“I am listening, but you don’t seem to understand that shifters are possessive and aggressive.”
“Life is more than just being possessive and telling your significant other what to do.”
The vein on the side of his cheek throbbed and he clenched his jaw. “It is. It’s about protecting our family. That includes our women.”
She sighed. “That’s all fine and good, but I need a man who can accept me for who I am.” She pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t expect you to change who you are for me, and I need you to do the same for me or this idea of more will never work.”
“We’ll make it work.” He sounded so sure it scared her a little.
“How?” She had enough doubts to build a bridge to never-never land.
“I believe in you, Jordan. I know you’re the one for me. There will be no other woman in my life as important as you.” He nuzzled his lips over hers. “Trust me.”
Mason opened the door and got back in the truck. With a final soft look from Aric, the conversation returned to the white wolves.
“I didn’t recognize the scent of the wolves either. There were a lot of out-of-towners at the scenting ceremony.” Mason commented and turned onto a dirt road off the main street.
Great. Neither of them knew who the white wolves were or what it was they had against humans.
They arrived at the Wolfe household. Only Aric’s parents and his brother Nathan were home. Tension filled the living room where the group sat.
Aric glanced at his parents “What’s wrong?”
He drew her into the house, but wouldn’t let go of her hand. She tried to tug out of his hold, but nobody seemed to notice how close he was holding her.
“One of the women from Caleb’s pack is missing,” his mother said.
“Who?”
“A teen. One of the enforcers wanted her, but when she refused him and sought Caleb’s back up, things turned difficult.”
Jordan wiped her sweaty palm on the side of her shorts. There was enough going on without adding the problem she’d had to the mix.
“I think I should go home,” she whispered to Aric’s side. “You have enough to discuss without me being in the way.”
“Oh, don’t be silly.” Mrs. Wolfe smiled warmly. “Stay for dinner.”
For a person who’d grown up around the Wolfe’s, it was still hard for Jordan to understand that they wanted her around. Hell, she’d lived surrounded by people who never wanted her as a child.
Aric sensed Jordan’s nervousness at his continued grasp of her hand. He didn’t let go. He didn’t care. Let the others know she was his already. They could probably scent his mark on her. Not as deep as a mate marking, but enough for her to smell of him and his wolf. He’d marked her inside as well with his seed. Fucking good time to start thinking of being inside her tight body. Or how good she’d felt screaming for him. Jesus Christ. Last thing he needed was to be remembering how amazing sex between him and Jordan had been. Especially when his mother was nearby.
“Jordan was attacked today,” he stated as they sat on a two-person sofa. He tugged her down next to him and curled an arm protectively over her shoulders.
“What happened?” His mother’s eyes flashed with concern and anger.
Jordan glared at him. Fire flaired in the look she gave him. “Aric!” She jabbed him in the ribs. “Really, Mrs. Wolfe, it was nothing. Just think some of your guests aren’t human friendly.”
“They had to really scare her, mom. She was up a tree from what I heard.” Mason grinned, taking a long swallow of his beer and lifting his feet up to the coffee table. His mother proceeded to slap him at the knees.
“Who the hell would do that?” His father growled. The golden hue of his wolf was visible in his eyes. A protector through and through, the Alpha would not stand for anyone to hurt one of his. And he most certainly saw Ellie’s friends as part of the pack.
“Some white wolves.”
His mother frowned. “White?” Then she turned to her mate as she took a seat beside him. “We don’t know any whites, do we?”
“I’m not sure. We invited so many different Alpha daughters for you boys. And you know they all came with their own guards.”
His mother lifted an arched brow and rubbed a hand on her husband’s leg. “Well then,” She smiled at the group, “we’ll just have to tell them all to leave.”
“Oh, don’t ask your guests to leave for me.”
Jordan’s grip tightened on Aric’s hand, and he knew she was embarrassed. She had always been quiet and polite to his parents. Though the same courtesy didn’t apply to him. Their conversations tended to end up in a he-said she-said of sarcastic remarks. He knew she wanted him. She was his, and no matter how much she fought it, she’d come to realize it sooner or later.
“Nonsense, my dear. You’re family.” His mother’s brows dipped. “Nobody threatens my family.”