Lawful Mates - Liam Kingsley Page 0,5

me, but I was done talking about this.

“Look, it’s your special day. Go enjoy being with Tuck, Amy, and Addison. I’m fine. I promise.”

He didn’t look like he believed me, but just then, Tucker called out for Jamie to join him, saying he wanted to make a toast to his mate and their family. I breathed a sigh of relief and gestured for him to go, needing a moment alone to compose myself, but Jamie just grabbed my arm and hauled me along with him.

When we reached Tucker’s side again, I grimaced. Percy was still right there. But I made a point of not looking at him. Or I tried my best, but my wolf continued to paw at my chest, putting me on edge. I couldn’t help but notice the way Percy was so gentle with Addison as he handed him off to Tuck. Then Percy reached down and ruffled Amy’s hair as she joined us in the circle we’d made in the crowd.

How could someone who was such an ass be so good with kids? It just didn’t make sense.

Percy glanced up at me as if he felt my gaze, and I quickly averted my eyes. It took every ounce of self-control I had to maintain an aloof expression and not look back at him, even as I felt him staring once again.

Tuck began his toast to his mate and his family, but I barely heard the words. In fact, I barely registered much of the rest of the party. I mingled and tried to make conversation with everyone as the day wore on, trying to just be the friendly, outgoing guy people expected me to be. But it felt like a superhuman effort, and by the time the party was winding down, I was exhausted.

Finally, people started to leave, and I found a quiet place around the far side of the house to just be alone for a minute. Some godfather I was being, sneaking off like this. But I didn’t know what else to do. I was wound up so tight. All my effort had gone into ignoring my wolf, avoiding Percy, and acting normal so I wouldn’t ruin the party. Today was supposed to be about Addison. Yet all I’d been able to think about was Percy fucking Rivers.

Slumping down onto a bench, I braced my elbows on my knees and dropped my head into my hands. Maybe it was a good thing Percy never showed up when Tuck and Jamie invited him to dinner. Maybe that would make things easier going forward. Being around him, even among so many other people, had worn me out. Maybe I’d be able to avoid him in the future. Or maybe my wolf would realize his mistake, and whatever craziness I was feeling inside would go away on its own.

Suddenly, I felt my wolf stirring again, more frenetic than before. Then I felt him. Percy.

I snapped my head up and found him rounding the corner. He stopped in his tracks, obviously not expecting to see me there. Hell, he was probably going out of his way to avoid me as well.

We simply stared at each other for a long, tense moment. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even think straight. Not with my wolf freaking the fuck out.

But Percy was the one to break the silence. “Just so you know, I’m aware of what’s going on between…our wolves.”

I sat up straighter, the muscle in my jaw ticking as I fought to keep my face blank. Our wolves. He’d felt it too, then. I wasn’t sure what I thought about that, but it couldn’t be good.

The amber in his eyes flashed, and then he swallowed. “I just want you to know that I’m not going to act on it. I think our wolves are mistaken.”

I should have felt relief at his words. He didn’t want this any more than I did. And he wasn’t going to push the matter, apparently. That was great. I should be beyond relieved. Instead, I felt a strange hollowness in my chest. I stood to my feet but didn’t move any closer to him. “That’s the first and only thing I’ll ever agree with you on.”

He arched an eyebrow but didn’t say anything else. He simply shoved his hands in his pockets and strolled past me.

I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until he was gone. All I wanted to do was go home and take a nap and pretend this afternoon had never

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