Page 101 of The Alpha Dire Wolf
“Park there, behind the black truck,” I said, pointing at my cabin.
She complied. “So you don’t deny the attack?”
I snorted. “I deny the accuracy of the apparent retelling of events. There was a fight, yes, but that’s not what occurred.”
“Then what did happen?” she pressed, shutting the car off and following me to the front door.
“That is more complex to answer,” I said, trying to think of a way to shrug her off.
Sylvie had already dealt with a great many revelations the past day or two. She’d barely survived an attack, and was now about to be exposed to my world in its full glory. Explaining to her about the evil that was the Chained could wait another day. After the storm, she needed to unwind.
I would tell her. Just not yet.
“I would think we have time for you to answer. We’re kind of trapped by the storm, no?” She glanced around the modestly furnished and sized cabin. “Nice place. You have good taste.”
“My friend’s mate helped me decorate,” I said. “I like it, but I cannot take any credit.”
“She has good taste, this … what did you call her, mate?”
“We are wolves, Sylvie,” I explained at her questioning glance. “We take a mate.”
“So you get married under a different word.” She shrugged it off.
I shook my head. “No. Marriage is a uniting of people who believe they can coexist forever. They choose it.”
“You all live in arranged unions?” She shook her head. “That’s awful.”
“We take our mate, once fate shows them to us,” I corrected gently. “We don’t choose because fate chooses for us. Literally. When two wolves bond, it is for life. Always.”
“So is marriage,” she said defensively.
“Mates don’t get divorced. We don’t want to. A mate is quite literally the other half of a wolf shifter’s soul. It’s part of what makes us … us.”
“I see.” She looked away, twisting one hand with the other.
“Listen,” I said, bulling my way through the awkward silence with a solution to her discomfort. “Make yourself at home, okay? But stay here. Don’t go exploring.”
Something in my tone must have alerted her. “You’re leaving?”
“I must,” I said, not bothering to hide my unhappiness at leaving her. “Your presence is going to generate some concern. I need to set things up to head that off.”
Sylvie walked near to a window, peering out it at the den. “Am I welcome here at all, Linc?”
“You will be,” I promised with a growl. “Just give me time, okay? I’m springing this on my people, not all of whom likehaving outsiders around. We’re a pretty private bunch, for a good reason, as you now know.”
“Yes.” She licked her lips. “Am Isafehere?”
“I will keep you safe,” I vowed. “But it would be better if you stayed here.”
“You’re making me feel uneasy about being left alone.”
“There’s lots of unease going around. The storm will have many on edge. I promise. You’ll be okay if you stay here until I get back. Okay?”
Sylvie sighed and then nodded reluctantly. “I’ll wait.”
“Thank you,” I said, relieved and not hiding it. I stifled an urge to hug her. After the talk of mates, and the things I had said to her, she would be … wary. I could not afford to fight a battle on two fronts by making her angry at me.
Dealing with certain elements within my pack was going to be hard enough.
