Bloodbound to the Lycan King

There's a saying somewhere about narrow roads and enemies and it seems pretty fucking accurate.

A familiar blue sedan slows to a stop beside me, and Andrew leans across the passenger seat with a frown etched deep into his forehead as he rolls down his window.

It's pointless to pretend like I don't notice, so I stop walking and wait to see what he has to say.

"What are you doing?" he asks sharply, glancing around like we're in some spy movie. His nostrils flare as he scans the area.

I adjust the heavy backpack straps digging into my shoulders; Sadie and the cat meander around my feet, completely oblivious to his presence. "Heading to the laundromat. What does it look like?"

As far as retorts go, it isn't a good one. Carrying a few backpacks doesn't scream laundry run at all. If anything, it looks like I'm on the run. But it's not like I'm about to start treating Andrew like a bosom buddy or anything.

Even if he seems to be on my side.

His eyes drop to the three stuffed backpacks I'm lugging. Doubt shadows his expression, but he says, "I'll give you a ride."

I consider my options.

Having him help isn't like having some random Lycan guard breathing down my neck. If he gets too nosy, I can always kick him to the curb. The thought of the power being back in my hands has my mental ears perking up, and I upgrade him from the mental category of enemy to frenemy.

Then, thinking about how he was willing to get Ellie off my literal back and didn't tell Rafe anything, I begrudgingly upgrade him again to friend with a question mark.

Oblivious to my mental classification system, Andrew jogs around to grab my bags and tosses them in the backseat while I slide up front, grateful for the sudden rescue. The animals hop into the back with the laundry without even an invitation.

The car smells like Andrew and the vague pine tree undertone of all Blue Mountain shifters. I roll down the window a crack, wondering why it smells so offensive after years of living with it.

"Which one?" he asks, back in the car and buckled in.

"Wash-N-Were."

"Got it."

Silence reigns for a whole block before he asks, "Why are you on your own?"

"You think bringing Bun along is a smart idea?" He's seen her random shifting.

"Oh. Right."

More silence for an entire second block, then, "Don't run around too much on your own. Ellie's backed off for now, but I don't expect it to last long."

My eyebrows shoot up with curiosity. That's right. Ellie never did come to pound on my camper, though now I regret not leading her there after seeing how the one Lycan was treated by Lyre's protective spells.

"How'd you manage that?"

He gives an awkward cough, and I'm immediately on edge. It's the kind of oh no, how do I explain this cough. You know the one. I know the one. He knows the one.

It's universal.

"If I told you not to eat any food except what's in the camper or what I bring to you, would you get it then?" he asks weakly.

"No," I answer without thinking, then pause. If he doesn't want me to eat other food, it's because... "Wait. Is she trying to poison us?"

"I think the proper term is drugging."

My stomach turns. If it isn't poison, then... "Please don't tell it's a lame plotline where she's going to drug us to sleep and then kidnap me, probably involving a lot of burly guys and some nude photos." Or, you know, worse. A lot worse.

Nude photos is probably the nicest of the options.

Andrew coughs again, his discomfort radiating through the car. "It is."

Of course it is.

"How do you know about it?" I demand.

"I helped her plan it."

I stare at him in disbelief. Obviously, he isn't intending on harming me if he's telling me about it, but there's just… there are standards, okay? Standards. "That's a terrible plan. Even the soapiest of operas is looking down on you. I've already been kidnapped once; how can there be a second kidnapping in the same lifetime? Come up with something different, at least."

"Look—" he grips the steering wheel tighter "—she thinks I'm on her side, and I was trying to buy a little time. It's all I could think of."

I snort and look out the window. Standards, okay. He could have at least come up with a better fake idea.

Now he's planted the awful ideas into Ellie's head, and I'm going to spend the rest of my stay in this territory worried she'll do it with or without his help.

Damn it. Couldn't he have come up with something else? Like a melodramatic showdown in an alley where she tells me dramatically to keep my hands off her man? Better yet, I've seen some TV shows where the other woman has money thrown at her. Why can't I be a part of those storylines?

But no, it's kidnapping again.

I sigh.

"I was just trying to help."

"It's fine." It's like pulling teeth, but I add slowly, "Good job."

Even without looking, I can sense his entire presence relaxing a little with my approval. Sighing, I prop my cheek against my fist and stare out the window, wondering what I did in my past life to cause so much drama in this one…

Speaking of which.

"Rafe thinks I've seduced you."

He brakes a little harder than necessary, and I thank seatbelts as my entire body jerks forward.

Ow.

"What?"

"He thinks you're under my spell. Blamed me because you wouldn't tell him all my secrets."

My gaze flicks over to Andrew, who looks appalled. I'm sure it's terrible to be accused of having a relationship with your best friend's ex-girlfriend—

"Damn, I hope he doesn't start any rumors. If the Lycan King hears about this…"

Oh.

That's why he's worried.

My lips quirk a little, and he glances at me with a frown.

"It's not funny, Grace. Rafe was bad enough, but Caine might actually kill me if he hears it."

I wipe the smile off my face. "Don't worry, I'll vouch for you."

My heart eases a little, though I still find it suspicious how quickly he's ditched his loyalty to Rafe. I might not be able to trust him completely, but I'm pretty sure he's on my side.

"You better," he mutters. "I spent all that time following you around to make sure you weren't getting kidnapped and sold off. It's only right to make sure your mate doesn't cut off my head."

This time, my head swings around completely. "I thought you were sticking around to spy on me."

"Of course not." He pulls into a parking spot at the familiar laundromat with a sigh. "When I chose not to take you to Forest Springs, I chose to give up on being Rafe's Beta. I just wanted to make sure you were safe."

Huh.

Maybe I should erase the question mark.