Page 22 of Half Wolf Mate
She snorted. “If you try any funny business, that’s my ass. I got an earful when you showed up on our compound with a hunter’s weapon. I suffered for helping you.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t show up to hurt anyone. I forgot the dagger was in my backpack.”
She blew out her breath and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You don’t believe me, and I get it. You don’t know me. But come on, Violet, you think I’d be stupid enough to walk into the middle of a werewolf pack alone, ready to wield a weapon? I’d be torn to shreds.”
“No, you don’t strike me as stupid,” she said. We had a stare-down until she relented. “Damn it, Cole is going to kill me for this.”
“You two seem awfully close,” I blurted. God, the jealousy was evident in my tone.
Violet lifted an eyebrow. “He’s like my brother. A bossy pain in my ass, brother who is going to wring my neck for bringing to you to his private office.”
I pursed my lips to hide my triumphant smile for winning this battle. “Thank you, Violet.”
“Thank me later if I survive defying my Alpha,” she grumbled. “Come on.” She led me back outside the office and toward another elevator. “You’re lucky I’m a hopeless romantic. I’ve been trying to get Cole to have a love life for years.”
I glanced at her. “He rejected me. Although, I’m not even entirely sure what all of that means for him or me.” All I knew for certain was that it hurt so much that I felt like I’d never recover from the heartbreak.
“Things didn’t get off to a good start between you two, but I’m holding on to hope. Damian already screwed up his chance at happiness. I won’t let Cole do the same.”
Violet was grumbling under her breath—maybe not even talking to me, but I was curious. “Damian is the scary bodyguard, right?”
She laughed. “In the pack, he’s referred to as the Beta.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what that meant, but I’d find out.
“Who is he to you?”
“My brother. Not like Cole,” she added. “Damian is my biological brother, and I don’t like him very much sometimes.”
“Well, he does look terrifying.”
She snorted. “Irritating is more like it.”
I hoped I didn’t have to see Damian again. As the elevator ascended, a heavy dose of anxiety hit me. The last thing I wanted to do was put myself in a position to be rejected again, but I had to if I was going to get information.
Chapter 11 Sydney
The upper level of Moon Guardian Private security was similar to the lower; only there was no reception area. There were only doors leading to what I guessed were other offices or departments. I stood with Violet outside a door that she said was Cole’s private office.
I swallowed hard when she knocked.
“Here’s to hoping we both survive crashing their important private meeting.”
My wide eyes flew to her. “What?”
She smirked. “I’m kidding. Cole hates when pack meetings are interrupted.”
“You mean there’s more than one werewolf who hates my guts in there?” I whispered.
“Don’t be so dramatic, Sydney. They don’t hate you. They can’t. None of us even knows you.”
I stifled a groan. My last interaction with the pack said a lot. They hated me. Violet was just an optimist. I liked that about her. If her entire family despised me, I hoped we could be friends. I needed someone in my corner right now.
The door swung open. To my chagrin, it was Damian. “What is it, Violet?” he snapped.
“Don’t be rude. We’ve got a visitor.”