I stared at him, weighing his words against his actions. I recalled the moment he’d started acting even weirder than usual. He obviously hadn’t had a plan when we’d entered. And that was the catch to all of this. Fenris was impulsive. I’d known that when I’d agreed to help him but had thought my boundaries would keep me safe.
“Talk to me, Eliana. I can smell how upset you are and want to understand so I don’t ever again cross whatever line I just crossed.”
The problem wasn’t that he’d crossed any boundaries. Well, he had kissed me but in his playful way that didn’t stir my hunger. Although, now that I knew what it was, it probably would.
“I’m not sure why I’m upset.” Yet, even as I said it, I knew.
The idea that his father was out there somewhere, worrying about how far I’d go with his son, bothered me on so many levels. I deeply cared how people perceived me. Maybe a little too much since all I could think about was how Fenris said that his father had been pressuring him to choose a mate for years. But then, his dad burst into Fenris’s room in a panic because he thought we were going to have sex. So he wanted Fenris to have sex, only not with me.
That knife of truth shredded my self-esteem.
Fenris inhaled deeply then lunged for me, wrapping me in a tight hug.
“No.” The firm word reverberated against my ear. “Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and lightly hugged him in return.
“This was never going to work, Fenris. I’m sorry.”
“No, no, no, no…” He smoothed his hands over my back, squeezing me tighter. “You’re the only one.”
I knew he thought I was the answer, but the real answer was to find his mate and be happy.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated before carefully stealing all of his desperation and anger and prying myself from his hold.
As soon as I stopped touching him, his feelings flooded back.
“I’m not giving up,” he said. “You gave me your word.”
Rather than saying anything more, I took my jacket and left.
Raiden was standing by the front door, his expression unreadable.
“It’d be better if you didn’t come back, Eliana.”
“I understand.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“He did what?” Mom demanded, her eyes flickering with black.
I immediately regretted spilling everything.
Mom took a calming breath and gave me a tender look, along with another tissue. The tears had started as soon as I’d gotten into my car and hadn’t stopped since. I’d driven to my parents on autopilot, not thinking of how Mom would react to seeing me cry.
“I don’t understand why he doesn’t like me.”
“Fenris adores you, Eliana,” Dad said. “Even I could see that.”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was all an act.
“I meant Mr. Wolcott.” A frustrated exhale wavered out of me. “I’ve been polite and respectful. I’ve tried to do what was asked of me, within reason. I’ve never done anything to give him cause to dislike me to the point that he would tell me not to come back.”
The hurt flared open all over again, and tears streamed down my cheeks in earnest.
“That old wolf just has his head up his tail. Ignore him. If you want to spend time with Fenris, then spend time with the boy. I’d like to see Raiden try to stop you.”
“I think you’re missing the point, Mom. Raiden and the pack elders have been throwing girl after girl at Fenris. Even boys. It’s obvious that Raiden wants Fenris to find someone as long as it’s not me. What did I do wrong?”
“I don’t think I am missing the point, baby. Raiden kicked you out like some piece of unwanted trash. I saw the way Fenris looked at you and how you looked at him. You are not unwanted, and that mutt has no right to keep you from his son. As you’ve pointed out, you’ve done nothing to deserve that treatment. Raiden is being a speciest.”
“A what?”
“Discriminating against you based on your species. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a misanthropist, too. I need to tell Adira what’s happened. I know she has Raiden searching for that human. He obviously can’t be trusted with matters outside of his own kind.”
I highly doubted Mom was worried about Ashlyn. More than likely, she just wanted to call Adira to give her an earful concerning what Mom regarded as a gross mistreatment of me.
My phone buzzed yet again in my purse. Ignoring it, I blew my nose and tried to reel in the hurt.
“I’d prefer you not involve Adira, Mom. While your intentions are good, hers rarely are.”
“I want to respect your wishes, but I can’t allow this to go unaddressed. I either call Adira, or I go see Raiden myself. While I vastly prefer the latter, the choice is yours to make.”
Based on the way Mom’s eyes were flickering black, I knew she was completely serious about wanting to visit Raiden. I also knew that she wouldn’t take, “let it go,” as a viable option.
“Fine. Call Adira. But please know that it isn’t going to help anything.”
Mom immediately dialed Adira’s number and put the call on speaker. Adira picked up after the second ring.
“Nicolette. To what do I owe this pleasure? Are you out of workers already?”
“The workers are adequate, and the club is coming along nicely. That’s not why I called. I need to speak to you about Raiden’s behavior toward Eliana.
“After having breakfast with us, the kids went to Fenris’s home to spend some time there. Do you understand what I’m telling you? Eliana brought Fenris here to meet me and her father. Then, Fenris took her to his home. She chose, Adira. And while she was at Fenris’s house in the boy’s bedroom, Raiden overheard them, assumed they were about to have intercourse, then stormed in to stop it and told Eliana she was not welcome in his home.”
Mom’s fingernails tapped over the surface of the wooden tabletop.
“My daughter is sitting here with me now, her pretty face streaked with the tears she’s shed over that braying ass’s insult.” Mom immediately looked at me. “It’s Biblical, so it’s allowed.”
Her quick defense of her swearing almost made me smile. Adira’s response did not.
“What would you like me to do?”
“You’re the one who started this game. A game I’ve been allowing because I want what’s best for Eliana. What’s best is not treating my daughter like she’s not good enough for some four-legged—”
“Mom.”
She glanced up at me and immediately averted her gaze.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m upset on your behalf. Eliana does not need self-doubt, Adira. Fix this, now.”
“I’m at Raiden’s door. I will speak to him again about the use of his son and contact you with the outcome of our discussion.”
“Handle this appropriately, Adira, or I will.” Mom disconnected the call and gave me a strained smile. “Rather than wait for her return call, let’s go visit the club.”
Her eyes were still flickering, and I knew what her offer meant. Given that my vision was still sharp, Club Blayz was the last place I wanted to see. I wiped my face and gathered my used tissues.