Lawful Mates - Liam Kingsley Page 0,4
to do.”
Jamie cursed, and Tucker groaned, but it barely registered.
Percy turned slowly toward me, and for a moment, I almost regretted the words. But then I remembered that I was just speaking the truth. Why should this jackass get some special pat on the back for bringing a premade cake when he couldn’t be bothered to be there for his friend when it really counted?
His hazel eyes blazed as he glared at me. “I happen to have a job that doesn’t allow me to be at everyone’s beck and call at all hours of the day and night.” His voice dripped with condescension. “It’s what happens when you’re in high demand.”
I scoffed and lifted my brows. Wow, this guy was a piece of work. On top of being a total flake and a shitty best friend, he had to be one of the most arrogant men I’d ever met. In high demand? Who did he think he was?
A muscle in Percy’s jaw ticked as he continued to glare at me, obviously even more annoyed. And I couldn’t help it. I felt the urge to push him further.
“Then I’m surprised you were able to make time in your busy schedule to come and see Addison today. Tell me, does being in such high demand mean this is the first time you’re even meeting him?”
Percy tightened his hold on the infant almost imperceptibly, and I could tell I’d hit a nerve. Good. It wasn’t like me at all to act like that, but I was a total emotional mess on the inside. Apparently, that made my asshole side come to the surface. A side I hadn’t even known existed. I guessed it took a real jerk like Percy to bring it out.
Tucker opened his mouth to say something, to defend his friend, no doubt. But I’d had enough. My wolf was still restless, and I didn’t want to turn what was supposed to be a happy event into a shit show. Without another word, I spun on my heel and stalked off. I was barely aware of Jamie following after me. All I knew was that Percy had me tied up in knots, and I didn’t like it one bit. My wolf had to be wrong. That was all there was to it. Because there was no fucking way this man was my mate. Nope. My wolf was mistaken.
Jamie caught my arm as we neared the edge of the crowd. “Easton, wait. Please.”
I turned to him, trying to compose myself because today was not about me. I forced a smile. “I’m fine, Jamie. I’m just feeling a little claustrophobic in this crowd.”
An obvious lie, one I knew he wouldn’t buy because I thrived on large crowds and parties. I loved to be in the middle of it all—typically the life of the party, the friendly, outgoing guy who always had a good time.
Jamie gave me a knowing grin. “Don’t bullshit me. I see what’s going on. Do you want to talk about it?”
I pulled my arm out of his grasp. “There’s nothing to talk about because nothing is going on.”
“Don’t even try to go there with me, East. I know you better than anyone. And I know exactly what’s happening.”
I shook my head. “No. You’re wrong.”
Maybe Jamie did recognize what was happening, but it didn’t matter. I was growing more and more certain with every passing second that my wolf was wrong. Yes, I’d heard how wolves reacted to their fated mate. I’d seen it with Jamie and Tuck. But it wasn’t guaranteed that Percy and I were mates just because my wolf was going a little crazy. Nothing was certain unless the alpha knotted the omega. My cheeks burned at the thought, and I felt that pull of desire in my belly once more, but I ruthlessly shoved it away. No fucking way. That was never going to happen, certainly not with Percy because I’d never let him close enough to find out.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want a mate. I actually loved the idea of love. I’d spent years of my life trying to find the kind of love my parents had, only to be hurt or disappointed time and time again. But in all those years of imagining a perfect future and finding my mate, I never would have expected it would be with a man I didn’t even like. Which was precisely why my wolf had to be wrong about Percy.
Jamie looked like he wanted to argue with