Fit for Fire - Book cover

Fit for Fire

Vera Harlow

Mistaken Identity

Adeline

My limbs were sore, my legs folded awkwardly beneath me. I tried to ignore the discomfort, stretching my legs out until my feet hit something solid. With a groan, I buried my face into the warm pillow beneath my head.

Imagine my shock when a hand started to stroke my hair and my pillow moved on its own.

Startled, I opened my eyes wide. All I saw was darkness. I struggled to sit up.

My arms felt sticky against what seemed like leather. As I pushed myself up, my hair fell into my eyes.

I was about to brush it away when a large, rough hand beat me to it. The fingertips brushed my cheeks as they pushed my hair back.

I gasped as a tingling sensation spread from where the hand touched me, threatening to engulf me.

A deep chuckle echoed from above me on my left.

I swatted away the hand that was still stroking my head and sat back on my knees, putting some distance between me and my unexpected pillow companion.

Squinting, I could make out Zach’s handsome features studying me.

Behind him, I could see the night sky through what I realized was a car window.

I leaned back against the opposite door, stretching out my legs where my head had been.

Satisfied with the space between us, I took a moment to assess my situation.

Zach had been sitting next to me, my head resting on his leg. Patrick was driving.

From what I could tell, we were in a large SUV. Soft rock music played on the radio, and the glowing red numbers on the dashboard told me it was just past midnight.

I tried to recall how I ended up here. The last thing I remembered was being in Zach’s arms.

I looked up at Zach, my expression shifting from blank to accusatory.

“Why didn’t I walk out?” I asked, my voice raspy and my throat dry. Zach just shrugged.

“I wasn’t sure how you’d react once you got outside. This seemed easier for everyone.”

“You know,” I began, glaring at him, “it’s strange that you can’t understand why I’d accuse you of kidnapping me, or why I don’t trust you, when you keep doing sketchy stuff.”

I clenched my fists. Zach looked at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“There’s nothing sketchy about how we handle rogues. You’re a potential threat to our pack. We’ll deal with you as we see fit,” Patrick chimed in.

I glared at the back of his head, wishing I had laser vision.

“Firstly, we both know I’m not a threat to your pack. You’re just embarrassed because I escaped your compound.”

I leaned back against the door, pausing for dramatic effect. If he thought I was going to cower before his pack-given authority, he was sorely mistaken.

“Secondly, I’m a person. Rogue or not, I have basic human rights. There are laws against this kind of thing. Being in a pack doesn’t make you superior to me. It doesn’t give you the right to do whatever you want with me. Honestly, I’m glad I didn’t grow up in a pack. If I had, I’d probably have the same God-complex as you.”

Patrick’s low growl told me I’d pushed my luck.

A small, scared voice inside me said I should care, but the larger, angrier part of me didn’t give a damn.

What I couldn’t do physically, I’d make up for verbally. Zach stiffened, but from the way he was studying me, I didn’t think it was out of anger.

“You should watch your mouth,” Patrick growled. “I’m the beta of this pack, and I help decide how big a threat you could be.”

I smiled coyly. So this was how it was going to be.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I needed to stroke your ego to earn my freedom. I thought being innocent was enough.

“Forgive my stupidity. I’ll just sit back here and tremble before the mighty beta.”

I saw Patrick wince at my words in the rearview mirror. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, the leather squeaking under his hands.

He stiffened even more before sighing, deflating like a balloon with a slow leak. “You… I… That’s not what I meant,” he stammered.

I was surprised. I’d expected him to get angrier, but instead, Patrick seemed more upset and shocked by his own words.

Realizing my mouth was about to get me into more trouble than I’d bargained for, I gave him a chance to backtrack.

I’d done the damage I’d intended anyway. My anger had subsided considerably just watching Patrick squirm under his own moral discomfort.

“Then what did you mean?” I asked softly.

Patrick sighed again, sparing me a glance before explaining.

“Pack wolves are very loyal to the hierarchy and rules set by their pack. The alpha’s word is law, we live for the pack, we are strengthened by it. You grow up with the morals and laws of your pack. It’s a big part of being a wolf. It’s the world I live in. It’s hard for me to see you challenge that and show no respect for our way of life.”

I was taken aback, and I bit the inside of my cheek. I’d expected anger, but his honesty caught me off guard. Part of me felt like a jerk.

But then, another part of me remembered why I was here. I remembered how little regard these people had for my life and my rights.

I sat there, silent for a few minutes. I was torn between guilt and vindication. I didn’t know what to say.

The right words finally found their way to me.

“I get it, my views might upset you. But you’ve got to understand, I wasn’t raised this way.

“All of this is so new to me. I can’t wrap my head around why it’s okay to treat someone who might be innocent like this.”

I paused, taking a shaky breath. Patrick seemed to be paying attention. Maybe this was my chance to make him see how insane this all was.

“To me, it’s as infuriating as my words must be to you. But in this case, I haven’t attacked or hunted you. I haven’t dragged you somewhere against your will because you live differently than I do. I haven’t told you to just accept that your future will be decided by one guy who despises what you are.”

After that, we sat in silence. Zach kept studying me, his face a mix of curiosity and sorrow.

I tried to ignore it, resting my forehead against the cool glass of the window. Not long after my outburst, we veered off the main road.

We took a side road, driving deeper into the forest. The night seemed to darken tenfold the moment we left the main road.

I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the harsh lights and cold concrete walls of a cell. The thought of being locked up indefinitely had me taking ragged, uneven breaths.

I tried to steady myself before the guys in the car noticed.

Fear vibrated in my chest as I squeezed my eyes shut and placed my hand over my heart, trying to stave off the impending panic attack.

When we stopped, Zach reached over and touched my shoulder. My eyes flew open.

“I can walk. Just don’t touch me,” I whispered, knowing he could hear me. He slowly withdrew his hand and got out of the car.

I looked out the window in confusion at a house.

In my attempt to calm down, I hadn’t noticed that the car had left the road and pulled onto a gravel driveway. I hadn’t seen the large house we had parked next to.

Zach opened my door and, sensing my confusion, asked, “What’s wrong?”

I looked from him to the house and said, “This isn’t the compound.”

Zach smiled and extended his hand before explaining, “The alpha has invited you to stay at his house.”

A spark of anger ignited in my stomach at the mention of the alpha. “You can tell him I decline his invitation,” I said, keeping my face expressionless.

Zach nodded and looked me in the eyes before replying, “I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Next chapter
Rated 4.4 of 5 on the App Store
82.5K Ratings
Galatea logo

Unlimited books, immersive experiences.

Galatea FacebookGalatea InstagramGalatea TikTok