Page 97 of The Wolf Prince's Mate

“According to Clay, we really are just exclusive friends with benefits. He says we can make the rules.”

“What do you think?” Sydney countered.

I sighed. “I think his wolf has claimed me, and he’s so out of touch with the beast that he hasn’t realized it yet.”

There was a pause.

A long one.

“Holy shit,” Aspen said, at the same time Sydney said, “I knew he wasn’t insane.”

“He has to be insane. He’s tried to kill Enzo and Hunter like a dozen times,” Aspen protested.

“Have you ever heard the story of how Clay’s wolf went crazy?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. It was bad, though. Has he told you?”

“No. I only got the story about the food. He’s keeping our conversations surface-level, and I’m letting him.”

“Is there a master plan here?” Syd wondered.

“Of course there’s a master plan. Nova wouldn’t be doing the friends with benefits thing if there wasn’t a plan,” Aspen said. “So what is it?”

“He obviously wants to be more than fuck buddies. I’m waiting for him to realize that. When he realizes how attached he is to me, I’m thinking he’ll come to terms with the fact that his wolf has claimed me, and he’ll want to seal a mate bond,” I explained.

There was another moment of silence.

I continued working on the tattoo.

“Tell me that’s not the only plan,” Aspen finally said.

“It’s not great,” Sydney agreed.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“You’re counting on a man who’s been convinced that his wolf is insane for over a century justrealizingthat not only is his wolfnot crazy, but that he’s claimed you, and a mate bond is the right call,” Aspen summarized.

I frowned.

Then pulled away from Aspen’s skin as my forehead creased deeper.

“You don’t think he’ll ever realize it?”

Both of them shook their heads emphatically.

“Then what am I supposed to do?” I gestured with my empty, gloved hand. “His wolfhasclaimed me. I see him in Clay’s eyes all the time, when Clay doesn’t even realize he’s there. When I bring up ending things, he gets furious. He’s never hurt me, and he doesn’t like to be away from me for long.”

“I have no idea,” Sydney said.

“There are two people you need to talk to about this, unfortunately.” Aspen held up two fingers. “Enzo, and Hunter.”

“That’s an even worse idea than mine,” I argued. “There’s no reason to involve Hunter.”

“They’re Clay’s brothers, and his only friends,” Aspen countered. “They’re the only people other than him who know what happened to make his wolf lose it, and they’re the only ones who would have any idea how to deal with Clay’s wolf choosing a mate. Unless you’re ready to come clean to Clay, they’re the only option.”

I grimaced. “I can keep trying with my plan.”

“You can,” Sydney agreed. “But eventually, you’re going to need to try another approach.”

---