Page 18 of A Wolf's Heart

“Impressive,” Weylin said, walking forward.

I held out the housecoat, and he chuckled as he slipped it on, stretching the fabric over his shoulders. There was barely enough of it to cover his front. Not that he made any effort to hide his hard-on.

“Are you just permanently stuck that way?” I asked.

“Only when around naked mates.” He chuckled.

I moved to the patio set and sat down, Max sitting at my feet. “This is the weirdest encounter I’ve ever had. First, three shifters walk into my town. Then they threaten to kill me unless I join their pack. Next, I learn I’m mated to not one but all three of them.”

“Walking half a mile home naked doesn’t make the weirdness list?” he asked, sitting across from me and using the edge of the coat to cover his bulge.

I gave him a dubious look. “Shifter.”

“Fair enough.”

“Will they find us here?” I asked.

He nodded. “They will.”

“So, the question is—why did they leave me with you? Kage is your alpha, that’s what you call your leader, right?”

“Yes.”

“And Rainor is… I don’t even know what, but he’s a hair away from an insane asylum.”I take that back. They all are a hair away from an insane asylum.

“That’s exactly why. I’m the least likely to harm you.” His grin sent a shiver down my spine. Least likely didn’t mean he wouldn’t harm me.

“You’re not like them,” I stated.

“I’d rather not get into life stories on the first date.”

I shook my head slowly. “I don’t even think I can begin to comprehend what has happened tonight.” A dull ache settled in my chest; something felt as if it were missing. “What does having a mate mean?”

Weylin seemed slightly uncomfortable. Never mind that he was sitting in my pink house robe, wearing nothing underneath, outside on my patio chair. It was the talk of mates that made him squirm.

“It means nothing. Like humans getting married, shifters find mates.” He repositioned himself. “We are fated mates,” he added quietly. “Chosen to be together by the fates.”

Cool. Cool. Cool. “So, you guys just almost tried to kill your fated mate.”

“It won’t happen… again.”

I was holding a breath, too anxious that if I dare breath I would miss his response, however I let it go. Staring at him until I finally made up my mind, that I wouldn’t allow them to scare me. “Good, perhaps everyone should abstain from murder.”

He smiled as a car pulled into my driveway. It wasn’t long before Rainor and Kage walked into the backyard. Max ran to the edge of the porch, greeting them with a growl. I quickly called him back before Kage could attack him, since it looked like he was about to.

Rainor handed Weylin a stack of clothes, and he got dressed while Kage turned to face me. “The offer still stands.”

I frowned, confused.

“You have an opportunity to join our pack, or we will assist in your departure.” My heart twisted in a vise, and Rainor growled, his eyes constricting as red bled into them. The beast was close by, and that gave me confidence.

“No. This is my territory. I have no intentions of leaving.” Weylin set my housecoat on the railing. “Respect my boundaries.” I notched my chin up, not backing down from these three brutes.

Kage narrowed his eyes at me. “You doubt us?”

“No, not at all. But I don’t doubt myself, either. I was born and raised here. This is my home, my pack, my territory. Iwillfight for it.” Max snapped and bared his teeth next to me, having no idea what was going on but backing me up all the same.

When Kage stepped forward, I pulled the gun out from my waistband and pointed it at him. He stood still but otherwise seemed unbothered. Rainor raised an eyebrow, as if to question my sanity.

---