Chapter 35
“I know. I didn’t want to make a scene, and it didn’t seem like it was worth it”
The fire in her eyes flared. “You didn’t think it was worth it?”
“It benefits us in the end, doesn’t It? We need people to see us together.”
“I thought you meant our fellow packmates, not publicists!” She started to get up, and I quickly caught her wrist.
“Emily, please, let’s talk about this.”
“Why should we? You clearly don’t care.”
“Of course I care,” I sighed heavily, “I wanted tonight to be different too.”
Emily turned to me, her face lit only by moonlight.
Iwinced. Then she said, quietly, “But this is ”
That stopped me. I turned to meet her eyes.
She was watching me. She looked tired, and a little sad.
“You’re right,” I said finally, “About the cameras. About the theater. About all of it.”
She arched a brow. “So you admit it?”
I shook his head. “No. I admit you’re right to feel how you feel. I used tonight to show the pack how solid we are.‘
Her eyes narrowed.
“Bat I didn’t plan the press,” “I continued, voice lower now, “I didn’t call the press. I didn’t invite the cameras. I didn’t even fell Tony we were going.”
Emily stared at me.
“Bit I didn’t stop it,” I admitted. “And I’m sorry.”
She said nothing
“I’ve been thinking a lot about what we are,” I said slowly. “At first, it was strategy. It was the bigger part of my plan to achieve all of my goals.”
“And now?” she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
“Now.” 1 exhaled. “I don’t know.”
tract couple, right?”
“We’re a contract
“Yes. But sometimes…” I struggled to put it into words. Mostly because I didn’t have any. Partly because I didn’t want to say something that I’d regret.
I’d spent all of my life leaming how to be an Alpha. I guess I never learned how to be a good partner.
Our relationship started with a contract, yes, but sometimes I forgot all about our deal.
“I’m sorry tonight disappointed you,” I said.
“You know, if you’d said something to me, it might have been different.”
“I didn’t think I’d need to. I’m an Alpha, so there is always a chance that I’ll get public attention.”
“You’ve never been the center of gossip like this before. I thought you were more careful, but instead, you’re dragging me into it.” She was seething. I’d never seen her so angry
I found myself getting irritable. I thought she understood that we would have to go through things like this.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“Because, Logan, I thought we were going to have a special night together! Instead, you turned it into another one of your machinations. And I was as in the dark on this plan as 1 have been to most of the others.”
Was she right? I hardly noticed. I worked and planned well, but I’d never had someone be as involved in the planning stage. Even Tony, as my Beta, usually took orders rather than helped with the strategy.
If Emily was truly going to be my partner, I suppose I needed to involve her more. Only, I’m not used to having someone so close to me. It telt awkward and unusual, and l’in not sure how much I liked it
We sat there for a while and looked down at the pack territory. As itot later, the night grew quieter. The silence extended between the two of us, but neither of us wanted to be the first to speak.
So we didn’t. After a while, we stood up and began to head back to the pack.
The breeze carried the scent of pine and lake water. Something in me wouldn’t settle, and it wasn’t because of her. The hairs on the back of my neck were standing up.
The cliffs were supposed to be secure. Typically, I wouldn’t worry too much about being found here.
Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling, in the hush between the gusts of wind and the rustling leaves, that we weren’t alone.
