Page 19 of Half Wolf Mate

“You’re the Alpha?” I asked, stunned. I was so screwed. Cole already made it clear he wouldn’t help me.

“She brought you a gift, too,” Damian said. He tossed the dagger, and Cole caught it to inspect it. His expression darkened, and his lips lifted into a snarl. “Just as I thought.”

My eyebrows furrowed. “I can explain the knife if you’d just listen to me.”

“How did you find this place?” Cole asked.

“Violet gave me the address. I came here for help—”

“Goddamn it.” Cole sighed.

“I’ll have a talk with Violet,” Damian said, his voice resonating with impatience.

Cole stepped around the desk. “Damian, get her off the compound before anyone sees her. I don’t want mass panic.”

I’d had enough of them behaving as if I was a scary, dangerous monster. “Can someone please tell me what’s going on? What, was I not supposed to enter the property without asking or something? I don’t understand why anyone would be frightened of me.”

“She’s already been seen,” Damian said.

I scoffed as he went on as if I hadn’t spoken.

“Violet shared some interesting information. Supposedly, she’s your mate. But that’s ridiculous, right?”

The room went so quiet a pin drop could be heard. My heart pounded so hard that I was convinced they could hear it. I waited for Cole’s response with bated breath, just as Damian waited. It was like my ears itched to hear him acknowledge me as his.

When Cole only sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, Damian’s eyes widened. “So, it’s true.”

I noticed the way Damian subtly shifted to put distance between us. His friend reacted the same way earlier, and I wondered why. There was so much for me to learn about them.

“It doesn’t matter,” Cole said. “I can’t claim her. I won’t. She’s not right for me.”

Even Damian, who had seemed to dislike me on sight, looked as shocked as I felt. I tried telling myself that it didn’t matter if someone I barely knew didn’t “claim” me.

“I’ll show her out myself,” Cole said. He covered the distance between us. “Let’s go. You don’t belong here.” He pointed to the door. I was too numb by shock to say anything. So, I walked to the door, figuring I could at least try to hold on to my dignity. Chin held high, I gave him a disdainful look. However, the dignified air I tried to project dampened because when we stepped into the hallway, there were several people standing there. They stared at me as if I was some foreign creature. My face practically caught fire under the heat of my embarrassment.

The march down the flights of stairs and back outside was painfully awkward. I was aware of Cole’s proximity the entire time, and he seemed so emotionless. I couldn’t understand how my supposed mate could treat me like this. He wouldn’t even take the time to hear me out.

“Please, can you just listen to what I have to say?” I whispered, hoping no one else would hear.

“After you came here with a hunter’s weapon?”

So, he knew about hunters.

“It’s not mine. I stole it from one.”

He snorted.

I understood his skepticism. I didn’t have the look of one who could overpower a hunter and steal his weapon. “I got lucky,” I explained. “I really need your help.”

“And I need you to stay away from me and my pack,” he said through clenched teeth. He looked around, and I followed his gaze. There were more people emerging from their homes to watch my walk of shame. They all whispered and pointed at me. Cole sighed and scowled as if he was ashamed to be seen next to me.

Ignoring them, I continued trying my luck to get the Alpha’s help. “I’m supposed to be a part of your pack. My mother—”

“Was a traitor.”

My steps faltered. “Excuse me?”

“My people will not welcome your kind here,” he said.