“I was not perving Andrei. I have no interest in your sister’s mate. I was just wondering who he was.” I unclip my seatbelt as I try to make him see reason.
“Just keep your eyes to yourself. Kat is possessive. I want her to like you,” he mumbles the last part.
Well, that’s worrying. Do his words mean that his sister doesn’t like me? Kat seemed so nice when I first met her, but then again, I barely know her. Surely, she couldn’t hate me.
Or maybe our first meeting is what set her off to hate me? I admit I did act far out of one’s comfort zone, but I was so darn scared, and she was the only woman there. All my life, men have abused and used me. Kat was the only person under that roof that I could trust at the time.
At the end of the day, if she hates me for how I acted, it’s on me. I do not, however, plan to gawk at her mates, I have Andrei. And even though he’s acting a little like an asshole, I still don’t want anyone but him.
“Possessiveness seems to be a family trait with this lot,” Sierra mumbles to me, pulling my thoughts back to the root of this pointless argument.
I am still stumped that we are having this argument. Does he seriously think I’m attracted to Ezra? After everything I have shared with him, everything he has seen and experienced with me, all of a sudden, Andrei thinks that I can jump into another man’s arms just like that?
“I am not attracted to your brother-in-law Andrei,” I tell him with a sigh, hoping he drops this conversation and stops making me feel uncomfortable.
I rub my arms with my hands, completely clueless about what I am supposed to do next. Do I get out of the car? Should I wait? I want to see Kat again, but now, I don’t know if it is worth causing more arguments by going in there. Maybe it is for the best if I stay in the car and wait for Andrei to come back? He can have some quality time with his sister while I stare at my feet and avoid any risk of looking at anyone ever again.
I have never been good around other people, and suddenly, I just want to go back to Andrei’s home. I don’t want to offend anyone further or make them feel uncomfortable because of me.
The drive over here was a pleasant trip, and we talked the whole way. He even explained Kat’s strange relationship with not one, but two mates. So, why did I have to notice the man step out of the trees and make things weird?
Now, I am questioning everything, and I feel like shit.
I have no damn idea how to reassure Andrei that I wasn’t perving, just simply trying to figure out who he was. One could tell a lot about a werewolf and their ranks just by their build, and that was exactly what I was trying to do.
The man is too pretty looking for my liking. Andrei, though, is more manly looking and handsome in a different way. Sure, I might be a little biased since Andrei is my mate and the bond has been growing stronger with each passing day. I like Andrei and only Andrei, it just sucks he doesn’t see it.
Andrei lets out a breath, rubbing his temples. “I’m sorry, Sage, I’m just on edge because I haven’t marked you yet. Ignore me,” he mumbles, pulling his keys from the ignition.
There it is again, the sudden change in mood and behavior. I’m not sure if I can handle much of it anymore. One moment he’s the best man I have ever met, and the next, anger turns Andrei into someone I can’t recognize. My greatest fear is that one day he will be so mad he will start acting like he does with those rogues.
“Come on, Kat was asking about you the other day. We should go inside, they are waiting,” he offers, opening his car door.
A part of me wants to protest and stay here. It’s the same part that fears messing something up. However, the other part, cough cough, Sierra, is encouraging me to suck this up as a slight slip-up and enjoy myself. I want to see Kat, and I’m here with my mate.
Ruling in favor of the latter option, I open the door on my side and step out into the sun. I close my eyes and tilt my head to let the sun warm up my face. It’s such a wonderful feeling, like a quick, tingling, bath in perfectly warm lake water.
Andrei walks over to me and stops beside me. His somewhat sudden appearance startles me a little, but I still reach out to grab his hand. His hand engulfs mine, and he rubs circles on its back while we walk toward the huge house.
The massive door swings open before we reach it, and Kat steps out.
She looks tired, but happy as she stands on her tippy-toes to hug Andrei. He lets my hand go to hug her back and give her a peck on her cheek. She is so short compared to him, her feet leave the ground as he stands upright to hug her.
Looking at them, you wouldn’t think they are related. Andrei towers over her, but that could be because of many reasons, for example, being an Alpha.
“Hey, sis,” he greets Kat.
It feels a little weird watching him with her. I can’t grasp why, but it feels like when he is with Kat, he isn’t the same Andrei I’ve come to know. This is a softer version I hadn’t yet unlocked.
Andrei places her back on her feet, and Kat instantly turns her attention on me. A wide, bright smile spreads across her lips as Kat steps closer and pulls me into a bone crushing hug. She lets me go and grips my face in her hands. “You ok?” She asks, studying me, and I nod, smiling at her.
Even this visibly tired, she is so bubbly, it would be extremely hard not to find her smile contagious. I am happy to see her and have this chance to spend some time together, so I decide to forget what happened in the car, if only for now. Kat wants to see her brother be happy, and I don’t want to be the one who ruins their day because of the mistake I made.
“Dad should be here soon, he just messaged me,” Kat offers, walking us inside and into the living room.