He still sported his beard, but trimmed it back. He’d gone a step further and shaving the whiskers that had decorated his neck, exposing the clean-shaven column of his throat. Now, he had a classic beard look. He’d also run his fingers through his hair so it lay back out of his face. The deep purple color of his black eye had already faded to an ugly green-yellow. Even with his bruising, he looked really good. Just not shaven all the way.
I could finally see most of him, but couldn’t tell him what I thought of it with Sam standing right next to me. So, instead I smiled warmly at Clay.
“You know why I’m here Clay,” Sam said from behind me. I turned to look at him, my smile falling as he said, “I’m told you didn’t take the news well.”
I turned back to Clay in time to see him shrug and cross his arms waiting for Sam to continue.
“What’s going on? What news?” I said looking back and forth between the two.
“You didn’t tell her?” Sam demanded looking at Clay sharply.
“He’s not talking to me yet,” I said wondering what bad news Sam had to share.
Sam shook his head looking at Clay, “You’ve dug your own hole then, son.” He focused on me. “A group of Forlorn asked the local Elder to approach you for an unofficial kind of Introduction. The Elder approved, but made it clear they were to make it brief and then leave unless any of them had a further request of the Elder.”
The meaning of his words sunk in deep like a vicious bite. It explained his less than warm greeting. I struggled to contain my anger knowing they’d both smell it on me. “I thought I was done with that. We had a deal.” I crossed my arms and coldly regarded at Sam. “I know I said I was done,” I restated.
The carefully, composed expression on Sam’s face faltered a bit. “Honey, there are rules we must follow to keep peace in the pack. Clay had six months to convince you of his suit. That time has passed. That means unmated werewolves can once again approach you with permission.”
My mouth popped open. Six months. Permission from an Elder. That’s why they’d stationed Joshua here. A backup plan because they knew I didn’t want to Claim Clay. They failed to understand I didn’t want to Claim anyone. I’d never been free. I clenched my fists. My temper boiled.
“That’s complete crap,” I gritted out. “First of all, I didn’t reject anyone. Second, no one ever told me about this stupid rule.” My voice rose to a yell and I took a deep breath closing my eyes briefly to restrain myself. When I reopened them, I felt more in control, able to speak. “You know what? I don’t care what the pack rules are. I gave you my word and my time. Now, I expect you to keep yours. I worked hard to get here Sam. I won’t let anyone take this away from me.” My hands shook. That Sam had cared for me in the past, given me a place to call home for two years, kept my tongue marginally civil.
“By not completing the Claim, you’ve become eligible again. Charlene was granted a special consideration, because at that time we weren’t even sure a Claiming would be possible between a human and a werewolf. Now that we know that it is, you fall under the same rules.” Sam explained calmly his face again carefully devoid of emotion. He stood in my living room as an Elder on pack business, not as family or a friend.
“No, I don’t.” I knew I could stand there and argue all day with Sam and he wouldn’t budge. It would always be whatever’s best for the pack with him. “Is this why Clay was beat up?”
Clay made a noise behind me.
I arched an eyebrow at Clay’s snort and said, “Feel free to jump in at any time.” He remained mute, but his eyes softened when he looked at me.
Sam spoke up from behind me, but I didn’t turn to look at him.
“Gabby, it’s the reason he’s been fighting. He’s not relinquishing his tie to you. Every time an unmated shows up here, he will challenge that man for his right for Introduction. Did Clay get beat up? Only as a byproduct of handing out beatings.”
Clay steadily met my gaze the entire time and it broke my heart a little to know he fought so hard to keep me. And all I’d given him in those six months was a kiss. Not even spontaneously given, but relinquished as part of a bribe. I hadn’t rejected him. I just didn’t want to be forced into a choice. If I chose to be with Clay, I wanted it to be on our terms.
Tearing my guilty gaze from Clay, I asked Sam, “Why is two years of school too much to ask for?”
“And after that? Then you’ll want time to establish your career. Let’s face it. There will never be a perfect time for this in your life. You just need to make the best with what you have.”
As in, suck it up? My temper boiled over. Screw respect. He just crossed a line.
I walked right up to him and poked him in the shoulder saying, “No, Sam, you do. I’m not your pawn in this game you play with women’s lives. I went to your Introductions and fulfilled any obligation I felt I owed you for the roof over my head. You have no say in who I see,” poke, “or what I do, unless you intend to drag me back to the compound and physically force me to bite someone.”