Page 133 of UNAwere

‘When I’m breeding her.’ He wipes his mouth with a napkin. ‘I want you there. In case we get ambushed by Karvers while my dick’s inside her.’

Jude stiffens.

My fingers clench around my knife and fork, and I’m ready for all hell to break loose.

Warner keeps eating, a small smile on his face. It’s like he knows what he’s doing to Jude, and he’s doing it on purpose. Anger swells in my gut.

‘No,’ I say, before I can stop myself.

Warner stops chewing. His face sours, and he leans forward, meeting my gaze. ‘Excuse me?’

‘I don’t want someone there watching,’ I say quickly.

‘You don’t want to be flown, you don’t want to be trained, you don’t want someone there during the ceremony.’ Warner shakes his head. ‘You’re starting to be more trouble than you’re fucking worth.’

‘Miss Palmer isn’t used to Primrose ways,’ Jude grates.

Warner looks at him. ‘Yeah? Well, maybe I’ll fuck her right now and get her used to it. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Briggs?’

Jude’s nostrils flare.

I stand. ‘I’m leaving.’

‘Sit the fuck down,’ Warner hisses at me.

I’m trembling, my heart racing so fast I think it’s going to fall out of my mouth and onto my plate.

‘Sybbie.’ Jude’s soft voice soothes me slightly. ‘You’re safe.’

‘Don’t speak to my bonded,’ Warner growls at him. He stands, too, and turns his attention to me. ‘Sit down.’

I hesitate. Everything within me wants to leave. But I have to keep doing this. I have to keep Warner happy. I have to be malleable to him. Submissive. Even when I don’t want to be.

I sit.

Warner smiles and gets up, walking to my chair. He catches my chin between his fingers and lifts it, so I have no choice but to look at him.

‘Good girl.’

Jude snarls, stepping off the wall, and my heart freezes. I whip my head to him, eyes wide. His pupils have blown, irises completely black, and he takes a step towards us, lip curled. Terror fills me, adrenaline spiking my veins.

This is it.

But then the door opens, shattering the tension as my alpha steps in.

‘Nolan!’ I stand up and run to him until I’m in his arms and pressing my face against his shoulder.

He’s so familiar, so comforting, that I’m biting back sobs in seconds.

Nolan holds me tightly, chuckling. ‘It’s so good to see you, Sybbie.’ And then he lifts his head and sees Jude. And Warner. ‘Did I come at a bad time?’

‘Not at all,’ Warner says tightly.

‘Sorry, Alpha,’ Lucas says, who’s been standing behind Nolan this entire time. ‘He didn’t want to wait. There was no stopping him.’

‘It’s fine.’ I can tell by the tone of Warner’s voice that it’s definitely not fine, but I’m too happy to see my adopted father to care.

I pull from Nolan and grin at his face.