CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY FIVE
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did she want more herbs to suppress the mate bond again?
“Yes,” he said. “Della told me before she left. Talia wanted to check on Leslie after everything.”
“Why?” Marco asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I… um, I’m not feeling well. I should have her check me,” I lied, trying to sound casual.
Marco studied me for a moment, then smirked. “Wow… that was a terrible lie.”
I did not deny it. “I should go.”
“So, you’re still going to stick to that lie?” Marco chuckled.
“I want to speak to Leslie too,” I said, refusing to give in fully.
“Look, it’s just you and me here. You don’t need to lie about wanting to see Talia,” Marco said.
“How about you come with me?” I asked.
“No,” he said without hesitation. “If Della, Talia, and Leslie are talking, I am staying far away from that cabin.”
“You could still come,” I insisted.
“No,” he repeated. “I am not getting involved if you invoke their wrath.”
I gave him a sharp look. “You’re getting a kick out of this, aren’t you?”
“Just a little bit,” Marco said. “I hate to say it but I told you so. Next time listen to me.”
Despite his tone, his bluntness helped. My frustration eased a little. I turned and left the field.
Leslie’s cabin sat near the edge of the trees. The closer I got, the clearer the voices inside became. I slowed when I reached the small porch.
I heard laughter. It was unmistakably Talia’s. She had not laughed once around me since the night at the bonfire. Hearing her laugh now, freely and without hesitation, made my heart ache.
‘You need to remain calm. No threatening her. No sarcasm. Just calm,’ my wolf said.
‘Hypocrite,’ I muttered as he was the one normally pushing me to do reckless things.
‘She is comfortable here. We do not want to ruin that for her,’ my wolf continued and I agreed. I would keep my temper in check or leave if it got too much for me to handle.
I placed my hand on the door handle. I told myself I had every reason to see how Talia was doing after the stress of yesterday. Maybe showing her I cared would change her feelings toward me.
I pushed the door open.
Della sat on one side of the low table. Leslie sat across from her. Colin sat beside Talia. None of them noticed me at first.
Talia leaned close to Colin. Della’s eyes widened. Leslie lifted an eyebrow but said nothing. Colin did not pull away.
Then, Talia pressed a kiss to his cheek. Fury rose in my chest. My wolf snarled within me.
I stepped fully inside. The door hit the wall behind me. All four of them turned toward me at once.
Talia froze. Her eyes widened. The color drained from her face.
“What on earth is going on?” I growled.
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