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"Ready?" Neil asked me. Once again, his words felt less like a question and more like a statement. I almost rolled my eyes, but something stopped me from doing so. I glanced at Gabe.
"Sorry, but I probably need to check on my car. It broke down, and Neil helped me get it looked at."
"It's fine, Ella. I'll be here when you get back. We’ll talkmore then.” Gabe leaned into the couch, making himself comfortable.
If Neil heard him, it didn’t show. Instead, the beta reached for my hand and led us to the front door.
I paused and turned back to Gabe. “Okay, I’ll be back soon. If you’re hungry or anything, there’s —“
Neil let out a low growl deep in the back of his throat. The sound snapped Gabe to attention, breaking the air of indifference he had put on.
I quickly patted Neil on the shoulders, trying to laugh off the possessive noises coming from him like it was all a big joke. “Okay, sounds good. See you later, Gabe.”
Neil and I got into his truck, but before we even made it out of the driveway, he rounded on me. "What the hell was that?" he spat, anger filling his voice.
I narrowed my eyes at him in response. "Neil, we aren't together. We haven't even gone on a date yet. I don't know what you're freaking out about."
"A date?" he repeated quietly. His eyes searched my face. "Ella, I'm interested in you because I know you value the traditional roles of our kind. Werewolves don't date. It would go against everything in our DNA. I'll agree to a short courting period if you think that's necessary, but honestly, that shouldn't be a requirement, either. Male werewolves claim their mates, and when they aren't strong enough to do that, females end up with losers like the one sitting on your couch."
My wolf's anger rose to the surface at his disrespect toward our mate. I tried to suppress her, but it was no use.
"Our male is more than sufficient. He's our perfect match,” she snapped through me.
"If you really believed that you wouldn't be leaving with me," Neil answered her. "There's a reason you don't want to be with him, even with the true mate draw. Call me crazy, Ella, but I think you know what you need, and that isn't him."
Neil backed the truck out of the driveway and drove toward town. Silence filled the cab, creating an even bigger distance between us. I couldn't argue with what he said but agreeing with him felt like a huge betrayal to Gabe, especially after the explosive makeup session.
The memory of his teeth on my skin and his hardness between my legs caused my heart to beat faster. I squirmed in my seat, awkward over being turned on.
Suddenly, Neil pulled over to the shoulder, and before I could process what was happening, he was on top of me. His hands skimmed over my seatbelt, clicking it free and pulling me close.
"Ella, I can feel the way you want this. I know you can feel it too." His lips were tantalizingly close to mine, and a wave of warmth flooded my body. "Let me show you what being truly claimed feels like.”
I instinctually melted into his embrace, overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through my veins. I wanted to give in and feel the possessive heat of his kiss, but my wolf sprung forward.
"Enough. You are not our mate, beta," she said through my lips. Her glare froze his hands, calling to the animal inside him.
I watched his eyes shift and become animal, too.
"My human wants to claim yours, but I can scent the other male on you," the wolf ground out. "You are still tiedto him, female."
The words were an apology with rough edges, the only kind that would be expected from a beta like Neil. Apparently, his wolf was used to getting his way, too, but at least he was respecting the fundamental boundaries of our kind.
Basically, don't mess with another wolf's mate.
An understanding passed between our wolves before they both backed off. At least I wouldn't have to worry about Neil claiming me then and there; his wolf didn’t want to touch me as long as the connection between Gabe and I remained intact.
I waited for the last of the animal's glow to leave Neil's eyes before I pushed him off of me, more conscious than ever of the proximity of our bodies. The absence of his weight left me a little empty. Despite my conflicted feelings, it had felt good to hold the large male against my body.Maybe this was what Mariam had meant when she talked about the perks of taking more than one lover.
I shook my head to rid myself of the scandalous thought.
"Take me home, Neil," I said. "I can pick up my car from Patrick on my own in the morning.”
Chapter 11
I scowled at Neil. As the pack’s beta, wasn't he supposed to be as least somewhat intelligent? "What do you mean, no?"
"You heard me," he said. "No. I'm not taking you back. We're going to pick up your car. I had Patrick deliver it to my house because he was closing up the garage, and I didn't want you to be without it over the weekend."
