"No." I growl, grabbing her wrist.


    “Take. Your. Hand. Off. Me. Now." She looks up into my eyes. She is challenging me and I can almost feel my hand burn where it touches her skin.


    "No."


    "No?"


    "No. There are lots of people worried about you after your little disappearing act. We need to go back to the packhouse and talk about your move to Dark Moon." She''s a danger to herself and others, she has no choice now. Not when running is how she reacts to tough situations.


    "I am not moving anywhere with you. Are you crazy? You don''t want a mate, that is perfectly clear and reinforced by all the lovely rumors floating around your pack." I try not to wince, it''s not a secret how I feel about mates. "And I certainly am not going to change my life ns because your Goddess decided you needed someone who has a zero tolerance for your bullsh*t." That had my wolfughing at me until I reminded him that he chased her down too. She''s mad at both of us this time.


    I take a breath and try for a civil tone. We are not going to get anywhere like this and I am bing painfully aware that being this close to her, the slightest touch of her wrist and arguing with her is having a major effect on my body. I just hope I can keep her focus on my face until Josh and Danny get here.


    “Josh and Danny areing to pick you up, Be took the rogue following you to Jeremiah to deal with. Come back to the packhouse so we can talk about this. Your Aunt and Rayna don''t deserve to be worried about you like this." That was a low blow but it worked.


    She gasped and her arm went ck in my hand. I thought she wasing to her senses, but she wrenched her hand from mine, gave me a death re and started back down the path towards her packhouse. The movement was so sudden, it took my brain a second to click that she''s walking away from me.


    "What are you doing?" I shout and jog to catch up and then keep pace just behind her, my d*ck still painfully at full mast, making walking awkward.


    "I''m going home since I''m a prisoner causing pain to innocent people." I can hear the hurt in her voice and it guts me, but I can''t care about her feelings right now. Not until she is safe.


    "Kennedy, stop, please." I reach for her again, but she shrugs away before I can make contact. "The guys areing with a car, just wait."


    "You wait, if you''re too soft to walk in the forest at night." I was wrong, she found a way to put me and soft'' in a sentence and take a shot at my ego all at the same time.


    "Kennedy, f*cking stop. It''s not a request." I don''t shout, but my temper is bubbling under the surface, but I''m trying not to let loose on her. I take a deep breath and try again. “It isn''t safe for you out here. You are riding in the truck with Danny and Josh." My forced calm is chipping away fast with her defiance.


    "Make me." It was thest thing I heard before I saw red.


    "Oh, littlemb. You shouldn''t dare me to do things."


    “Wha.....?” I ripped her backpack off with one hand, knocking her off bnce and throw her over my shoulder with the other. Jean was right, my mate is going to give me a run for my money and my


    wolf gray hair. And we still have not had a full conversation.