Free Scattered Siblings 3: To Mate a Werewolf by Kryssie Fortune Page B

thing, but no way would she lie down like a doormat and let him use her again. There’d be no repeat performance, not now that she knew he had a fiancée. Why hadn’t she known about her? And why did he say fiancée not mate?
    He’s a liar and a cheater. And he belongs to someone else.
    Suddenly she realized she’d done the impossible, and she didn’t mean sucking off Joel. She’d flashed to the otherworld. Lykae could only flash to places they’d been, but she’d flashed to a person not a place. Person? Man-whore, more like. In Whitby, he’d hurt her, but tonight he’d poured acid over her heart. A couple of minutes later, she saw him flash farther down the road.
    She stared after him as he loped toward the Great Hall. No way would she sit here like a ninny and wait for that scumbag to come back. Her stupid heart wanted to stay, but her brain already looked for an escape route. She could leave a note, then find a way out of here, but there was no guarantee he’d read it. No, she had to pass her warning on in person.
    If she told another wolf, just as in the game Chinese Whispers, they might garble it. Jazz music still blared out of the Great Hall. Fabulous. I’ve arrived in time for Joel’s engagement party . Once she’d warned Joel, she’d be out of here, always assuming she could do that flashy thing again.
    Groups of partygoers passed her, all heading toward a building that resembled a Viking longhouse. As Ellie listened to the celebration music, her mood plummeted. She’d be so alone when she returned to the mundane world. It wasn’t fair that Joel got to stay here with his family and friends. As usual, she got nothing. Where’s the justice in that?
    Life had just kicked her in the teeth again, but she’d stay strong and…lonely. After her miserable childhood, she was used to that. She’d miss the companionship she’d found in the Lykae army, and most of all she’d miss Joel—but she refused to be his bit on the side.
    Hard as Ellie concentrated, she couldn’t find any more magic inside herself, so she kept walking away from everything she needed to be happy. Her stubborn streak had kept her going through her childhood. It had helped her survive being captured by Elves too. No way would she let Joel’s scorn destroy her. She lifted her head and stiffened her spine.
    A familiar voice called, “Ellie! Ellie? Is that really you?”
    Thank the gods for sending one of her soldier friends. “Pammy, can we talk? Please.”
    Pammy hugged her, then stood back, “Why so glum? Look, my folks have gone ahead to the party, but their place is a just a mile down that path. I arrived late since I’ve been scouring Whitby for my best non-Lykae friend, then she turned up at my place. Let’s share a coffee, and you can tell me what’s wrong.”
    Thanks to Ellie’s military service, jogging a mile at Pamela’s side came easy.
    Ellie edited her tale, carefully leaving out the hot sex and unrequited love stuff. No way would she admit she’d acted as if she were Joel Blackheart’s whore. He’d treated her worse than the Elves—what with his sham concern and his secret fiancée—but she wasn’t the kiss-and-tell sort.
    * * * *
    Joel frowned as he approached the Great Hall. He should be excited to meet Olivia Deerstalker, but he dragged his feet and dawdled, his thoughts fixed on Ellie. He’d no idea how she’d flashed into his bedroom. Elves shouldn't be able to do that. And why here and now? She'd probably come to embarrass him, but she wasn't usually vindictive or mean. He’d already told her that she wasn’t welcome here.
    Every time he saw Ellie lately, he hurt her. There had to be a way to make things better for her, but he couldn’t introduce her to his fiancée. That wouldn’t be right. She’d be heartbroken all over again, and if Olivia Deerstalker found out, she’d be crushed. He’d made a commitment, and he needed to keep it. Meanwhile, he had to find a way to help Ellie build a new