Chapter 200

His words were a soft balm on the pain I was feeling. But I needed to get a little space. So I slid off his lap, and I saw a flash of hurt flash in his eyes. “I like him too. But my wolf actually feels the same about another, so I understand.” I slid next to him and grabbed his hand. “But what did you mean about an opportunity?”

Regret flashed in his eyes, and then they faded to his normal brown. Rowan was back. “Hi.” He was struggling with something.

“Hey.” I smiled and grabbed his hand. “What’s wrong?”

He sighed. “What I’m about to say will make zero sense, and I know already it isn’t fair, but it’s how I feel, okay?”

I turned to face him. “Okay.”

“I don’t like that your wolf likes this unknown male.” He huffed out a laugh. “And like I said, I know I’m a hypocrite. Okay, I do, but I wish you both just liked me…”

I listened as he explained and smiled, but it was a little sad. “I feel exactly the same way. But we can’t change our wolf’s mind. They have to figure out their own feelings, just like us.”

Rowan nodded and then growled. He grabbed my face and kissed me again, making my eyelids flutter. “I wish all of this was over, so that our wolves could spend time together, so we could spend time together and really see this through.” He leaned against me, and I heard him pulling in my scent.

“We still can,” I offered, but he pulled back, and I saw something new behind his eyes. He looked a little lost with a mixture of guilt.

“Actually…” He pulled back and shook his head.

“What?”

“Your father had this idea…”

I felt those words hit, and immediately I was on edge. My father always had plans. “What is it? I know you’re trying to ease me into it, but just tell me.”

He nodded. “Your father knows that you are going to have to get close to Brandon. I know you dad is on edge about it, but he won’t tell me why.”

I nodded. “I promise to explain it to you when all of this is over.” I pushed that to the side.

Rowan stared at me and then kept going. “He told me that eventually, you will have to get close to him, and having me around will just get in the way.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because I won’t like it.” His voice dropped to a growl. “I won’t like it at all. Even as it stands, I might just kill him.”

“Why?”

“Because you are meant to be mine.” He stood and was panting. His eyes flashed to his wolf's and then back to his. His claws descended, and then he paced away. He was shaking as he turned to stare at me. I watched as he tried to calm himself down, and finally, he settled. “Sorry.” He shook his shoulders out and then came back, settling next to me.

“Okay… I don’t know what that means for us.” I looked down at my hands, dreading his answer.

Chapter 200

“It means I have to stay away. And it means I’ll have my own acting I have to do.”

“Rowan, I need you to just lay it all out for me here. It’s not making sense.” My mind was still spinning with his confession, and now, with all these plans inside of plans, it is making it harder to follow.

“Your dad thinks I need to stay away from you until you finish school… until you crack into Vince’s defenses. Being sad about your father’s death, but being supported by me, won’t make you vulnerable enough for Vince and Brandon to think that you are easy prey.” I nodded. “But he has gone a step further.” Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. “He wants me to give in to the council.”

I felt my face pale. “Give in how?”

“He wants me to create space from you and then allow the council to think they are convincing me to accept their chosen mate.”

“What?” I yelled and jumped to my feet. “I’m going to kill him.” My fangs snapped down, and Rowan smiled.

“It’s just pretend.”

“You are mine.” I whirled on him, grabbing his face and kissing him.