Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60481 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
“What is claiming her?” I demanded, setting my empty glass on the side table and giving her my full attention.
The women glanced at each other again, like they weren’t certain they should tell me.
Becky chose to answer, tugging at the hem of her cute top. “When a shifter male meets his fated mate, he’s overcome with the urge to mark her. Essentially, he bites her and permanently leaves his scent in her skin, so other wolves can tell she’s been claimed.”
My eyes widened. I remembered someone saying that Sam hadn’t marked me. Bitten? Sam had to bite me to mark me as his? The one who’d done the biting had been me. I felt my cheeks heat remembering. “Have you all been bitten? Or claimed? Marked?”
Each of them nodded.
“If you were a wolf, he probably would’ve marked you the first time you had s-e-x.” Audrey spelled that out and continued. “You’d both be on board and understand it. But with you, Sam was holding himself in check until you consented.” She smiled. “We humans expect a normal courtship, not just to be carried off and bitten.”
For some reason, the idea of being carried off and bitten by Sam sent a thrill of excitement through me. It was the same as when I had that déjà vu meeting his wolf. Like some part of me knew being marked by Sam was right.
“Was that why his eyes changed when we were having… you know?” I glanced toward JT’s bedroom. The kids were all in there, but with them all being half-shifters, I had to assume they could hear anything we said.
I picked up a piece of cheese and set it on a cracker and took a bite.
Joy nodded and stood to pour me some more wine. “Yes. Well, they will always do that, but it’s a sign his wolf came out,” she explained.
The food tasted good. I made myself another cracker. “So, you’re telling me that Sam could go mad if he doesn’t bite me?”
“Yes. Let’s not focus on that, though. We didn’t come here to pressure you into letting Sam bite you. We came to support you,” Aubrey said.
“Right. It sounds like you’ve been through the wringer with wolves,” Joy said, popping an olive in her mouth. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I downed my glass of wine. Yeah, I did.
I told them the story of what happened with Ted. How his alpha had made him break up with me to find his fated mate. How I hadn’t told him I was pregnant with JT because their pack already wanted my memories wiped, and I was supposed to be out of his life.
“Wow. So when you heard Rob was asking about JT, it triggered you,” Becky said, shaking her head.
Sometimes having someone narrate your feelings out loud was all you needed to find your center. “Yeah. I guess it did.”
“I don’t know if this helps, but here’s my opinion about packs and alphas,” Audrey said. “Because shifters are superhuman, they can’t really be controlled by human laws or law enforcement. That makes pack alphas important for keeping their kind in line–they have to play the role of big boss.”
“That makes sense,” Joy murmured.
“I think you’ll find Rob is not at all a tyrant, but I also understand if you want to keep your distance for a while until you’re sure. We’re here for you, regardless, and I know Sam will be, too.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“You don’t really believe that Sam was put on seduction duty, though, right? You know that was Chuck being an as—jerk?” Joy prompted.
I sucked in a breath to really consider my answer, then I nodded. “No. I mean, I was upset in the moment and wasn’t sure what to think. But now with a little perspective? I guess I believe Sam really cares about me.”
“I know Sam would do anything for you,” Becky offered. “Not just because it’s guaranteed by his biology but also because he’s a great guy. He takes good care of the people he loves–his mom and sisters and nieces and nephews.”
Joy reached over and covered my hand. “I guess the real question is, do you care about Sam? I mean, were you falling for him?”
Tears blurred my eyes. I thought about his pirate grin. His perpetually shirtless state. How sweet he was with JT, Remy, and his niece. The way he stepped in to serve pizza all night at the school for me. The way he paid attention to me and had my back. The way he made me scream from so much pleasure.
Giving up Sam was a non-option.
I must’ve been out of my mind.
“Yeah. Yeah, I was. I mean, I have.”
Joy smiled at me. “Good. Then everything will work itself out.”
30
CLIO
* * *
Everything will work itself out. I thought about that half the night. Tossing and turning. When I woke–or when JT woke me ready for cereal–I was no closer to an answer. Three hours later as I worked on replacing a timing belt, I had decided that it didn’t matter that I wanted Sam. He didn’t want me. It had been days, and he hadn’t shown up.