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The female wolf dismissed him with a wave of her hand. “If I didn’t, I sure as hell wouldn’t be telling you about it.” The response flamed her mate’s fire, which seemed to be her goal. He flashed his teeth at her.
Mom would have never, not in a million years, spoken tomy father like that. What happened to mates having to be submissive and obedient? I thought that was a universal experience for female werewolves.
“Come on! I have so much to show you. And we have a lot to talk about,” Justine said, turning her attention back to me and grabbing me by the hand. Randy relented, releasing his grip when it was replaced by his mate’s.
He growled at her enthusiasm, causing her to roll her eyes. “What’s wrong with you, Randy? The girl needs to get settled in her new home, and I’m the one who knows everything there is to know about her mate.”
“She’s not leaving my sight until Trace gets back,” he said. Justine started to complain, but Randy was firm. “It’s not up for discussion, Justine, so drop it.”
In a show of reluctant obedience, Justine uncrossed her arms and took us each by the hand to lead us into the kitchen.
“Fine. I guess the tour and gossip will have to wait,” she said apologetically to me.
Her mate narrowed his eyes. “And I’ll not have you interfering and stirring things up for Trace. He’s really on edge right now.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, waving her hand dismissively again. “My brother’s always on the verge of some kind of breakdown. He does it for the attention, you know?”
So, Trace had a sister. A spunky sister. For some reason, the idea of them growing up together was funny to me. I laughed, earning me a dark look from Randy, too.
“I’m serious, you two. Don’t push him too hard right now.”
Lights flashed outside, drawing our attention to therounded driveway.Here goes nothing, I said to my wolf. Even she was a little nervous about seeing Trace again face-to-face.
In no time at all, the front door swung wide open, and Trace Everett filled the doorway. I frowned at the way his face had sunken in from the weight loss, but he was still strikingly handsome.
“Not happy to see me, mate?” His eyes flashed as he walked closer. Every inch of him looked like a predator cornering his prey.
“I just…you just look different,” I stammered, not wanting to offend him. “You don’t look well.”
“I’ve been better,” he agreed through clenched teeth. “But don’t worry, I’m going to take all my frustration out on your hide, and then I’ll be good as new.”
He lunged for me, grabbing me by the arm so fast that I didn’t have a chance to run. I let out a yelp, and my wolf darted for cover, cowering in the corner. Justine shoved his shoulder hard, but that only caused him to yank me closer, pulling me right up against his chest.
“Can’t you see she’s terrified? You’re acting like a fucking asshole, Trace,” she said. Her brother looked down at me, his brown eyes searching my face.
“Are you scared of me, Mariam?” His voice took on a different quality when he wasn’t ready to burst at the seams. He sounded almost…empathetic.
He was a huge werewolf, at least twice my size, and he was spewing threats about beating me to death. Of course, I was terrified.
I didn’t answer, confident that a response like that would set him off again.
“See? She’s too worried to even answer your question. You’ve been searching every pack in the country with a fine-tooth comb, and you didn’t bother to stop and wonder why she doesn’t want to be found,” Justine argued, stepping between us. “Until you can be a decent mate to this poor girl, she’s staying with me.”
“No fucking way.” Trace and Randy responded in unison.
“Yes, way.”
I cleared my throat and tried to pull myself away from Trace, but he wasn’t letting me go. “I don’t want to ruin your…reunion with your mate, Justine. I can just stay in a guest bedroom or something,” I offered.
Trace’s growl shook my whole body. The empathetic werewolf was long gone. “You’re my mate, and you are going to sleep in our room, Mariam. And if you want to discuss this further, we’ll do it in private.”
“I think that’s our cue to get lost, Justine,” Randy said, planting a firm hand on her back and leading her out of the kitchen. She looked like she was going to protest more, but Randy gave her a swift slap on the butt, and she relented.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow, Mariam,” she promised. “And you! Be nice to her!” She glared at Trace and pointed an accusatory finger at him as she left.
The kitchen felt unnaturally quiet in Justine’s wake.
“Are your items already upstairs?” Trace’s voice was smooth and calm again, giving me emotional whiplash.
