coming with you.”

Alpha males can be very stubborn. And insufferable. I change the subject. “Did you burn the human world this morning?”

“Not yet. Why?”

“You seem happy.”

“That’s because I’m alone with you.”

I nearly choke on my bread. Is he flirting? What is this wolf doing? Trying to get me killed, most likely. “That comment is inappropriate.”

“Tread carefully, Omega. Your sister broke our pact and chose a man over me. I’m within my rights to kill you all. Being a little inappropriate with you is appropriate, actually. Speaking of which… Where is my fiancée-not-to-be?”

“Father is making her nest for you, so I’m guessing you’re keeping her secret. But I’m curious about what you guys said last night after Maren and I left?”

“Pass me the apple, would you?”

“Sure.” I reach for a ripe red one and grip it firmly, then grin like a lunatic as I pitch it at his head. Shock registers on his face, but the alphahole recovers quickly and catches the fruit before it hits him.

Ash lifts his upper lip, showing me his perfect, sharp canines, before biting hard into the apple. Then I smell it. His mating scent. He’s deliberately releasing it.

My lower belly heats up, making me flush all over. Since I came to eat after my chores, I reach into my pocket for a clothespin and clip it over my nose.

Ash stares.

I give him my middle finger.

He opens the window, and once the wind blows through, airing out the space and chilling my bones, he closes it.

I remove the clothespin.

Ash scoops out eggs, bacon, fresh-baked pastry, and jam. Pancakes. Butter. Strawberries.

“Someone’s hungry,” I comment as I take a second helping. I’ll need it. Being near Ash Fireborn is sending me into heat.

“Ravenous.” He waggles his eyebrows.

Why is he so playful today? I need to stop this. “Maren chose another man over you.”

Ash shrugs. “The Moon guided her decisions.”

“I didn’t think you believed in the ways of the Moon.”

“It offers salvation for someone like me.”

“Ah.” I won’t prod him about his sins. No matter what he says, he’s not without remorse about his past. “There is no treaty without Maren. She and I spent the night chewing our nails and worrying about our lives, while you seem to have slept better than ever and woken up chipper as fuck.”