Free Lesser of Two Evils by K. S. Martin Page B

about what she’d said
to him. She didn’t want to end up like her mother, but it seemed like this
would turn into that. Her mother always cried after her father forced himself
on her. Kerry would hear them through the thin walls. Her mother trying to
escape and him growling at her. Sometimes he would bite her. Kerry had asked
once why they didn’t leave him. Why would she let him keep doing that to her?
Her mother’s eyes would fill with tears and she’d say, “Not all wolves are
free. We’ll die alone.” She’d been right. Kerry was alone yesterday and she’d
nearly died. Shot an hour away from the house. She was trapped like her mother.
Soon he would mount her and eventually he would bite her. It wouldn’t be gentle
like the mating bite. It would be with force, and she would be prey. Silent tears
rolled down her cheeks.

Chapter 8
    “Kerry?” Ethan shook her awake, and
she flinched away from him. “Easy.” His hand stilled on her shoulder. “Dinner
is ready. Come on.” He pulled her into a sitting position, then walked out of
the room. She followed, and the smell hit her. Her stomach growled ferociously.
Turkey. She went to the kitchen where a place was set at the table. The plate had
separate piles of turkey breast, corn, mashed potatoes, and a buttered roll.
None of the foods touched, he was considerate of the way she liked her food
That was nice of him. A glass of water sat beside the plate but she didn’t see
a  plate for him.
    “Aren’t you eating?” she asked. He
was rinsing dishes at the sink and putting them in the dishwasher. The corner
of his mouth lifted, then dropped.
    “I’m good. You go ahead. Eat.” He
nodded at her plate. She sat down and he left the room. Kerry ate the turkey
and pushed the rest around on the plate until it was too cold to eat. She
wasn’t hungry anymore, and she knew it was because of what she’d done and what
she’d said. Kerry scraped her plate into the trash. Her mother would tan her
hide for that, but she just didn’t want it.
    She rinsed the dish and put it in
the dishwasher. When she went to the bedroom, she saw that her things were
gone. Kerry went to find Ethan. He was plugging her laptop in.
    “Are you done?” She nodded. “I put
locks on the windows so your wolf doesn’t talk you into anything. I hope this
room is big enough for you. I moved your duffle bag into the closet. You didn’t
unpack.” His brow knitted, but then he said, “I hope you are comfortable in
here. If you need anything, just let me know. Oh, and Lu took delivery of my
packages yesterday when you didn’t answer the door. They’re in the closet
there.” He pointed. “We’re going to work this out,” he said, coming closer. “I
want to be a good mate, and I think that I haven’t been so far. I’m sorry if
this was more than you were ready for, Kerry.” His big hand wrapped around the
nape of her neck and pulled her closer. He kissed her forehead. “It’ll get
better. I promise.” He swallowed, and she watched his Adam’s apple bob.
“Goodnight.”
    Ethan closed the door quietly
behind him. Kerry stared at it. What just happened? She was worried. He’d moved
her out of his bedroom. He said that it would work out, so he wasn’t rejecting
her, or was he? If he took her home and her father had to give the money back,
he would kill her. Plain and simple, he would choke the life from her. Kerry
swallowed hard and sat down on the edge of the bed. Her chest felt hollow.
    ***
    Ethan paced the bedroom. The lights
were off and the window clear. A glass of bourbon swung in his huge hand. His
mate rejected him. His mate didn’t like sex with him. His mate felt like a prisoner.
Maybe he wasn’t cut out for this, after all. Maybe he should cut her loose and
go back to enforcing for the council.
    Connor told him to “fuck off”
earlier after he’d punched him. Maybe he should. His beta was angry, his mate
in distress, and his mood sourer than it had ever been. He paced in