Page 21 of Darrin: The Wolves

“You felt her fear?” Nadia asked.

Dare growled. “I told you that you weren’t welcome here.”

“And I toldyouthat it wasn’t over.”

“It is.”

Nadia met Audrey’s gaze. “He’s mine. He was promised to me.” She waved a hand toward the tavern. “This is all mine, and so is he.”

“Don’t talk to my mate.” He took a menacing step forward and Nadia’s brows lifted. “I chose exile and starting a new life in King Lake over tying myself to you forever. Your inability to land a mate is not my problem.”

Audrey’s pulse was pounding.

She believed Dare, but the shock of coming face to face with his past in such an ugly way was like a knife in her heart. Nadia had taken Audrey’s insecurities about the complicated world of shifters and sharpened them into fears – that she was human,that Dare was alpha, that she didn’t fit into his world. Nadia made them sound like proof Audrey didn’t belong.

“Humans aren’t cut out–” Nadia said.

“Enough!” Dare bellowed the word, edged harshly with his wolf’s growl. “Leave and don’t come back.”

Nadia tilted her head slightly and smiled coldly at Audrey. “This isn’t over.”

She spun on her heels and stalked away.

Audrey stared at her until her car pulled out of the parking lot, gravel flying.

Dare spun and said, “Sweetheart, are you okay?”

“You were supposed to be her mate?”

“The alpha matched me to her and demanded I mate her, but I walked away from the pack instead.” He snarled, his eyes flashing. “She showed up here the other night and I told her to fuck off, but she clearly thinks she can harass her way into being my mate.” His face softened. “I’m sorry. I should have told you about her earlier.” He settled his hands on her hips and pulled her close to him. “There was no relationship with her, no love, no bond. I refused, chose exile, and my brothers left with me. Walking away from the pack was the best thing I ever did because it meant I could find you.”

She closed her eyes, her thoughts tumbling every which way.

He cupped her face. “Look at me.”

She did.

His eyes were ringed with the amber of his wolf. “You’re my mate, Audrey. Mytruemate. The one female on the planet for me. I don’t care about the old pack or her. I care about you.”

She wanted to believe him with every hopeful piece of her heart.

But Nadia’s words had wedged under her skin.

“Talk to me, Audrey.”

“She knew just what to say to make me feel like I don’t belong with you. Why did she come after me like that?” Had she been waiting for a confrontation with Audrey, or had Audrey just conveniently walked outside and right into her path?

“You belong with me. I don’t want anyone else, I only want you.”

She nodded, holding onto his words.

Out on the deck, she heard the first strains of the band as they began their audition.

“I need to change my shirt.”

He nodded and walked with her to his house, where she changed her shirt for one of his and walked back to the tavern with him.

He held her hand the whole time, his wolf rumbling low like he was also worried about the thoughts tumbling in her mind like a towel in a dryer.