Page 13 of Claiming His Virgin Mate

“Paint? Ink? In my hair?”

Okay.He did not squeak. Well, maybe. A little. Fucking hell. He was a Tiger dammit, not some pansy-ass. Alex’s majestic beast winced at the sound he’d made and covered his face with his paws inside his mind’s eye.

Shut up.He growled and shook his head to clear the image.

“Listen, I am not a criminal. I was supposed to meet with anM. Flintat the bank today to inform the former manager that this establishment is officially under the control of ISP Inc-”

“You’re from ISP Inc?” hazel eyes widened as first shock, then fury crossed her beautiful face, quickly followed by soul-deep sadness.

This time, when he winced, it was in his human form.Shit. It could not be, could it?

“I was supposed to meet with you,” she said in a deceptively calm voice, “I apologize, I was unavoidably detained.”

“Mags?” the young Wolf whimpered.

“You’re M. Flint?” he asked.

“Margaret, my name is Margaret, but everyone calls me Maggie,” she said with a quiet sort of resignation that broke his heart.

Shit.This was the woman Dean had told Alex to toss out on her ass for running the place into the ground.

Fuck. Fuckety. Fuck.That was so not happening. Not now, when he knew she was his mate. Besides, something must not be right.

He knew instinctively the woman was smart and good. Whatever had created this mess, he was going to help make it better.

“Yes, I work for ISP, but now that I am here, we can-”

“Get. Out.”

“What?” he must have sludge in his ears.

“Get out!” she yelled, and damn, she was cute when she was mad.

“Miss Flint,” he began, with a silent,please let it be Missadded for his own benefit, but the woman’s hazel eyes flashed as she pointed to the street.

“Maggie,” she snapped, “Now get out!”

“Maggie, please, I understand this is not the way things usually work, and I will apologize for my late arrival-”

“Wait. You mean he’s the one kicking us out?” The younger one approached and sniffed.

“Shit. Jo-Jo not now,” Maggie whispered.

Alex looked from Maggie’s still posture, and he saw the instant Jo-Jo’s animal decided to make itself known. The young Wolf shivered and shook, battling the beast within. Alex frowned.

“Jo-Jo. No, please no,” Maggie begged, shaking her head.

He knew Margaret was a human. Had scented it immediately. Damn, this must be so hard on her, raising a teen Wolf.

Why didn’t she have any help? Clearly, her charge was new to Shifting. That kind of thing required guidance, and sometimes a stronger hand.

“Oh god! No, no, no,” she jumped in front of him, and his Tiger was enraged she would put herself in harm’s way for him or anyone for that matter.

Pride in her bravery and fear for her safety warred within him. Didn’t she know she was too precious to risk her life?

Unacceptable.

Even more outrageous was the way she slapped at his hands when he tried to move her. Okay, maybe he thought it was a little kinky, truth be told. Alex had nothing against spanking. Especially if his mate was into it.

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