Chapter 51

Killian smiled upon hearing her response. “Don’t be so quick to pass a judgment. Take a look inside first.”
Inez didn’t quite understand what he meant by this, but as she stepped inside the lodge, she understood why he said those words. The two-story lodge was gorgeous, with an electric fireplace, a corner sofa, a coffee table with countless drawers and right above the stone fireplace, there was a massive TV.
She raised her head and glanced at the large swing that was right next to the bedroom, which was located right above the cosy kitchen.
The entire flooring was covered in a cosy, warm carpet. If Nia were with her, Inez was certain she would have been pushing against her surface to take a nap on this soft carpet.
“What do you think?” Killian asked when he didn’t hear her say anything. “Is it any good?”
“It can do with a little renovation,” remarked Inez with her imagination bubbling loudly within her veins. “But other than that, it’s really good.” She paused and turned to look at Killian before asking, “I can change things inside as I like, right?”
Amused, Killian assured her. “Of course. This is your place and you can do anything that you like to it.”
He placed down the small duffle bag that she was carrying with her on the corner of the room and said, “I would have put it on the couch, but I think you need to wash it first.” He pointed to the banana peel that was sticking to the fabric of the duffle bag.
Then, before he could stop himself, he asked, “Don’t tell me you snuck out in a trash bag? What did they do to you that you had to go to such lengths?”
Memories smacked into Inez. Getting blamed. Locked up and being used as everyone’s punching bag. Her begging Dominic to tell her what she did wrong, only for him to —
She closed her eyes and slammed a door on the memories. When she finally spoke, her tone had gone cold. “I don’t want to talk about it. Not now. Not ever.”
After she finished speaking, she turned on her feet and headed upstairs. Killian was quite amused when he realised that Inez had actually dismissed him. Did she not realise that he was the alpha of this pack? Or does she just not care?
He followed her upstairs and found her studying the bedroom closely. When Killian looked at her, he noticed a childlike excitement in her eyes, and his expression softened. “I won’t press you for answers.” For now, at least. “But there is something else that I need to know.”
Finally finished looking around the room, Inez walked over to the small refrigerator, where she grabbed a water bottle and unscrewed the cap. She didn’t reply to him, wanting to make a statement that he was not at all welcome to stay in her bedroom.
Annoyingly enough, the man was simply too stubborn for his own good.
“And what do you want to know?” She asked, finally giving in.
Killian leaned against the doorframe. Keenly aware of the way Inez and her actions unnerved him. The woman was way too sensual for her own good. And she didn’t even know it. He eyed Inez carefully, watching the water drop cascading down her lips, past her chin and neck.
His eyes settled right back on her luscious mouth, and images of just what he could do with that mouth of hers flickered in his head. And these images satisfied his beast to the point that he started purring. His beast and purring? Damn, Inez Sinclair was going to be his death.
“Is it true that you stole Eve’s designs? I have heard all kinds of rumours. From Eve herself and Dominic, as well as the others, but I have never heard your side of the story.”
He had a feeling that Inez was wrongly accused. When he met with her the last time, she seemed smart enough to deal with all kinds of requests from the clients. What’s more, he had investigated her a little and from the investigation, it was clear that it was Inez who went on the visit to the clients’ homes.
Even after she was accused of theft, Eve didn’t stop using her. Was that woman really that kind? Killian didn’t believe so.
“You know all you need to know. She said that I stole her work and tried to kill her when she raised her voice. I didn’t.”
“There’s more to that, right?” He had a feeling that there was something that Inez was hiding. “Listen, I know that you are not comfortable with sharing the details, but you are forgetting that I am your alpha now. I am in charge of protecting you; I can’t do that if I don’t know anything.” And yeah, he was being nosy. He just wanted to know something—anything.
Turning to face him, she threw the empty bottle of water in the trash can. “I am away from them, and that’s all that matters for now. Because even if I tell you the truth, you will never find any evidence.” ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ
She turned to look at the balcony, and when she saw the swing that was big enough for her to lie down on, Inez had a very good idea where she was going to spend the rest of her time.
Walking over to the swing, she settled down on it.
Killian followed her, coming to stand in front of her, where she was sitting on the swing. Ruth settled right beside her, his tail wagging as he nuzzled his face against hers. “You really think that they will leave you alone? Obviously, you have no idea how possessive an alpha could be of his mate.” Killian’s beast growled when he remembered the call that they had with Dominic. “He still considers you as his. Neither he nor his wolf is going to let go of you. Don’t underestimate him, sweetheart.”