Wolf Shifter Diaries: Lies Tamed (Sweet Paranormal Wolf & Fae Fantasy Romance Series Book 2) by E. Hall (13 inch ebook reader .TXT) 📕

dismal again. Things between him and me are hot and cold and hot and cold. I don’t like it. I have enough back and forth between my wolf and other magic that I don’t need more from him and the pack.

My wolf yips with excitement as Corbin approaches, spinning the keys in his hand. I don’t blame her. For a moment, his masculine, powerful hands distract me. He’s tall with jeans that hang just the right way, a flannel shirt that accentuates the defined muscles of his chest, arms, and shoulders. Yes, his shoulders are hot too.

The same warmth that rose to my cheeks when Pepper asked about my hottie when we were taking out the trash in the alley flushes my skin all over again.

My wolf gets more excited by my response. I cut her an internal growl. Not now. I’m trying to be mad at my mate.

The quirk of Corbin’s lips when he spots my cheeks doesn’t help. “Can we talk?” he asks.

I put my hands on my hips. “You can listen. I’ve been thrown unwittingly into this world. I fell in love with you hard and fast. I thought things were complicated before. Now, they’re tangled beyond recognition. Being Magical’s Most Wanted, dealing with multiple kinds of power, finally finding my mother, and learning about my missing father. Corbin, it’s all too much. Then, on top of that, you ghosted me.”

“I promise, I’m not a ghost.”

His eyes float to mine and hold with a kind of softness I cannot deny. I blink into the copper buttery-ness, transfixed. Connected, bonded, enraptured by my true mate.

“Oh, right, ghosts are real. To ghost someone is an expression.” My voice falters, but then I remember what I want to say. “Your pack hates me, and for a minute there, I thought you did too.”

“There’s tension among the pack because you haven’t selected me as your alpha yet. They don’t know your place among them. It doesn’t help that you’re a tri-magical either so really, your loyalty could belong anywhere.”

I take a deep breath. “Where does your loyalty lie?”

His rough hand smooths along my cheek. I light up inside. It’s not only my wolf who’s in love with him. No, it goes beyond love into something I cannot explain.

I clear my throat. “I never liked the idea from movies that a guy could complete me—my mother proved that notion false repeatedly with all her deadbeat ex-boyfriends. However, with you, I cannot deny that I feel more fully myself than I ever have. Despite what’s going on, it’s like when we’re together, all my best qualities are enhanced. We’re stronger, kinder, and smarter together. But that’s just it. I’m not sure we’re together.”

“Kenna, my devotion is to you.” He bites his lip.

“But...” I say, knowing an objection is coming. My chest tightens.

He takes a deep breath. “But if you select me as Alpha, it will expose your Alpha wolf.”

“Why is that a problem? I thought you said the pack wants to know my place.”

“The strongest packs have a male and female Alpha who’re fated mates.”

“I’m waiting for the punchline here. I still don’t see why that’s an issue.”

His hands drift to my upper arms and he squeezes gently. “I want to protect you.”

“Considering you were absent from your nightly watch and Amanda paid me a midnight call, I suggest you get on it,” I huff.

Corbin’s jaw tightens.

“Considering Pepper’s keen observation about men going missing and the hunters’ comments about it being wolves, perhaps I’m not the one who needs protecting. Anyway, how is ignoring me protecting me?”

“It’s complicated.” He leans in, so we’re nose to nose. His breath is minty. “I want your lips against mine instead of stumbling over all of these words and feelings.”

My pulse quickens and heat rises to my cheeks. “You could also protect me from your pack. They hate me.”

He draws back. “That’s not true. They’re wary. Don’t worry about them. It’s all bluster and no blows.”

“I’ve seen them train and fight. I’m pretty sure it’s all blows. But when it comes to that, I can handle myself. What I’m talking about is how they reject me. I don’t think I can stay here.”

“Where will you go?”

As if neither one of us can remain still at all the talk about motion, we walk toward the path leading to the lake.

“I can’t ignore the pull to Lonsdale, despite how it definitely seems haunted. I want to find my father. I have a feeling he left me the diary. He’s made out to be a monster, yet so am I. Maybe there’s an explanation.”

“That’s not an option. Not really.”

I step back and throw my hands across my chest and draw a firm scowl on my face. “Is that so?”

“Not unless I’m with you.” His tone is firm, unyielding.

“Corbin, as I said, I can take care of myself.”

“Your father isn’t safe.” His expression shifts like he’s torn between wanting to protect me and wanting to help me.

“Whatever he is and whatever he has done, he’s still my father. He and my mom are the only family I have. For a little while, I thought I was part of the pack family here. I thought I found a home. But...”

Hurt flickers in Corbin’s eyes. “I thought I was your home.”

“Not when you take off. You’ve been distant. If you haven’t noticed, I only have my mother, and she’s back in the states living her normal life. I want a normal life.”

“Then I’m not sure pack life is for you.”

The bluntness of his words seize me. “That’s just the thing...it is. I know it. My wolf knows it. They just don’t like me. I want them to. But nothing will be normal until we unravel this entire mess. Like I told you before, I’m