Page 45 of Feral

“We didn’t talk much about your schooling. After a week together, that makes me an asshole, and I’m sorry for that. Did something happen that you don’t want to play anymore?”

She shook her head and went over to the center island. She picked up an apple from a bowl, clearly fidgety. “I don’t want to mess up in front of all your friends and family.”

I smelled another lie.

My mate was lying to me.Again.My wolf howled with dismay.

I was right. Something was wrong. Natalie wasn’t shy. I doubted since she was getting a Master’s degree in music she’d have stage fright. It was as if—

Boyd walked into the kitchen. I glared at him, wanting him out, but he folded his arms over his chest and walked over to flank me.

Like he would if I were under threat.

But by Natalie?

“So, you forgot the fiddle?” Boyd asked. The question definitely sounded aggressive. My wolf didn’t like it, but a prickle of foreboding had already begun at the base of my skull. Boyd knew more than I did, it seemed. I just had to wait it out.

“Yeah.” She gave a shaky laugh. “Sorry. The truth is, I got pretty burnt out on music in school. I don’t ever want to play the violin again.”

That was a different story than what she’d offered me a moment ago.

“Well, did you at least bring the mayonnaise?” Boyd demanded. “Remember, from when I called earlier?”

Natalie lifted her eyes from the apple. “What? Oh, gosh. Sorry! I guess I forgot that, too.” She ran her fingers over her hair, then spun away.

I’d dealt with some bad shit with the pack over the years. Someone had hurt a kid once. That had been bad. Another drank himself off a bridge. But I had a sinking feeling that what was going to happen next was going to destroy me. I couldn’t figure out what, exactly, but if Boyd was here questioning her, he was doing it for a reason. He wasn’t accusing her of anything. It was more like he was trying to pull answers from her. To gauge her response. I’d done it many a time, setting a trap for someone to step in and...

“On the call, I didn’t ask you to bring mayonnaise,” Boyd said in a low, dangerous tone.

Natalie went still, her gaze narrowed. I’d seen her pissed at me before, deservedly so. This was all defense.

“Tell me,Natalie,who the fuck did I talk to this afternoon?” Boyd asked. “Because it sure as hell wasn’t you.”

Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink, but this time not because I’d brought her to orgasm.

Her jaw clenched in defense, but tears popped into her eyes. She blinked them back. I hated when females cried, especially my mate, but I wasn’t going to hold her now. She was holding onto something. A secret. A big fucking secret.

When she didn’t answer, I slapped my hand down on the counter. “Who did Boyd talk to?” I put alpha power into it without meaning to. Both she and Boyd drew back.

“Natalie,” she blurted. “He spoke to Natalie.”

“You.”

Her fiery curls swayed as she shook her head. “The real Natalie.”

I took a step back as I stared at my mate before me. A tear slipped down her cheek, but she remained silent.

“Who the fuck are you, and what have you done with Natalie Shefield?”

She inhaled and let out a long breath. “Natalie is in LA. She’s fine. I didn’t kill her and stuff her body in a freezer.” She looked at Boyd, then at me. “My name is Willow Johnson. I’m a DEA agent, and I’m here undercover.”

My eyes flared wide, and my wolf wasn’t sure if it should howl in misery or snap at her at her deceit.

“We don’t have drugs here. You’ve done a thorough check of my bed. Search the rest of the property, then get the fuck out.” I pointed at the closed door.

The tears came faster now. “You’re not who I’m investigating.”

“Oh no?” I asked. I’d never hit a female before, and I wasn’t going to start now, but this woman… this imposter… was trying my abilities to hold back. She’d tricked me and my wolf. She wasn’t Natalie Shefield. All this time, I’d had no idea. What a pathetic alpha I was.