Chapter 13

“Knowledge is a rope, and you’re wearing a noose out of it.”

Nenia Campbell

I didn’t have much time to dwell on this new piece of information because, as soon as Cain had walked out the door, Alpha Enzo returned his complete attention to me.

“Not that I don’t love the smell of my mate,” he said, and his eyes roamed over my dirty, grime-ridden clothes. “But I’m guessing you’d like to clean up and put on a fresh pair of clothes.”

As much as I didn’t want to accept any favors from this guy – especially one that included me spending *more* time here – I was afraid I’d never be able to unknot my hair if I didn’t find some shampoo and conditioner.

So, reluctantly, I nodded.

Once again, Alpha Enzo’s face lit up – which definitely didn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside – and he replied, “I’ll go draw a bath for you.” Just as he started to head for the stairwell, he turned around, and with a pointed look, added, “Oh, and don’t even think about wandering off. I’ll know if you do, and you won’t get far. I’ve got double patrols around the perimeter of this house all night.”

*Well, there’s go any hope of escaping once he’s out of earshot.*

He must’ve seen the disappointment on my face because his lips curled into a smirk – he knew he’d won.

*What an asshole.*

I waited until I could no longer hear his footsteps echoing through the house before I rounded on Scarlett. Maybe it was some sort of main character privilege, but despite the mayhem of the past few hours, she’d manage to come out looking…not terrible. Her red hair still gleamed under the dim lights of the living room, and if it weren’t for the bloodstain on her shirt, you never would’ve guessed she’d been injured at all.

“Are you okay?” I asked, eyeing the injury. I couldn’t see the damage, but I’d heard her whimper in the basement. I had no doubt Alpha Enzo broke a rib – or three – when he threw her into the wall.

She nodded, but she didn’t make eye contact with me. “It’s already healed,” she said, “Don’t worry about it.”

Tension hung in the air between us, and I almost wanted to ask why she was being so standoff-ish, but decided against it. It had been a long day for the both of us…and frankly, we had other things to discuss. We were alone right now – who knew when we’d get another private moment?

“Okay, we need to talk,” I whispered. “There’s nobody else listening in, right?”

She shook her head.

“We need a new plan, and preferably one that ends without another trip to the dungeon or anymore broken bones,” I muttered, “And we don’t have the element of surprise on our side anymore, so we’ll need to be even more careful.”

She pursed her lips, but didn’t reply.

“Hey, are you sure you’re okay?” I asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Well, you got any thoughts or ideas here? I’d go for just about anything at this point.”

“I…” She started, and then shook her head, her eyebrows scrunched together in frustration. “I just don’t understand how you could do *that.*”

“Do what? Accept the offer to clean up? Don't worry, I'm all getting the hell out of here as fast as possible, but I'm only human. I'd do just about anything for some hot warer right now.”

“No, it's just, you…” She swallowed like it physically pained her to say. “You tried to reject him.”

Oh.

That’s what she was upset about.

The reality crashed over me like a wave. I’d been so caught up trying to talk myself out of the mate bond that I hadn’t considered how Scarlett might feel watching someone else get rejected merely hours after her own rejection.

It had to sting, and I internally kicked myself for not thinking about it sooner.

“Okay, I understand why you’re upset,” I whispered, “But I just want to remind you – your rejection and what I tried to do in the dungeon? Very different situations.”

Scarlett didn’t look the least bit convinced by that statement, so I continued. “Look,” I sighed, “Asher rejected you because he’s a sadistic jerk who can’t see past his own ego. My mate bond with Alpha Enzo…it’s not real. There’s no way. He may not see it yet, but it’s got to be some cosmic mistake. I’m not supposed to be here, which means I’m not supposed to be anyone’s mate.”

“But you don’t know that for sure,” she retorted. “I mean, the Moon Goddess doesn’t make mistakes. Mate bonds are forever…even if someone in the bond doesn’t want you as forever.” She shuffled awkwardly on her feet.

“Well, I’d love to sit down and have a few choice words with this Moon Goddess,” I replied, “Because there’s no chance in hell I’m meant to be here, or magically attached to him.” I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t bring myself to say his name out loud.

I sighed, and reached a hand out to clasp her shoulder. “But I’m sorry if me saying those words triggered something for you. I didn’t do it out of malice or cruelty – I did it because I thought it was the easiest way to fix a mistake for both him and I. I just wasn’t expecting pushback from his side. I kind of figured he’d have the same opinion about the situation”

Scarlett’s eyes softened.

“I suppose I haven’t known you very long,” she said, “But you’ve only ever been kind and accepting of me…so I don’t think you’d be cruel like Asher.”

“No, of course not.” And I meant it.

The situations were drastically different.

Asher had rejected Scarlett for no other reason than he didn’t think she was cut out to be his Luna.

I’d rejected Alpha Enzo because I was saving us both some time. He probably had some other she-wolf out there, his true mate, waiting for him. This defective mate bond nothing but a liability for the both of us till I got back to my world. Maybe a rejection (or my best attempt at one) seemed callous, but it wasn’t.

It was logical.

When the dust settled, I was sure Alpha Enzo would agree.

Before Scarlett and I could continue our conversation, I could hear Alpha Enzo’s footsteps coming back down the hall, and I turned to face him.

“The bath is ready,” he said, leaning against the hallway. He glanced at Scarlett. “I have someone preparing a guest room for you – they should be out shortly.”

She nodded, her eyes downcast.

Alpha Enzo extended a hand to me. “Shall we, my mate?”

The last thing in the world I wanted to do right now was take this man’s hand, but it didn’t look optional.

So, with another sigh, I placed my hand in his, and tried not to think about how his skin felt just right against mine or the size of his hand dwarfed mine.

Scarlett was well-intentioned, but she was wrong.

The Moon Goddess, or whatever magic was to blame for my predicament, was definitely capable of making mistakes.