RILEY’S POV
"Mistress? You want me to be your mistress?"
The words tasted bitter on my tongue as I spoke them aloud, disbelief lacing every syllable. I couldn’t remember when I had fallen asleep or when Kael had driven me all the way back to the pack house, but somehow, I was here. I thought I would be more upset about that, but listening to Kael now, hearing him say something so utterly ridiculous, was far worse.
He wanted me to stay here under his protection. And his excuse? He was asking me to be his mistress.
No. Not asking. Telling.
Kael let out a slow, measured sigh, his expression unreadable. "I’m not asking you, Riley," he said, his voice carrying the weight of something I didn’t quite understand. "I’m telling you."
I blinked at him, my stomach twisting into knots. He had to
