I WAS HIS ASSASSIN, NOW HIS OBSESSION

CHAPTER 7: Feisty and Cold

TYLER

“How about you tell me what you were looking for in the pack border? You’re strong enough to fight off a rogue—why did you let it bite you?”

I hear Nicklaus’s chilly voice as I stalk down the hallway. He’s standing in front of my mate, effortlessly towering over her, and Kyle becomes restless.

“Cat got your tongue?” Nicklaus asks her again, and I clear my throat to announce my presence.

“Nick, what did I tell you about intimidating my guests like this?” I step between them, casting a quick glance at my mate, who’s all dolled up.

Her skin is spotless, fierce hazel eyes flickering between my brother and me. Her black hair flows down her back, stopping below her waist, and I briefly picture gripping it as I drill into her from behind.

Our mate is sexy as hell, Kyle mutters.

I shove him out of my head.

My brother glares at me, his breaths harsh, like I’ve just betrayed him. “Really?” He spits the word, violence flashing in his eyes. “That’s all you have to say about this? Just because she’s your mate, you’re going to overlook the fact that she didn’t fight off a rogue?”

He finds her suspicious.

I do too.

But I can’t let him know that yet.

So I shake my head. “You think she can fight off a rogue?” I laugh, staring down at my mate as she raises a brow. “She’s weak, Nick. If she had tried, she’d be dead by now.”

“And what about the bite?” Nicklaus isn’t staring at me. He’s staring at her, scrutinizing every flicker of emotion on her face like he’s trying to peel her apart.

But she’s calm.

Unfazed.

She leaves me to do all the talking like the conversation isn’t worth her effort.

“If she’s really weak like you said,” Nicklaus continues, “the rogue bite should’ve killed her. She bled so much, yet she survived without a pack doctor.”

A low growl rumbles from my chest when he refuses to drop it. “She got lucky,” I grit out.

He scoffs and steps away from her, but he doesn’t turn his back. “Just so you know, Alpha Tyler,” he says coldly, “I don’t trust her.”

My mate only blinks.

“Not one bit,” he adds. “And you know me—I never back down.”

As soon as he’s gone, I turn slowly to face Aurelia. The slight discomfort in her eyes vanishes like it was never there, replaced by curiosity. Her gaze drifts to my chest, lingering on the exact spot she stabbed me.

So I unbutton my shirt for her to see.

Her eyes widen. “What…what are you doing?”

“Aren’t you eager to know how that night turned out?” I growl, ripping the shirt off when the buttons take too long, exposing the long pink scar on the right side of my chest.

She tries not to look.

I take a step forward.

She steps back.

I advance again, and before she can retreat, I grab her waist and yank her into me. She nearly loses her balance, her warm palm slapping against my chest as a gasp escapes her.

“Look at it,” I growl. “Isn’t it beautiful? Never in my life did I think I’d get a scar from my mate.”

Her breath stutters. “I… I didn’t mean for it to happen,” she says, clearly lying as she avoids my gaze. “I never wanted to kill you.”

“So what was your plan?” I snap. “Sound a warning?”

“No.”

“Then why did you run?”

She swallows.

“Why did you f*****g run, only to come crawling back to my pack like a coward?” I snarl. “You think I won’t hand you over to my men? You think they’re not dying to know who did this to me?”

She meets my eyes, gold flashing through her hazel irises. “If you wanted to hand me over, you would’ve done it already. I wouldn’t even be standing here.” Her smile is beautiful and unsettling. “You would’ve told your brother the truth instead of calling me weak.”

Her fingers trace the scar and electricity explodes down my spine. She licks her lips, and I don’t know if the action is deliberate, but it makes my heart pound in my ears. Kyle is eager to pin her on the bed and claim her, and it’s taking everything in me to ignore his desire.

“So thank you for protecting me, mate.” She grins.

“Why are you here?” I growl, forcing myself to ignore what her touch does to me.

“I have nowhere else to go.”

My hand snaps to her throat. “Don’t f*****g lie to me.”

She rolls her eyes, bored. “Fine,” she says, tapping my arm with a small groan. “Let go of me.”

I release her but I don’t stop watching her facial expressions.

“A group of anonymous elders asked me to test your strength by barging into your room and trying to kill you. They didn’t think you were strong enough.” She shrugs. “I accepted the challenge and stabbed you because you were stronger than I expected.”

I frown.

“When I went back, they kicked me out for disobeying them,” she adds quietly. “Apparently, I wasn’t supposed to drive you to a near death experience.”

Is she telling the truth?

“So believe me when I say I have nowhere else to go.”

“And why should I believe you?”

“Because I just told you about a mission I swore on my life to never tell anyone,” she says softly. “Even if you don’t know me, trust me on this one.”

I study her for a long moment before nodding. “Fine.” A part of me wants to believe her, but betrayal has taught me caution. Still… if she wants to play a game, I’ll play it with her.

“I believe you,” I say, letting a smile curve my lips. “And now that we’ve sorted this out, let’s talk about our wedding.”

She pales. “What? You’re really serious about that?”

“Why else do you think I’ve been searching for my mate?”

“We can’t just get married! You don’t even know me.”

“Knowing your name is enough,” I reply coolly. “You’ll be the mother of my pups. We’ll have time to learn the rest.”

She scratches the back of her neck, exhaling slowly. “What if I’m not ready? What if you’re moving too fast and I’m not comfortable with it?”

A smirk curls my lips. “Do you think I care about your comfort?”

She blinks.

“If you can’t give me pups, your presence here is useless,” I say calmly, watching her eyes darken. Go on, I think. Explode. f*****g leave. If she really isn’t hiding something, she’ll walk out of here because I’m disrespecting her.

“So what do you say, mate?” I ask, grinning when her face turns red. “Will you be my child birthing machine, or should I kick you out of here?”

For a second, I think she’ll hit me, then determination hardens her gaze. She gives me a smile that makes my heart skip a beat.

“Alright then,” she says. “Let’s get married.”