Page 126 of Wolf's Mark

She laughed, but not in a chastising manner. “You’re making it sound much more complicated than it is. Yes, pheromones are the scientific reason and yes, full wolves can detect each other from a significant distance. While they can enjoy being with one another, they can never offer their heart to anyone but their mates. It’s not so different than finding that perfect one, staring at each other across the bar and knowing he’s your soulmate. Is it?”

As with so many things, I wasn’t certain how to answer the question. Nothing had confused me more than learning I was his mate. It was strange. Bloody murders and violence were my norm, but I was hung up on the thought of attachment. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do. You feel it here.” She pressed her palm against her heart. “Just think about how you feel and what it was like the very first moment you laid eyes on him.”

I took a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before letting it out. “Right now, all the two of us should be thinking about is stopping a massacre from flesh-eating werewolves. All hands on deck.”

Business.

Work.

That was all I could concentrate on at this point. Love was the furthest thing from my mind.

Maybe…

CHAPTER 31

Jax

“Jax. This is your sweetie, your mate. Well, good news. My mother just confirmed I was born and bred for one thing. Becoming your mate. I guess my father is one of you. He was given a special honor in creating a hybrid. My scientific mind has to wonder why. Oh, yes. I guess so my identity could be a secret? Maybe your great council was told or had premonitions of the fact werewolves would try and destroy the world.”

Sedona’s voice was filled with a half dozen emotions as well as anger.

I tossed the phone onto my desk and closed my eyes. Had my mother known a mate had been pre-selected for me? Had the council members? I knew the answer.

Yes, to both.

Should I be angry? Likely.

Did the situation make more sense?

Yes.

But I didn’t like it in the least.

I moved to the window in my office staring out at the landscaping. I was still having as much difficulty processing the events as my stunning mate was.

Maybe it was tough for me to think of her that way. Part wolf or not, she was set in her ways. She’d never be able to tolerate the old Wolfen ways.

Neither could I.

They were archaic.

But perhaps a portion of them were necessary.

I wasn’t interested in being at the office, but I’d needed to sign several contracts. At least my brothers and Parker were expected at any time. At this point, all four of us were concerned about how to handle the future for the corporation as well as personally.

When I heard a knock, I sighed, still thinking about Sedona. I wanted to be with her instead of here. Sadly, I doubted she wanted comfort or anything else from me at this point.

It was another situation where I couldn’t blame her.

“Come in.” I no longer recognized my own voice, the gruffness from carrying such a significant weight on my shoulders.

Both Riker and Parker walked in, each man as pensive as I was.

“You’ve heard something?” I asked my brother.

“The communication boards are going wild as you might imagine. The council meeting has gone viral, wolves in every pack threatening to boycott.”

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