Page 5 of A Pack of Lies and a Big Bad Wolf

My heart clenches in my chest.

Does that mean…there’s no spell?

“What, exactly, are you trying to say? I feel completely…”

He flashes an evil grin at me. “Please, describe how you’re feeling right now.”

My cheeks flame with heat. “I will not!” I splutter at him.

“Shall I tell you how I’m feeling?” His voice is a low, sexy growl.

“I could not possibly care less.” But oddly, I do want to know how he’s feeling. And I want to know what he’s feeling. Why? He’s not only a complete stranger, he’s also a complete bastard. Why do I feel this strange, urgent pull to know him completely, inside and out?

I attack my sandwich again and stifle a low moan of pleasure as the tangy spiciness of the horseradish stings my tongue. Okay, I was very hungry.

“Well, we both know that’s a lie, but anyway, I am feeling exactly the same way that you are. Want to know why? Never mind, you do want to know, but you’ll try to deny it. Which is adorable. I’ll tell you why. Because you’re my fated mate.”

I choke on my sandwich, and he leaps up and moves so swiftly it’s a blur, standing behind me and pounding on my back. I gulp down lemonade and blink watery eyes at him.

“I’m sorry, you think what?” I splutter.

I swing my legs out of the seat and jump up from the picnic table.

He grins fiercely at me. “And now you’re going to storm off. Which is marvelous. You know why?”

I refuse to answer. Clutching my lemonade, I stalk away from him.

He’s right behind me. Damn those long legs of his; I can’t get ahead of him.

I’m practically sprinting, but he’s right next to me now without even breaking a sweat or sounding the least little bit out of breath. He leans down and growls into my ear, “Because you know how we wolves are, princess. We love a good chase.”

Chapter 3

Olivia

He thinks I’m going to storm off?

Fine. I’ll stay right where I am. And it’s not because my wolf is howling to run through the forest with him, not because I want to roll in the grass with him, smell his hair, lick his abs... It's because if he says I’m going to do something, then I’m going to do the opposite.

Instead, I skewer him with a contemptuous, accusatory glare. “So, let me get this straight. You will help my brother, and in exchange you want me to stay here and satisfy your lustful desires?”

He arches an eyebrow. “Why? Do you want to stay here and submit to my lustful desires?” He says it with polite interest, as if he’s inquiring after my lunch order.

Yes.

No.

It doesn’t matter what my treacherous libido wants, it doesn’t matter what my wolf wants. What matters is that my brother finds access to his wolf, and I keep my dignity intact.

I narrow my eyes and glare at him. “How dare you? You absolutely obnoxious, unbearable-”

His laugh is rich and warm. “Don’t bother to answer. But no. All you have to do is stay here.”

“Why? And why did you change your mind?”

But the infuriating son of a bitch stands up and walks away again.

This time I don’t follow. I just sit there and watch him vanish into the crowd, and my wolf howls mournfully at his absence.