Page 44 of An Uncertain Claim

“What the hell was that?” I hissed as I rounded on Nathan, shoving my hands onto my hips. My panther was confused at my reaction since she’d enjoyed Nathan’s show of possessiveness.

He shrugged. “He was going to touch you.”

I waited for him to elaborate but he just took me by the arm and pulled me back into the spot at his side. Flabbergasted, I glanced around to see if I was the only one who thought Nathan had lost his mind. I was satisfied to see most people looking at him in shock, although Nathan’s dad looked as if he might burst into laughter at any second.

“Mates only get more possessive as they go through the process,” Beth said, appearing beside me wearing a similar expression as her mate. “Once your bond is fully developed, it should ease off a little.”

“This is normal?” I sputtered. “He could have killed Asher.”

Michael shook his head and leaned back against the wall behind him, watching us with amusement still twinkling in his eyes. “Nah. Asher isn’t as stupid he pretended to be. He knew exactly how Nathan would react. He was trying to provoke him for his own amusement.”

The others in the room had slowly begun talking amongst themselves and moving toward the den, but some still threw us furtive glances. Emerald walked slower than everyone else, watching us as if we were a riveting episode of some reality TV show. I snickered and waited until she—last straggler—was gone before asking, “If this is normal behavior for a mating male, why did everyone look so dumbfounded?”

“Because I never lose my patience,” Nathan answered nonchalantly as his eyes dropped to my face. “I doubt they expected me to be any different while mating, especially at my age.”

Frowning, I poked him in the side and accused, “You lose your cool with me all the time.”

The sides of his mouth lifted. “You’re the most frustrating and stubborn person I’ve ever met,” he informed me. “That might have something to do with it.” I made a face and he laughed.

Human and dressed, Asher came strolling into the room, smirking. “I was starting to wonder if you were human—well, half human.”

Nathan grunted and held me a little tighter. “Don’t play games with mating males, Asher.” His tone indicated that this was not a suggestion. “But especially with me. Next time I won’t be so gentle.”

The enforcer sobered immediately and nodded. “Apologies.” He changed course and headed to the den.

“How much do they owe you?” Nathan asked, causing Asher to halt and throw an amused glance back at his Alpha.

“A hundred each,” he boasted. “Would have been more if you’d put me through the wall. But I don’t think it would have been worth Mama K’s wrath.” Then he disappeared into the other room.

I stood there with my mouth agape, stunned at Asher’s revelation, while Michael and Beth laughed. The former Alpha had been right, Asher had intentionally goaded Nathan. “Boys,” I muttered with a shake of my head.

“It’s another sign of acceptance, you know,” Beth commented.

“How so?” I asked, genuinely curious because I was unfamiliar with the dynamics of a pack like this. No one would have ever done anything but cower before Xavier if they valued their life.

“Asher didn’t stop to think that you might be offended by his little caper.” She chuckled.

I didn’t have a chance to respond when Emerald stuck her head out of the den and called out, “Hey, Schrödinger. If you two aren’t going to entertain us, let’s watch the game already.”

My lips curled up at Emerald’s ridiculous nickname. “I thought we decided to go with Nomad.”

Emerald grinned and shrugged. “What can I say? I’m unpredictable like that.” She gave me an exaggerated wink, making me giggle. She was another person I’d miss if I left.

Speaking of people I’ll miss… “Is Foxy coming?”

“I doubt it,” Emerald cackled, wiggling her eyebrows to convey the double entendre and jerking her head toward the room behind her. “Asher,” she mouthed.

“No way,” I whisper-yelled. Asher was Samantha’s mate? The one she was reluctant to commit to?Interesting.

“None of our business,” Nathan murmured firmly. “They have to work this out on their own.”

Emerald’s bright red mouth curled down into a pout, then she rolled her eyes and said, “She has a job interview early in the morning, so she went to bed early.” With another annoyed glance at Nathan, she huffed and disappeared.

“Peyton, honey,” Beth chirped. “Will you help me with the food, please?”

“Um… sure.” I glanced up at Nathan. “We’re staying?”

Before he responded, someone shouted a curse, and another crowed smugly. Nathan met my eyes and grinned. “It’s the last game of the playoffs, baby.”

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