Page 48 of Their Rejected Queen

Just an Alpha and his concubine.

This isn’t going to end well.

CHAPTER 13

Whatever I’m expecting inside Godric’s tent, it doesn’t happen. He patches me up, just like he did after I had attempted my escape, and he gives me something to eat and drink.

He works in silence as I wait for him to take advantage of me, but he doesn’t.

Nervously, I bunch the piles of furs into little stacks. Godric doesn’t comment on it, but he seems to enjoy watching me work.

“Why did you call me your concubine?” I ask when I’m done. He rubs a salve into the punctures across my arms now that I’m satisfied with the furs. The salve must have similar properties to my healing tonic, because the burn from the bites immediately eases, and I feel like I can catch my breath against the pain.

“Because that’s the only way I can justify you being in my tent at this point,” he says without looking up at me. “Aside from the position as my mate, which you can never be, a concubine has privileges that will give you some leeway. No one should make an attempt on your life again.”

I frown. It’s not clear to me why I could never be his mate. Maybe he has to mate a shifter, but a human concubine might be acceptable to his pack.

“In my world, a concubine has certain duties,” I inform him.

He gives me a raised brow. “Do they?” he asks, then grins. “Please, do enlighten me.”

Heat rolls over my cheeks again, and I know he’s making me flustered on purpose. The asshat.

“Sex,” I say bluntly. “Which we aren’t currently having.” I knock over one of the pile of furs, then frown and fix it again.

He chuckles, and that glimmer of a genuine smile returns. He doesn’t hide it as quickly here, alone with me in his tent. “No, we aren’t,” he confirms as he returns his attention to my wounds.

He could take what he wants. By now, I think I’m a good enough judge of body language to read that Godric is interested in me. I saw the way he looked at me during evaluation.

Which means it doesn’t matter what I want or don’t want. If he declares that I’m his concubine, then I don’t get much say in the matter.

Except, he seems to care what I think. I can’t imagine why else he hasn’t touched me.

It’s not that I want to be taken against my will, but Godric has honestly only shown me kindness.

And he’s incredibly hot.

Under the right conditions, I wouldn’t exactly say no.

As if he can sense my conflict, he glances up at me. He’s at my feet again, showing me how surprisingly gentle he can be as he wraps a cloth around my treated wounds. “I can scent your arousal, little moon. Are you disappointed that the title is merely a ruse?”

Little moon, I repeat in my head.

I’ve heard Godric call me that before.

In my dreams. My memories of those dreams come and go. Sometimes I entirely forget them.

But right now, I remember…

I bite my lip before I answer. “No,” I lie.

Stupid wolves and their sense of smell. I’m mortified that he can smell that I want him.

His grin widens, showing off sharp canines. I curl my fingers into the plush furs I’m sitting on. “Sex with me would endanger you, little one. And I’d never do anything to endanger your life. You’re far too special.”

With those mysterious words hanging in the air, Godric finishes his work, then peels off his shirt. My eyes widen as I watch him strip.

Did he change his mind?