Page 25 of Fractured Mates
Though there’s a decent chance that if I hadn’t been in such a food-bliss that day, I wouldn’t have decided to chase my past and I wouldn’t be in this situation, so maybe I don’t love that burger like I thought.
You’re certifiable, my wolf drones, but I ignore her, eating my pizza sandwich, sitting naked on pink tile, and having no clue what I’m going to do next.
I haven’t felt this way since I was a teenager, hiding out in Central Park—lost, alone, unsure if the choices I’ve made are right or wrong.
When I expect my wolf to either say something profound or snarky, she remains quiet, forcing me to truly be alone with my thoughts.
Not what I was hoping for, but I know I need to break things down before I can get my head right, so that’s what I do.
I went back to East Texas because my gut was telling me that I needed to find closure. Not with that pack, but with the one I was born into.
Doing so sounded like the best idea ever, even more so when Dawsyn told me that I shouldn’t go back to my old pack because they were having issues. But thinking back on it, she never did tell me anything other than the alpha was gone, the beta was dead, and someone else was running the show with Astor Crowe mixed into the shitstorm.
That only intrigued me more, but I didn’t stop to question anything. Not like I should have. I’d just made the decision to get back to South Carolina as soon as possible, and that’s what I did.
Not even when Kyler showed up, trying to stop me, did I question things. I still charged forward, intent on doing what I wanted. While I don’t think that was necessarily wrong, I’m starting to realize that I’m missing information.
Where was my family? Why were people waiting for me—or at least someone—to show up at the house?
And why the hell is Kyler here in the first place? If Dawsyn had wanted to stop me, she could have done so at the pack. She might not officially be alpha, but she still holds power and could have commanded others to restrain me. Yet, she didn’t, which makes me feel like I’m still making the right choice by being here.
So many fucking questions, but I’m not finding a single answer here, naked on the bathroom floor.
As I push myself up and walk toward the bathroom mirror, I take in my flushed complexion, red lips, and tangled hair, sighing once again.
I might be ready to find answers before I decide to act again, but I have another problem that I don’t want to act on or figure out.
Kyler is…something. I won’t lie anymore. He’s sexy beyond reason with his light-grey eyes, dark hair, strong jawline, and… Nope. I’m done focusing on his other…attributes.
Before I can even consider what I may or may not allow to happen again, I need to know what he knows. He doesn’t seem like the type to blindly follow orders, so he must know what’s going on and what this has to do with me.
I dress in my clothes from earlier, make a mental note to go get my bag from the car after I’m done interrogating Kyler, and then brush my hair with my fingers. There are still knots, but it’s better than two minutes ago.
Grabbing the pizza box, I exit the bathroom and scan the room. There’s one bed, but there’s also a couch, which Kyler is sitting on, eating his own food, still not dressed.
Asshole probably thinks he can taunt me with his nakedness, but that’s not going to happen. Not a second time.
There’s a television hanging from the wall and a dresser beneath that. Normally, I’d poke through the drawers to see if there’s anything interesting to find, but I have business to sort out first.
I sit on the bed, crossing my legs, placing the pizza in front of me, and facing Kyler. I make myself another sandwich with two slices and devour a couple of bites before addressing him.
“Why are you here?” I ask without preamble, keeping my back ramrod straight.
“We’re not going to dis?—”
I point a finger at him and stiffly shake my head. “Whatever that was, it isn’t to be discussed anytime soon. Answer my question.”
His lips twitch at the corners. “Got it. I’m here because my boss sent me to stop you from getting yourself killed.”
“Why would he think I was going to die?” I press. “How would he have known there was any danger waiting for me when I showed up at my family home?”
He shrugs, chewing another bite of food before answering. “I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I just knew you needed my help, so I showed up.”
My chest rumbles, the sound echoing around us. “Bullshit. You’re telling me you didn’t ask any questions about this job before taking it?”
There’s a twitch above his right eye before he nods. “It’s not my job to ask questions. I get an assignment, I complete it, I move on to the next one.”
No fucking way am I buying that. He may have screwed up with the cabin, but I saw something in him. Something that told me he’s a lot smarter than I wanted to believe, even if he’d made a mistake.