Page 3 of Griffen's Mate

His wolf kept telling him she was good. He could feel all the hate pouring through the pack bonds for her. His wolf seemed to understand her more than the man did. When he was in his wolf form, Pet became more affectionate. She’d pet him for hours and happily slept with him in her bed. In his man form, she seemed more hesitant, or at least he thought she was. He didn’t know if it was himself making excuses not to get closer to her. His family, or most of his family, accepted Pet, but not many of the pack did, and he wondered if their feelings through the pack were affecting him, because it had been well over a month and he still hadn’t completed their mating.

Griffen’s skin itched, and he wanted to vomit; all the nasty vibes flowing through the pack of how they felt about Pet had his heart aching. He shook his head. If they only knew what she had endured, they might have a little compassion. Her name, or lack of, should give them a glimpse of what her life had to have been like. His sister Ava and sister-in-law Remy had been some of the few that were willing to give Pet a chance and form a friendship with her.

Everyone in his family said they accepted Pet, or Griffen thought they had until he now tapped into Kane’s feelings and found out why he hadn’t seen him, let alone talked to him, since he mated Pet. From what he could feel through the bonds, Kane was frustrated and annoyed with him for mating Pet. Griffen could feel a lot of upset aimed at him for mating Pet through the pack bonds. It was times like this that he hated being the omega of such a large, strong pack.

Logan, his sister Ava’s mate, came up next to him as the buffet food was brought out and patted him on the back. “I thought this was a celebration. Arden and Remy getting hitched, but damn, I can feel the animosity pouring off people toward Pet.” He looked around at everyone before catching Griffen’s gaze. “Look, how about you and I take her home before someone snaps?”

Griffen darted his gaze over to Pet who stood with Sara and Ava. His sister Ava hovered over Pet, waiting to protect her when one of the pack snapped. Ava’s huge belly stuck out, and it looked like she was about to fall forward, but her face was set in a firm line as she glared at the pack that shot dark looks their way.

“You’re right, but I’d like to see them try to get past Ava. Have you seen your mate?” Griffen jerked his head toward Ava as he and Logan moved so they were only a couple of steps away from the women.

Logan’s chuckle was deep and held no worry for his mate in it. “Oh, I know no one would mess with Ava. She may look like a soft breeze could knock her forward with her big belly, but damn, since she became pregnant, she’s super mother hen with mega strength.” He shook his head and a huge grin spread across his face. “I was against her fight training while she was pregnant, but she’s gotten stronger, and no one even gets close to that belly. My kids are well protected.” He cracked his knuckles. “But if anyone ever came close, they better be ready to take me on, because I can tell you they wouldn’t walk away after dealing with me.”

Logan narrowed his gaze on a couple of the pack members who hadn’t taken their eyes off Ava, Sara, and Pet. Griffen was surprised to see that when they caught Logan looking at them, they turned away.

“Logan, what the hell? They’re all scared of you.” The quick flash of terror that shot through the pack bond as Logan caught the people’s gazes shocked Griffen. Logan was a human, or mostly—now that he had mated Griffen’s sister he was enhanced. “You’re human.”

Logan shrugged. “Being with your sister has given me so much extra strength, I can kick most of their arses now, especially if I use my gift. It helped that I was already awesome too.”

Rolling his eyes, Griffen looked at Ava as she cast her gaze at Logan and stuck her tongue out, blew a raspberry, and rolled her eyes too. She’d heard what Logan had said and raised her voice when she spoke to Sara and Pet. “My mate thinks he’s tough. Ha, poor thing, I won’t tell him that they’re all scared of me and are just pretending to be terrified of what he’ll do to them.”

Pet gave a husky giggle, and it was music to his ears as she rarely made a sound. Her voice was a raspy sound, so it made sense that her laughter would be husky like her voice. Pet didn’t speak often. Or at least to people. Griffen caught her talking to herself quite a bit, but he never understood what she said, it was like she spoke in another language.

Logan nudged Griffen and whispered, “How are you doing? I know at home Pet is hidden away so you don’t feel as much from the pack. Ava explained a little about you being an omega and that you feel things from the pack.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “Can you feel me?”

Griffen closed his eyes and concentrated on his link to Ava and followed that link to Logan. Lust and desire flowed off Logan in waves toward his sister. Shivering, Griffen growled at him. “Ew, thanks for that…not. Ava is my sister. That is just gross to feel.”

Logan’s laugh was deep and shook his frame. The women turned around to look at him, and Ava raised her brow at Logan. “What are you doing to my brother now?”

Logan tried for an innocent look, but he couldn’t pull that off if his life depended on it. He batted his eyelids, hunched his shoulders, and pouted his lips. Sara and Pet broke out into a fit of laughter, and Griffen basked in the happy sound.

“It’s time to go, Pet.” Griffen thought it best to leave on a good note before anything started with the pack.

We take mate home. We mate her. Make her ours fully.His wolf howled in his head.

Pet walked over to him, and he threaded his fingers through hers. It was time to stop caring how the pack felt about Pet and to stop scrutinizing everything she did and start acting like her mate. He needed to let his wolf take over more.

* * * *

Holding hands was the first step to getting more intimate with his mate. It had been several weeks since he’d found her, and they barely touched, unless he was in his wolf form. With her history, he was cautious of how to be intimate with her.

Pet had been quiet since they arrived home, but he could tell she was thinking. She was still, inhumanly still. When she thawed she would always talk or say something that was important. So, he waited.

It was hours later—longer than she’d ever been still for before—when she came undone. This time was different too, she came out of her trance with a jolt, jumped up from the lounge, and came to him so they were face to face. “I want to meet Faith.” She ran her fingers through her hair.

Griffen shook his head before Pet had even finished talking. There was no way anyone would let Pet near Faith, mate of his or not. They didn’t trust her.

“I’d let you, but my family won’t.” Kane definitely wouldn’t. He was annoyed with Griffen, and he could feel that afternoon that Kane was more stressed than usual with his son and being the alpha of the pack, or that was what it felt like. Now wasn’t the time to try to get Pet to meet Faith.

Yes, she must meet Faith. We take her.His wolf growled in his head and begged to be set free. But the time wasn’t right for his wolf to come out.

Pet’s face fell, her shoulders drooped, and her lips turned down in a huge frown. He felt sick for denying her, especially when she never asked for anything, but what she asked for right now wasn’t something he could give her. Faith was the most protected and loved woman in the pack. Not only would Kane not let Pet see Faith, but the pack wouldn’t either.

His heart broke when she didn’t argue, just nodded her head and went to her room.

Fuck, so much for wanting to take it further with her.

* * * *

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