When He's Ruthless (The Olympus Pride 4)

“I’d like to say that your mother wouldn’t go that far to come between us.”

“So would I. But we both know it would be a lie. If she did put Macy up to it, she also unknowingly put Macy in the sights of someone who saw total sense in killing her either for me or because of me—I don’t know.”

Something dark moved behind his eyes. “Tell me about the calls you’ve been getting and the gifts you received. You didn’t give me many details when we spoke earlier.”

“The calls started first. The first one came a couple of months ago. It usually happens twice a week. The caller never says anything. I hear light breathing, but that’s all. They hang up after five seconds or so.”

“You said you thought it was being done via a spoofing site. Why?”

“The caller comes up on my screen as someone I know, like my mother or friend or brother or another pack mate.”

Luke swore. “For them to know the numbers of the people close to you, this person either knows them or has ways of obtaining such information.”

“And might very well be from the pack, I know. Don’t think that hasn’t played on my mind. Anyway, I got the weird-ass underwear bouquet about a week after the very first call. The box of sex toys came two weeks later—there was all sorts of kinky shit in there. The jar of coupons came about three weeks after that.”

His mouth set into a hard line. “You should have contacted me the minute you received that damn bouquet. No, you should have contacted me after you got the first strange call.”

“I thought it was the juveniles in the beginning. They were doing all kinds of dares back then and pulling pranks on people—including making dirty calls to some of the females. I only dismissed the theory when the juveniles quieted down and yet my calls and gifts kept coming. Then I suspected it was Noelle; that she’d asked a male to pretend to court me simply to piss you off. It’s the sort of thing she’d do.”

“If you believed she was playing games, why didn’t you say anything to me? You know I’d have wanted to be made aware of it.”

Blair folded her arms. “You didn’t tell me that she was trying to convince you to postpone claiming me. I can guess why you kept it from me. You were set on keeping the peace. Am I right?” His expression confirmed that she’d guessed correctly. “That was what I was trying to do.”

He grunted. “What made you think it might not be Noelle?”

“We had a huge row after she brought Macy to see me. I told her I would never forgive her for actively trying to come between you and me like that. I even accused her of being behind the gifts, which she flatly denied. I refused to speak to her for days. The last thing she would have done while on paper-thin ice was have someone send me another gift. And yet, the jar of coupons came. There were no other gifts, unless you count Macy.”

He rubbed his jaw. “I don’t like that you kept all this from me. I’m your mate, Blair. It’s my right to help you ease even the smallest of burdens.”

“I know. But I’ve already explained why I never mentioned it.”

As much as Luke wished that she’d told him everything sooner, he could understand why she hadn’t. He was just too pissed to make the concession out loud.

“Yesterday, I made the official decision to tell you about everything, but I knew your pride was throwing a mating ceremony today—I wanted to wait until after it was over before I dragged all my shit into your pride’s world.”

He ground his teeth, again understanding her choice but not liking it. “So what made you decide to finally tell me? Something else happened, didn’t it?”

She bit down on her lip. “I received an email yesterday. It wasn’t signed and it came through a spoofing site, so I don’t know who sent it.”

His entire body went rigid. “Show me.”

She pulled her cell out of her pocket, brought up the email, and then handed him the phone. It read: I wish I could say all this openly, but I know your mother would try to keep us apart. You know she would, too. That’s why you’ve never told me how you feel—yes, I understand. I’ve always understood, I’m not mad.

The only thing I don’t get is why you’re going around asking people who sent the gifts I gave you. You know it was me. I hope you liked them. I know they were a little ‘out there,’ but you would have rolled your eyes at typical romantic gestures like flowers or chocolates.

I didn’t think it would be necessary to romance you, if I’m honest. I really thought you’d come to me when you turned eighteen. I waited and I waited … and then I realized that you needed me to make the first move. It should have occurred to me sooner that being a virgin would make you too nervous to come to me.