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Maybe he is.The thought slithered into her mind making her wonder again about their relationship. She wasn’t a member of his pack. She wasn’t even a lycan, she didn’t know their customs. Maybe it was taboo or some type of faux pas to show public affection.
To help hide and keep the coven she’d kept to herself staying away from Martin’s pack members as much as possible even when they came into the diner she was careful to be polite without being overly friendly. So she let him pull away after nothing more than a quick peck.
“Come on I want to introduce you to Ryan and Kelly.” He gave her hand a gentle tug leaving her with no choice but to follow him.
He rapped on the door briefly before entering the house without waiting for a response. The door had barely shut behind them when a squeal pierced the air and a petite woman flung herself at Clay making him release Jade’s hand as he caught her.
Jade stepped back as he swung the other woman around infolding her in a warm hug.
“Ryan didn’t tell me you were coming! That rat.”
“That’s because he didn’t know little wolf. At least not right away. I only called him when we were on the road.” Clay kissed the other woman’s cheek before placing her on the ground.
Jade tried to school her expression into something welcoming or at least a bland blank expression as she tried to ignore the tidal wave of jealousy that was crashing through her threatening to drown her. Her chest ached so badly that she had to fight the urge to press her hand to her heart to rub at the pain.
She fought for control trying to bury her anger and jealousy not wanting Clay to smell a hint of anything that would indicate how desperately she wanted to tear the other woman’s face off.
“We?” The curiosity was unmistakable. Jade squared her shoulders drawing herself up to her full height as the other woman peered around Clay to look at her. There was no censure in her gaze, no competitiveness and that was the only thing that held Jade in place swallowing down her jealousy and ire at another woman touching her mate.
“Kelly this is Jade. Jade this is my cousin’s mate Kelly.”
Knowing she was mated didn’t stop how Jade was feeling but she tried to bury it deeper as she shook hands with her.
“You found her? You found her!” Another sharp exclamation escaped and Kelly clapped with glee. “See if we’d gone through with it and mated we would have been miserable. I bet you’re glad now that we didn’t.”
Jade felt the blood drain from her face as her insides went cold. They had almost mated? The woman he’d put his hands and lips on right in front of her he’d almost mated? She didn’t understand how that could be when Clay had told her that mates were fated.Was it possible that he wanted Kelly? Was he only wasting time with her?
Bile rose in her throat and she had to swallow. The bitter acidic phlegm burned as she forced it back down and right at that moment she was thankful for the empty void where their bond should have been. It offered a cold comfort and she was glad that Clay wouldn’t have a front-row seat to her feelings of betrayal.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The scent coming off Jade had him taking a step back from Kelly. He’d caught her partly because she’d come at him like a missile, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t miss her. They had been constant companions during the month she stayed with his pack. Kelly’s words permeated the fog of his brain and he groaned instinctively reaching for Jade mentally. There was nothing.
FUCK!He cursed so loud in his head that both Kelly and Ryan cringed as it leaked into the common mental path that all Lycans shared. Clay didn’t even know where Ryan was in the house and his cousin still heard his displeasure along the mental path.
He reached for Jade not surprised when she subtly pulled away from him. Her shoulders were hunched, her head bowed slightly as if she couldn’t bare to look at any of them any longer. She turned her body slightly away withdrawing into herself. That she didn’t outright reject him in front of the others was the only thing that kept his wolf from lashing out.
Not having a way to communicate with her privately Clay spoke up. “Kelly came to stay with the pack for a while and was very ill. She needed a mate to get better. I offered to mate with her so that she would get well. Not because we were in love.”
“An offer I thoroughly kicked his ass over,” Ryan said joining the conversation as he came down the hall. “Why are we all standing in the doorway” Come in.” Clay watched his cousin reach for Jade. “It’s nice to meet you, Jade.” He shook her hand and offered her a kiss on the cheek similar to the one that Kelly had given him. Clay’s possessiveness flared, but he kept it firmly in check realizing that his cousin was making a point as he watched Kelly flush with embarrassment.
“Where’s Collins?”
“He kept going towards my pack with the truck after we got here. He figured it was a good idea to split up. He’s a paranoid bastard.”
“He’s right to be cautious, Jade spoke up her voice soft. They won’t stop looking for us once they realize that I’ve fled.”
“Let's put aside that worry for now. Come have some breakfast you’ve been driving all night you must be exhausted. We’ve made up the guest room so you can nap once you’ve had something to eat.”
Jade opened her mouth as if to protest making Clay wonder what she would have said if his cousin hadn’t interjected. “I insist come on now.” His cousin was alpha and used to getting his way. As a result, the rest of them followed him into the house and found themselves seated at the large dining table platters piled high with bacon and pancakes, hashbrowns, and eggs. As well as an assortment of fruit.
He watched as Jade selected a few items rather than loading her plate. He noticed that while she did so she kept her eyes averted refusing to even glance in his direction. If she did catch his gaze she shifted hers away her expression becoming shuttered.
He hated it, but without the means to communicate with her privately, he would have to wait until they were alone to further clear the air between them. In the meantime, he made sure to keep his distance from Kelly who was still red-faced and looking thoroughly chastised and remorseful. He was sure that his cousin had pointed out how hurtful her behavior was even if she hadn’t intended for it to be.
“So, tell us what you were able to find out, Clay.” He felt all eyes turn to him and was forced to focus on something other than his issues as he relayed what they knew so far.
“I guess the good news is that since it’s not a natural phenomenon there’s likely a way to fix it, but we weren’t able to find out much more before we had to leave town.” He regretted adding that last part as Jade’s head lowered further and she seemed to shrink in her seat.
