SWNOVELS Chapter 295
Chapter 295
AXEL
Emily is a spitfire. Which is a dan side better than a few minutes ago when she looked like she was going to pass out.
“I know a thing or two about panic attacks,” I tell her in reply.
Her features crease in confusion.
“I wasn’t having a panic attack.”
“You really were, sweetheart. Thought you were going to keel over right there in the middle of that ridiculously fancy ballroom.
Who even has a ballroom in this day and age?”
Just as I’d hoped, Emily laughs, and some more color comes
into her face.
“It is kind of ridiculous,” she agrees.
She takes another sip of water, her expression becoming thoughtful.
“You’ve had panic attacks?” she asks me, clearly not sure if
she has any right to question me like that.
ner,
She 188ks & little disappointed. “But
someone I was close to once. Used to have them regularly, and they were way more debilitating. I had to figure out the best way
to help. I picked up a trick or two.”
She nods and then is silent for a moment, dropping her gaze.
“Thank you,” she eventually whispers. “It felt like I was going to die if I didn’t get out of there.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I demand heatedly.
She might not be my mate-only because it’s impossible and I refuse to subject someone as beautiful and fragile as her to a life
chained to the likes of me-but that doesn’t mean I want
her to suffer in silence.
“Because Aaron-and you-told me to behave,” she replies, her eyes losing some of their sparkle.
I take her chin in my hand and urge her to look back at me.
“There’s a difference between being good and being
miserable,” I tell her.
“Is there?” she asks bitterly, before looking away again.
I realize then that she’s staring out to the land beyond the
buildings surrounding the ranch, where fields eventually give way to forest and wilderness.
“Do you think...” she begins, but then bites her lower lip with indecision.
“Aaron will definitely notice if you shift and run,” I tell her, reading the longing in her gaze.
But I can also sense the wildness in her, the need to regulate.
I doubt we’ll be able to get her through the rest of the party if she doesn’t release some of that tension.
“But I might be able to cover for you, at least for a little while. But we need to make it quick.”
She nods eagerly, so I get out my phone and send a message to Aaron, making up an excuse about a torn skirt and we might be
a little while before she either fixes it or decides on a new dress.
Aaron doesn’t seem too bothered-I’m guessing he’s busy with other Alpha duty now, or probably spending his time with.
Leah and Ethan.
“Let’s at least walk down past the far buildings before we shift,
so no one sees us going,” I say as I help Emily to her feet.
She smiles and there’s a spring in her step now that wasn’t there before.
I can’t say I’ve made the wrong choice.
The instinct to protect her and look after her is still strong within me, despite having rejected her and breaking the mating bond.
It’s both a blessing and a curse that Aaron gave me this protection detail.
I wonder what he’d say if he knew Emily was my mate.
Would he be glad that I had rejected her, not wanting someone like me as his sister’s mate? After all, even if the stories aren’t
completely true, he’s still heard all the rumors about what I reportedly did in Texas.
Or would he be enraged that I had dared hurt and reject his sister without even giving her-or us-a chance?
And he doesn’t even know the truth of my nature.
I’m sure if he did, he’d banish me from his pack and the new place I’ve earned here.
Maybe even kill me.
With the power of three Alphas, Aaron might be one of the only people alive who’d actually have a chance of killing me.
I put the thoughts aside as Emily and I round the last of the main buildings.
Emily quickly shifts and then takes off like a shot through the darkness.
If not for my heightened sight, I wouldn’t have been able to
see her.
I mutter a curse, as I’m a few seconds slower, then have to try to catch up with her.
She’s small and sleek and fast, and after a few minutes as she streaks toward the far tree line, I start to think she’s moving
even faster than a wolf should be able to.
I lose sight of her as she plunges into the underbrush and
have to pause to pick up her scent.
After another few minutes, I inwardly curse.
I’ve lost her.
Again.