LoveThineEnemy Read Online Free Page A

punched the wood behind her. She jumped.
    “Don’t ever say that again,” he snarled. “I hate the fact I was a part of that. I don’t want you to look at me and think about that. Give me a chance to make your opinion different.”
    She knew he wouldn’t hurt her, at least physically. Emotionally was a whole other can of worms. He had the capacity to cripple her in that way. She sighed. “I need to answer him.”
    Shadeau stepped back away from her. “Then you’ll be choosing them over me. If they come here for you, they will kill me. And I won’t fight them. I would never want to hurt you.”
    “That’s not fair!” She couldn’t believe he was playing this card.
    He shrugged. “You know I’m telling the truth. I hurt members of your pack today. Seriously wounded some of them, and took you. If you think for one minute acceptance is something I will get from your pack, then you’re wrong.”
    “Damn it!” She reached out, planting both palms against his chest, pushing him back, then bent down and snatched her discarded shirt from the ground. He was right. It would take some serious talking to Luken to get him not to kill Shadeau for his crimes.
    It was so much easier to fight with him when he was being the caveman. She jerked her shirt on and pulled the length of her hair through the neck hole. Anger replaced the desire she’d felt only minutes before. She stomped over to the blanket and sat down, avoiding him completely.
    “Jasmine, please don’t be angry with me.”
    She shot him a glare then focused on her can of food she’d left sitting there. She didn’t even taste the concoction as it glided over her tongue. Hell, she wasn’t even hungry, but she didn’t want to speak to him right now.
    He sat down beside her. “Give me time. I’ll prove to you I’m worthy of your loyalty.”
    She slammed the empty can down. “How can you ask this of me? You want me to give up everything. My pack. And yes, the bond makes me want to cling to you, but I don’t even know you.”
    “So get to know me. We were doing pretty good before your alpha started howling.”
    “Pfft. That’s called sex. Not getting to know each other.”
    “No. That’s not called sex, sweetness. If we’d had sex, my balls wouldn’t be aching so damn bad right now.”
    Her head whipped in his direction. “Really? So sorry you have blue balls. Please note the sarcasm.” She rolled her eyes and looked forward. As if she needed a lesson in what constituted as sex. Hell, her own privates were aching from denial.
    Part of her wanted to march from the barn and tip her head back, howl her grief and frustration and answer her alpha. She wanted to go home. But she couldn’t leave Shadeau. Not like this. Damn it! Why couldn’t she have her cake and eat it too?
    Tears made her vision swim. It was unfair. Fate had dealt her a crap hand and it was so un-fucking-fair. She didn’t fight him when he picked her up and sat her in his lap.
    She didn’t want to cry. With a back swipe of her hand she brushed the few tears away. She was stronger than this.
    “We’ll find a way to make it work, Jasmine.”
    “It would be one thing if it were only us. But it’s not. I have to tell Luken about Arik’s plan.” She turned to meet his gaze. “I need to go to him. I can explain—”
    “No.”
    She ground her teeth in frustration. “You’re being a stubborn fool.” Not waiting for a reply she slid off his lap and curled on her side facing away from him. She was done arguing.
    There were others to consider in this and she couldn’t stand by and let them suffer. She’d have to watch for an opportunity to escape. She didn’t want to call out to Luken and get Shadeau killed. He was her mate, and she would die before she let harm come to him. But she had to try to convince Luken her mate wasn’t all bad.
    So she’d have to run for it. Getting away from Shadeau would be tough, but she could do it. He curled up behind her, his arm sliding around