Page 130 of UNAwere

‘Warner will want to have sex with you. And if you don’t want to, he’ll do it anyway.’ A shiver slips down my spine at the intensity in her voice. ‘Sybbie, you must fight back if you decide you no longer want to do this. If the time comes, and you don’t want this anymore, you must fight.’

I stare at her. ‘But the alliance…’

‘Sybbie.’ She grasps my face. ‘Jude told me about you. He told me how you’ve done everything for your sister, your entire life. How you’ve done nothing for you. Please. Ask yourself. What do you want?’

I want Jude.

The answer comes to me, quick as a flash, but it’s not feasible. Not possible. As much as we want it, we can’t.

‘I’m okay.’ I blink and plaster a smile on my face. ‘Honestly. I’m okay with this.’

Hannah stares at me for a moment. But then she nods and lets me go.

‘C’mon,’ she murmurs. ‘It’s fucking cold out here.’

What Hannah said has set me on edge.

I retreat to my room and get out my hook and wool, putting a show on the TV by the bed and working on a beanie.

I use the rhythm of forming the stitches as a kind of meditation, listening to the chatter on the TV, but not fully taking anything in. It’s a way to disassociate. Realign. And after half an hour, I feel my nervous system calming.

I’m close to halfway done when I’m summoned.

Lucas knocks on my door, which is ajar, and when he peeks his head in, he nods to me.

‘Alpha Warner would like to see you for lunch,’ he says.

‘Lunch?’

‘He’d like you to join him.’

I take a deep breath and set my hook and wool down. The walk to Warner’s office is quiet. As we’re going up the stairs, I spy Jude coming down the hall towards us, face stormy.

He sees me and his eyes soften, but he keeps going, brushing past me. I breathe deep, feeling ridiculous as I do, but his scent seems to steel me.

Lucas glances back at him and then looks at me. When he sees me watching, he quickly lowers his gaze and guides me to Warner’s door.

‘Come in,’ Warner says at the sound of Lucas knocking. He’s at his desk when we step in and smiles at me, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

Lucas nods to his alpha once and then leaves, closing the door behind me. I stand awkwardly in the centre of the room, the silence making my ears ring. Warner leans back in his chair, watching me, his fingers steepled by his chest.

‘You look well,’ he murmurs.

‘Thanks.’ I glance at him. He’s wearing what he usually wears – business attire – but it’s creased, and he looks like he hasn’t slept in two nights. ‘Rough night?’

‘Late night,’ he corrects. ‘Early morning.’

I lick my lips and nod.

‘Why don’t you sit down, Sybil.’

‘You can call me Sybbie.’

He ignores me, gesturing to the chair on the other side of his desk. I go to it and sit, glancing around the room. There’s a large window behind him, floor to ceiling, and it faces out into the garden and the other side of the house. I cock my head to the side, gazing at the windows I can see, and realise it’s Jude’s side, with his kitchen and bedroom. My heart flutters.

‘You seem distracted.’ Warner’s voice snaps me from my daze, and I blink, focusing my attention back on his face.

‘Tired,’ I say, smiling slightly. ‘I also had a late night.’