Page 20 of Possessive Mate

Elena wasn't sure she had ever seen her brother so taken aback. He physically leaned away as if she had slapped him.

They stared at each other for several long, dragging moments, and Elena felt the tears growing behind her eyes again.

Please, don't ask me again, she thought, unable to look away from her brother. She wasn't sure she would be able to stop herself from admitting the truth if he asked again.

But he didn't. Instead, he sighed deeply and shook his head. “You know you are welcome here for as long as you need.”

Guilt overwhelmed her again. Why did her brother have to be so easy going? Why couldn’t he just force the damn truth out of her so they could get it over with? She had no idea how to put any of it into words.

“Thanks,” Elena said, dropping down onto her back. She yawned hard. “Now, do you mind? Not all us wolves are morning people.”

She could see the displeasure on her brother's face, but he didn't argue. Instead, he leaned forward and kissed her gently on the forehead. “I don't know why you're here, but I'm glad you are.”

Elena's heart ached. She fought the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and squeeze him tight until he hugged the truth out of her. “Me too.”

“Go back to sleep,” he whispered, rising from his perch on the edge of the bed. “You look like shit.”

“Thanks!” Elena scoffed, grabbing one of the extra pillows to throw at him. Then, as he walked over to the door, she rolled onto her other side, putting her back to him. The tears were stronger now, and she didn't want him to see them.

Her ears pricked when she heard silence fall as he stopped in the doorway. His sharp inhale was the only warning she had before he spoke.

“You know, Elena, sooner or later, you are going to have to tell me what the hell happened,” Eddie said, and she sensed him lingering.

“I know,” she whispered, fighting back the tears, “Just not today.”

She grabbed her pillow and clutched it tight to her chest. Burying her face in it, she stifled a sob, not letting the tears fall until her brother was gone from the room. Then they fell like a torrent, untamable.

Chapter 9 - Hanson

There he was, minding his own business on his way to his room, when Eddie seemed to appear out of nowhere. Shoulder barging him out of the way, the bullheaded werewolf growled low in his throat.

Maybe if he wasn't so damn tired, he would have let it slip, maybe not. But he was tired from shifting, and tired of Eddie’s bullshit. So, he whipped around and grabbed the other wolf by the back of his shirt.

Yanking him sideways, he threw him into the nearest wall and pinned him there by his chest. “What the fuck is your problem? One minute we're fine and the next you're acting like I've pissed in your bed.”

Eddie snarled, baring his teeth, and shoved Hanson away hard. The two stood in the hallway, glowering at each other.

“You walk around here like you own the place and have every she-wolf fawning all over you, but you need to remember your place, omega!”

Hanson gritted his teeth at that. Sure, he had been demoted to omega the moment Jack took over, but it had never really been said aloud. The others seemed to respect every member of the pack enough not to put such labels on things. But here and now, Eddie was clearly using it as an insult.

And it pissed Hanson off no end.

Tightening his hands into fists, Hanson fought the urge to tear his packmate a new one. Instead, he growled through a clenched jaw, “Does this have something to do with Carly?”

The way Eddie lunged at him and grabbed him by the throat, forcing him back against the wall, told him all he needed to know.

“Keep her name out of your filthy mouth!” Eddie snarled at him, spitting with rage.

Hanson scoffed a little, but it was cut off as Eddie tightened his grip on his throat.

“I'll take that as a yes,” Hanson said, struggling to speak for barely being able to breathe.

Hanson pursed his lips and looked Eddie dead in the eye. Seeing the anger there, he knew he had best be careful. A wolf like that could tear his throat out in seconds.

“You don't need to worry when it comes to her,” Hanson insisted. He reached up and grabbed Eddie's wrist, yanking his hand away from his throat. “I can assure you, I am in no way interested.”

Not in her, anyway, Hanson thought, but he just as speedily forced the thought away. Easing Eddie's temper only to tell him he had interest in his sister wasn't the best way to save his hide. In fact, it was likely a sure-fire way to get himself killed.

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