Page 52 of Wolf's Mark

My mate.

While the jury was still out on my gut feeling, my wolf didn’t give a shit about semantics or truths. He was very… hungry.

And far too eager to escape his dark confines.

Exhaling, I forced myself to turn away. At least I also sensed the unknown wolf was just watching. Gathering information. Nothing more.

I returned to the table, my muscles remaining tense. As soon as I sat down, Sedona stiffened herself. I wasn’t prepared to tell her just yet that she wasn’t going home tonight.

Even if I needed to lock her in one of my spare bedrooms. Which I would do if it meant keeping her safe. Until I had a handle on what was going on, I wasn’t planning on allowing her to get but so far out of my sight.

I was certain that would go over well.

And what about her kid?

The complications were adding up.

A part of me was annoyed when her phone sounded as if the ringer had been turned on high.

She acted as if she didn’t want to look or care who was contacting her. Her thoughts were far too easy to read at this moment.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” I asked rather casually if I could say so myself.

“Just a text.”

“Ah, yes,” I told her and reached for my champagne.

My tone forced her to lift her gaze. The look on her face was rather hateful. So much of me wanted nothing more than to tame her.

Just like she deserved.

My cock ached from the thought. Protecting her could be enjoyable.

“The oldest trick in the book. Is that Mattie contacting you to provide a way out of the date?”

Sedona couldn’t have been any more shocked than she was. The tiny furrow in her brow and the way her soft lips twisted in both frustration and embarrassment brought another wave of desire.

She held up her hand as if using the other to swear on a bible. “Guilty as charged. I just… I’m not good at dating. Nothing against you.”

“You’re going to need to make it up to me.”

The little tilt of her head meant she was no longer so embarrassed. “How so?”

“Oh, I assure you I’ll think of something. Only you need to promise you’ll accept your punishment without argument.”

She was taken aback. “I’ll think about it. Don’t get your hopes up.”

As she snatched her champagne glass off the table, I tipped mine, waiting for her to clink our glasses together.

“You’re not just an arrogant man,” she admitted after allowing the crystal to touch.

“Then what am I?”

“You’re…”

She struggled to find words and in those few seconds I realized, mate or no mate, I liked this girl. Maybe a little too much. Maybe enough I needed to remember being a gentleman was a worthwhile attribute.

Especially when a woman who was also a mom.

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