“You are allowed to be curious,” he said. “You are not allowed to dangle yourself like bait.”
Anger flared.
“I’ve been bait my whole life,” I snapped. “For my father’s ambitions. For your pack’s curse. At least this time, I’m choosing where the hook goes.”
His expression twisted.
“That’s what you think this is?” he asked softly. “Choice?”
I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze steadily.
“It’s the closest thing I’ve had to one,” I said. “And I am not giving it up because Nightfang finally decided to answer a call I made.”
He stared at me, breathing hard.
We were so close that every rise and fall of his chest brushed mine.
So close that one wrong movement would turn this argument into something else entirely.
“You want me to stand by you?” I asked. “To help you hold this pack together,
