Page 43 of Starting a New Life

What about? The conditions of my surrender? My punishment? The debt I was quickly accumulating?

And how was I supposed to talk in the first place if my mate kept staring at me as if I were his prey and he was about to pounce? His aura was blazing with fury, making me want to hide under the blankets.

And then there was my magic, that traitorous, fickle thing. It wanted to reach out, wanted to brush up against my mate’s aura, but I stopped it.

Fuck. I hadn’t felt so out of control in ages.

Being near him felt like being torn apart in the middle. I wanted him to wrap his fucking huge-ass arms around me, yet I wanted nothing to do with him. For him to stay as far away as possible.

“Maybe we should talk alone?” His voice was a dagger to the chest, slicing me open. The deep, scratchy bass wrapped itself around me like a soothing blanket. I found myself wanting to hear his voice again, wanting him to talk more because I needed to feel that tingling sensation at the base of my skull again. But his words… oh god, as soothing as his voice might be, his words sent another wave of fear through me.

“No,” I whispered, grabbing Levi’s hand. “Stay. Please.”

What would happen if he left me alone?

I didn’t want to find out.

“Of course. But if you want privacy, Rhett and I can leave.

I vehemently shook my head, begging Levi with my eyes not to leave me alone with my mate.

“Okay then,” my mate said, his words rumbling from deep inside his chest. To his credit, he hadn’t moved an inch, still standing exactly where he’d been ever since he’d entered, hovering close to the door.

To keep you from running, that tiny voice in my head supplied helpfully. Levi’s mate had taken a seat next to the window, effectively blocking the only other way out.

I swallowed.

“Let’s get this over with. I’m sure you’re exhausted. I, for one, want to go back to bed, but we’ve got a few questions we need to ask first… Nix. Is that right?” My mate asked, his voice caressing my name as if it were special.

“Yes.” I nodded, my fingers shaking. “Phoenix.” It wasn’t technically my real name, but I’d left the old one behind. Alexander Richelieu had died in that forest in Southern California six months ago. I wasn’t that person anymore and wanted no connection to my father and his coven.

The wolf smiled, expression soft, but eyes sharp. “Nice to meet you, Nix. I’m Gray. Grayson. I’m the Alpha of the Cedarwood Pack. Did you know you were hiding in my territory?”

Of course I knew. After all, I’d had to cross the barrier to get in. Every paranormal would’ve realized they’d entered pack lands as soon as they crossed the border.

Would I get away with lying?

Playing dumb?

His eyes said no; they were way too sharp, too scrutinizing.

The silence between us stretched.

Was he aware that I was his mate? He had to be, right? I could feel him, could feel his wolf pushing, trying to get to me.

Oh, fuck. Was this a test? Were they trying to catch me in a lie?

“Yes,” I admitted, shredding the silence with a single word. They had me trapped. I could either be caught in a lie or tell the truth and admit to breaking shifter law.

Levi squeezed my arm, and when I looked at him, he smiled encouragingly, his eyes bright, void of any fear. As if he had no idea what I’d just admitted to.

Maybe he really didn’t.

“I see,” Gray said, his jaw working, his aura exuding anger and turmoil, even though his body stayed still. My eyes darted to the window, searching for a way out, but for that to happen, I’d have to get past Levi’s mate. I couldn’t do that without hurting him. “That begs some follow-up questions. First, how did you get in without being detected? Why did you decide not to follow protocol and make your presence known to the resident pack? Third, how long have you been hiding out here?”

He sounded so formal, so cold and rational, but I knew his control was slipping already. Not long and he’d attack.

I pulled my legs up, contemplating my options.