Fated Magic (Claimed by Wolves #1) - Callie Rose Page 0,34

went unfocused while he spoke. I realize now he must have finished talking without me even noticing, and I was left staring at him like a freaking weirdo. I lock gazes with him and make a sound that I hope indicates I was, in fact, hanging onto his every word.

“I hope you’ll come with us,” he says. “Let us help you.”

There’s nothing in his tone to indicate I’ve irritated him with my inattention, which is a relief. I don’t know him, and I know that means I obviously shouldn’t care what he thinks, but I still don’t want to hurt his feelings. I didn’t ignore what he was saying on purpose.

My mind just hasn’t stopped reeling. It’s hard to collect my thoughts and keep them in any kind of order for more than a few minutes.

I’m determined to no longer be a doormat. If I said no right here, right now, he’d take it for the final answer and let me go. Something about him promises me he would. I have the power and the ability to say no, more than I ever have in my entire life. But… I don’t want to say it.

I kind of want to say yes.

So I convince myself I’m doing it for his benefit. I don’t want him to think I hate him. I don’t want to walk away from Ridge without telling him thank you. What kind of person would that make me?

And honestly, I don’t know where on earth I would go if I don’t stay here. The path of least resistance is to stick around and see where this circus leads me.

“Okay,” I agree. “I’ll stay.”

Archer’s smile transforms his face, making him even more handsome, as if the sun itself is shining from behind his eyes. “Great. I’m glad, Sable. I promise you won’t regret it.”

My heart does a confused little flip. Partly because I’m not certain I won’t regret this decision. But also because his smile is affecting me in ways I don’t really understand. I’m not used to men drawing out this kind of reaction in me. Nobody has ever had this effect on me, and it scares me.

The panic rears up like it always does, but I breathe through it.

I will not shut down.

We walk silently back down the road. Archer stays at my side, but he gives me an excessive amount of personal space that helps keep the panic at bay. He shoves his hands in his pockets, and he doesn’t try to make small talk. I appreciate that, too, considering Ridge and Trystan are watching us come toward them.

Both men are standing on the lawn behind Ridge’s house. I hate to think they stood there and watched me and Archer talking, but I’m sure that’s what they did. Their gazes all seem to have some kind of magnetic pull toward me, finding me unerringly anytime I’m near them.

I don’t know if I believe in this “mate bond” thing they’re all talking about, but it’s hard to deny that there’s something between us. Something that crackles in the air like an invisible electric charge.

Oh my God. This is insane.

These three men each feel they have a claim to me, and I’ve agreed to give them a chance to prove it. Jesus. What the hell am I thinking?

Trystan watches me approach with a hint of desire in his gaze, but Ridge is staring at me as if searching for any new injuries. He waits until I meet his gaze before he asks, “You okay?”

I nod. “As good as I can be.”

Ridge nods in return. He probably didn’t expect anything less from the crazy girl he dragged in from the woods like a half-drowned kitten. Turning to Archer, he says, “Barton will alert the council of our imminent absence, and the reason why.”

When he tosses a subtle glance at me, I flush. All this focus on me makes me want to sink into the ground and disappear.

“And rescheduling the meeting?” Archer asks.

Ridge shakes his head. “We’ll discuss a more cohesive defense against the witches at the next summit. In the meantime, the packs will continue to defend themselves as they have been.”

Trystan claps Ridge on the shoulder. “Well then. Let me go talk to my pack mates before they head back.”

“I should do the same,” Archer says as the brown-haired wolf brushes past him. “We’ll meet you back here in fifteen.”

As the two stride off back in the direction of the council house, where I can see a group