Page 23 of Blood of Vengeance

“No one in the club is mated.”

“Not officially, but we both know that’s not true.”

Facts. “No one in the club is out as being mated.”

“No, because most choose to leave. They pick their mate over their brothers.” His smile fell, his face growing more serious. “You’re allowed to choose her.”

I said nothing, just sat and stared and waited him out. Mostly because I already knew I could choose her. But also because…I had no fucking clue what would happen if I did.

Cutter eventually grunted once, pinning me with his stare. “Your wolf wants her, so that’s it. Mating bond or not. The wolf will get what the wolf wants.”

My wolf agreed, the prick growling his approval to our soon-to-be prez. The man in me had a commitment to honor, though. “I won’t leave the club unless I have to.”

“That decision is a long time off at this point,” Cutter said. “For right now, you need to worry about getting to know your human mate because she likely doesn’t have any wolf instincts when it comes to this mating?—”

“Fuck, I hadn’t thought about?—”

“—and then you need to claim her. Full mating bites exchanged.” His gaze grew harder, eyes darkening and voice dropping lower. “The fuckers around here won’t accept anything less.”

My temper snapped, and a throaty growl escaped me. “You think they would try to take her from me?”

“I think there will be some who will use her as a way to challenge you. None smart enough to keep their dick out of a fire ant hill, but some. To claim another wolf’s woman? To be powerful enough to entice a fated partner into rejecting her mate? That’s like candy to some of these fuckers.”

My mind spun, thoughts of Locklyn with one of my brothers making my chest burn again. The bastards in the club would never get the chance. Not with my girl. Not with my mate.

“She’s mine.”

Cutter shot me another smirk. “Then claim her.”

But there was one hole leaking air out of my confidence balloon. “Chiggy taught her well. She won’t trust a shifter.”

“So don’t be just any shifter. That’s your mate—be better than the rest for her. Earn her.”

Those words played on repeat as I finished my conversation with Cutter, as I popped into the clubhouse to make sure the boys didn’t need me, as I pushed past the club pussy and out the door. They repeated loudly in my skull all the way home. I didn’t even bother giving the prospect at the door my attention—just a curt, “You can leave” before entering my home and locking the door behind me.

I hunted Locklyn down, my animal side more dominant with my thoughts taken up by the idea of earning her. I found her where I had expected to—in my bed. Alone. She had wrapped herself in my blankets like some sort of burrito, only the top of her head and all that dark hair visible outside of her cotton capsule. I stood and stared for a long moment, my wolf begging me to enter our room. The man in me knowing that crossed a line I couldn’t uncross even if she did leave the door open.

Earn her.

I sighed and stripped right there in the doorway, listening to the little murmurs and sighs coming from the bed. Locklyn talked in her sleep. Not anything understandable—at least not at the moment—but definitely words and phrases that meant something to her subconscious. I couldn’t wait for the day she would invite me into her bed so I could stay up and listen to her.

I also couldn’t wait until I could feel her naked body pressed against mine, but that was another thought. One that woke up my dick and had me extra annoyed.

“Flinch.”

“Fuck.” I nearly stumbled, nearly fell right into the room as my name left Locklyn’s lips on a breathy sigh that had me harder than I’d ever been. She hadn’t woken up, but she’d said my name. Clearly. Was she dreaming about me?

“Mmm, Flinch.” Locklyn rolled over, her burrito enclosure slipping off her. Exposing her backside to me right there. The moonlight coming through the windows played into the hands of fate, practically shining right on those ass cheeks I wanted to bite. Her panties weren’t pink this time but green. Emerald green—her ass encased in silky fabric like a jewel. That fact didn’t make me want to bite it, smack it, or lick it any less.

I wanted her more. Needed her. Needed something.

“Yeah, beautiful. I’m here.” Here but not invited, so I kept my ass outside the room. Stood like a statue in the fucking doorframe. Still, the need grew with every second, the desire burning as I stared at that tempting ass. I couldn’t resist, couldn’t stop myself from getting a little release.

I couldn’t pass up the chance to come with that ass in view.

Without another thought, I dropped my hand to my jeans, freeing myself. I immediately sought my dick, grabbing it to pull it out, rubbing my thumb over the tip as I squeezed. Giving myself attention without stroking. Not yet. I had a war going on in my head. The wolf in me wanted to jump into that bed with her and rut her through the mattress. The man knew better, knew an invitation had to be offered first if we were to keep respecting our mate. So I locked my knees and gripped the doorframe with my one available hand to hold myself in place as I squeezed my dick almost to the point of pain. If I didn’t, I would break. I would end up in that bed. I would?—

A low groan sounded from across the room, and my mate rocked her hips once. Twice. Green satin practically glowing in the moonlight. The scent of her desire whispering on the air around me for the first time. She smelled like cherries and sin, like something that would ruin my life in the best possible way. Her need smelled like coming home, and I wanted to fucking bathe myself in it.

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