Embracing the Wolf - Book #2 (Anna Avery) Read Online Free PDF Page B

being around you. I’m happy for you, but I’m not …” He looked over at me. “Ya know?”
    I nodded as my stomach churned with dizzy butterflies. “Yeah. I’m sorry, Sawyer. I wish things would have gone differently.”
    He leaned over so that his arms were resting on his legs and looked over at me. His spiky, sandy blond hair glistened in the falling sun. “How do you mean? You’re not happy with Adam?”
    My bottom jaw dropped in surprise. “What? No. I just meant, if he hadn’t forced me to date you, then you wouldn’t have gotten hurt. I love talking to you, and now things are just …”
    “Awkward?” Sawyer supplied.
    “Yeah,” I agreed. “And I don’t know how to fix it.”
    “You don’t have to,” Sawyer said. “It’s the way of our world—the strongest prevail.”
    “It’s not like that,” I told him. “I didn’t choose Adam over you because he’s the alpha. I didn’t really have a say in the matter. It just … is what it is. We’re Chantes.”
    Sawyer was nodding his head, but not saying anything. I figured I said what I had to say and staying longer would only undo what I had done. I stood up and was on my way back to the deck when Sawyer finally spoke.
    “It’s not you I’m mad at.”
    I stopped and turned. “What?”
    “Adam knew how he felt about you when he paired us together. He may have been trying to fight it, but he knew damn well he would eventually claim you, and he did. He made me … and then took you … just like that.”
    His green eyes turned hard as he stared at me. I could see the pain hiding within them, and it made my heart break. In a normal situation, a girl would have a choice between the two men. In my predicament, there was no question, no doubt who I was supposed to be with. It was Adam. It would always be Adam. Since the bonding, every other man fell off my radar. I didn’t see Sawyer, or anyone else, in the same light as I saw Adam. That just made my relationship with Sawyer that much harder. I couldn’t give him even an inch of hope, and my compassion would only make him think I pitied him.
    “He didn’t have a choice either,” I told him again, turning and heading back to the group. I hugged my arms to my chest and lost myself to my thoughts as I walked. I could feel familiar eyes on me. His gaze licked my skin and awakened my wolf. I lifted my head to see Adam standing on the steps staring out at me.
    “Everything okay?” he asked as I reached him. He wasn’t staring at me anymore. His eyes locked on Sawyer’s back.
    “Yeah, why?” I smiled, hoping he couldn’t feel the inner turmoil roiling through my stomach. There wasn’t much we could hide from each other now that we were Chantes, but I still hoped he didn’t pick up on my guilt.
    “You’re upset,” Adam stated. “Is it because of him,” he nodded toward Sawyer, “or have I done something?”
    “It’s nothing,” I reassured him. “Nobody did anything.” I stepped up the first couple of steps and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest. Closing my eyes, I inhaled his scent. It eased my mind and washed away any semblance of worry I had.
    “Food’s ready,” Elle called over the loud crowd. Everyone stopped talking and bowed their heads. Adam bent over, kissed the top of my head, and then grabbed my hand.
    “Come on, my Chante.” Together we walked up the steps to join the others. Adam walked over to the front of the deck. There were at least thirty people on the porch and more lingering in the yard. The ones mingling on the lawn began walking forward.
    “It is with great pleasure that the Everwood pack welcomes the Annual Conference to Wyoming. Some of you know my family and me, but have not met my mate, Anna.” Adam held our joined hands up to signal to me. I met everyone’s eyes, a smile on my face, and nodded in greeting. A few of the responding faces were not so welcoming. The blonde Adam was speaking to earlier stood in the back with