Forced To Love You

Save You

Having Madison stay with me made staying in Washington a lot less painful. I didn't know her well but she was nice and a girl. That definitely made the difference.

She had a strict nighttime routine that she said she followed every day. I watched as passed the doorway of the bathroom for the tenth time, still wrapped in a robe. She was making me dizzy.

Maybe I had too much wine.

"Madison, what are you doing in there?"

"I'm just getting ready for bed."

"You're taking way too long."

She entered the doorway. "I'm just taking my makeup off and doing my skincare routine."

"And that takes an hour?"

She rolled her eyes. She flipped off the lights behind her before she walked over to the opposite side of the bed. She had on an old t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Her hair was carefully braided down her back.

I handed over the glass of wine for her and put the bottle in my lap for me. "So tell me, what is there to do around here?"

"Like here in the mansion or here in Twisp?"

"In town. Are there any stores to shop at or anything?"

She took a sip of the wine. "We have some boutiques and family-owned restaurants but most things we have to get from the bigger cities."

"Why pick a place that doesn't have a Target?"

"It's small and quiet. Perfect for werewolves."

I turned to her and set my hands on the side of my brace. "Do you ever turn into a wolf?"

She laughed at my phrasing. "Not often. Maybe once every few months, if that. I have no reason to shift."

"Christian said he did it like once a day."

She raised her eyebrows. "You talked to Christian?"

I rolled my eyes. "Not really. He explained who he is but I haven't talked to him much. He's been... busy. What does he even do?"

"He's the Alpha. He manages the pack and governs the people in town. Any official business goes to him and his Beta."

"Beta?"

She nodded. "Zeke. He's second in command. He answers to Christian."

"Does he stay here too?"

"He has a house not far from here. Ever since he found his mate and got married, he's been out of the mansion. Normally, he would live here but Christian gave him some leeway."

I took a sip of the wine. With a conversation like this, I definitely needed wine.

"I'll have to tell Christian to come visit you more often. You should get to know him better."

"I think I know him plenty."

"Okay. Then what's his favorite color? Favorite  food? Favorite place to go in town?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "That's not fair. I doubt you even know any of this."

"I don't need to know it. But you should considering you're his mate."

"How does that whole 'mate' thing work anyway?"

"It's... complex, to say the least. It's like falling in love with someone every time you see them. Your world revolves around them. You'd do anything for them. Some people don't recover from losing their mate. They die of a broken heart."

"You said your parents are mates." I said quietly. I thought of her mother dying of a broken heart if her father died and it made my heart ache.

She nodded and looked down at the wine glass in her lap. "They would do anything for each other."

"I hope you're not... I hope me not wanting this bond with Christian doesn't make you hate me."

She shook her head. "No, it doesn't. I understand that everyone's different and every situation and relationship is different. When the time is right, you'll get it."

"But what if I don't?"

"Then you need to let Christian go."

I shook away the depressing conversation and took a big gulp of the wine. "Enough about this. I wanna know more about this place. Who lives here?"

She straightened up and I could tell she was grateful for the shift in conversation. "Me, you, Christian, his father, his aunt and uncle, some servants and maids, and a few body guards."

"His mom doesn't live here?"

She shook her head. "Anyway, there's usually meals in the dinning hall every day. When your ankle is healed more, you can go and meet some of the higher-ups."

"Higher-ups?"

"Zeke comes for breakfast before the meetings start. Some councilmen and citizens are welcome. Christian is usually there." She wiggled her eyebrows at me.

I groaned. "Don't start. I'm so not in the mood for that."

"Oh, why not?"

"Don't tell anyone but he walked in on me while I was getting a bath."

Her eyes widened and she nearly squealed with joy. "Oh my gosh, Blair! Tell me everything!"

"It wasn't that big a deal. I thought it was you but it wasn't. He told me he wanted to stay and watch me. I finally got him to leave once I threatened to throw this bottle at him."

"Girl, you are totally crushing on him."

I felt my cheeks heat up but I tried to play it ofd. "I am not. I was embarrassed more than anything. Those bubbles don't cover much and besides, my leg was all wrapped up. That's definitely not attractive."

"You'll only have it for like a month or so. That's not so bad."

I picked at one of the Velcro straps. "It's just ugly and bulky. I feel like an anchor is tied to my foot and it's pulling me under water."

She leaned in close. "At least you have Christian to save you."

"Madison!" She really, really wanted me to get with Christian. Sure, he was attractive but he wasn't exactly my type. I preferred guys from North Carolina over strangers.

She giggled and finished off her glass of wine.