Page 19 of Her Wolf's Demands

“Are you okay?”

Stepping back, Drake ushered me into his room. The walls were painted white, but the splash of colour from his paintings lit up the whole place.

My eyes dried as I stared around, studying the beautiful landscape, painted over and over again. It was the standing stones that had caused a dispute between the Brighton Pack and the Brighton Coven. They were nestled in the valley, tucked beside a clump of trees.

Turning to my brother when he closed the door, I smiled. His frown was hard to read as he stared at me, his gaze narrowing when I took off my jacket.

“You’ve changed. What’s different?”

His energy was a lot less scattered as he indicated that I should sit in the armchair in the corner. Settling on the double bed, he waited for me to reply to his question. I delayed answering, looking around the room and nodding about nothing in particular.

There was a door leading to the en-suite shower room right next to a chair and a wardrobe in another corner. The third corner was kitted out with an easel and paints. Dr Amel knew my brother well.

“The doc said that you’ve done so well in your recovery, you’ll no longer need to come in.” I wrung my hands together, ducking my head under the watchful stare of the man who knew me better than anyone.

Fidgeting, he flicked his mop of mousey hair out of his eyes as he glanced at the paintings. I would have to order him to get it trimmed it as soon as he was home.

Home.

A pang gripped my chest, forcing me to inhale sharply. Our home was no longer safe. He was far from safe. And now, Bohdi had been captured. Another form of torture.

“You’re right.” I sighed, debating how much to tell him. “I have changed.”

His light eyes blinked slowly as he listened, giving me space to talk. He had always been a good listener, but when he wasn’t quite himself, he was quiet, letting others take the lead.

Licking my dry lips, I swallowed. “I’m sort of… in love.”

My blurted words took a moment to sink in. Drake slowly nodded, his eyebrows pulling low. My heart thundered, almost drowning out the tick of a clock as my blood rushed in my ears.

Shit. I’d just confessed how I felt about Malone without letting the werewolf know first. Oh, well, Drake and I shared everything, which was why guilt made my tummy roll. How could I tell my brother that I was a werewolf? He would freak the fuck out.

“With who?”

His flat tone deflated me. I shouldn’t have been surprised, it had only ever been us. And yet, I’d never baulked when he’d found a girlfriend in the art world. In fact, I’d encouraged it, pleased to see my brother happy.

“This is the part you’re not going to like,” I said, trying to smile to ease the blow. “It’s Malone.”

A shadow crossed his face as he opened his mouth, gaping at me before shaking his head. “The werewolf?”

Jeez, why did my insides wobble like jelly? I hadn’t contemplated how I would tell Drake what had happened, too wrapped up in my desperation to see him.

“Yes,” I squeaked, “the Brighton Pack alpha. Crazy, huh?”

Fuck. Stupid choice of word, dipshit.

“How?”

His dubious attitude shouldn’t have been a surprise, and yet, it stung. Did he not trust me to make the right choice for myself?

Ugh, who was I kidding? Fate had thrown Malone and I together, not giving us a choice at all. If I tried to pretend, Drake would know.

“It’s complicated. I promise I’ll tell you in more detail when you’re… home.”

My pause sent his eyebrows shooting up under his heavy mop of hair. “You know I trust you,” he started, his gaze dropping when I smiled, “so I’ll let you keep your secrets for now.”

“I’m sorry.” Looking around the room, I gestured to the paintings. “You’ve been busy.”

Another shadow crossed his face before he stood and went to one of the pictures. He reached out and traced the stones, lost in thought for several moments before remembering that I was in the room.