Page 10 of Love Bites

This could either help him out or be really shitty timing.

He strode to the door, wiping his chest down with his shirt, and opened the door. “Iona.”

The high-ranking female grinned at him, her eyes bright and glued to his naked chest. Gideon didn’t have a girlfriend or anyone he had a real commitment to. It was hard as wolves to date and be serious when they weren’t potential mates. Once a wolf found their potential, it was hard as hell towantto stay with the other person. Their wolves would push them toward the one who was perfect for them according to fate, rather than the one the human had chosen. Sometimes it worked out with the original person and mating bonds formed over time without fate intervening, but it wasn’t easy.

Iona wasn’t a wolf he’d ever mate or love. In fact, he knew Iona wanted him only for his cock, so he didn’t feel bad that he didn’t want her for more.

Right then, though, he wasn’t sure he wanted her in his bed today.

Maybe not ever again.

And the fact that he knew it was because of a certain green-eyed wolf made him wary.

“Gideon,” she purred then ran her finger down his chest. Once, that would have set his wolf on edge and he’d have pulled her inside. Iona was hella good in bed and usually could help his wolf calm down if he worked them both into a sweaty mess. Today, though, he wanted nothing to do with her. Her touch made his skin crawl.

He gripped her hand and stilled her before she could go any lower. He liked Iona. She was a good person, a fantastic fighter, great in bed, and didn’t take what they had too seriously.

Yet he didn’t want her in his bed anymore.

Not since he’d seen Brie.

Just the idea of having Iona beneath him made his wolf growl and his cock deflate.

Iona frowned and looked down at his crotch. “What’s wrong?” she asked, taking her hand back. She tilted her head and inhaled. “You were all revved up when I opened the door. I scented it. Now you’re cold as ice. What’s up your ass?” She pushed at his chest and growled.

Gideon lifted one lip in a snarl, letting some of his power push out toward her.Thiswas why he was careful who he slept with inside the Pack. Just because someone shared his bed occasionally didn’t give them the right to jump beyond their place in the hierarchy. She wasn’t his mate and Alpha wolf, and she wasn’t even the most dominant female in the Pack. He hoped she wasn’t getting ideas because he sure as hell wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.

Her eyes widened and then lowered before she bared her throat. “I meant no disrespect, Alpha.”

“I hope not,” he said, his voice low. “I’m meeting Brynn soon, and then I have a meeting with the elders. What I do beyond that is none of your business. Not anymore.” He held back a flinch. Fuck. He wasn’t saying the right words, and he was being an asshole.

She raised her head then narrowed her eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ll be back once you figure out what you want.”

It won’t be you.

Thankfully, because he knew better than to be a complete asshole to a woman, he didn’t say that.

“We’re done, Iona. What we had was good, but it’s time to move on.”

“Excuse me? You don’t just get to decide when it’s time to break up. You might be my Alpha, but that doesn’t give you the right to make my choices.”

Gideon closed his eyes and prayed for patience—for himself and for her. “First, we’re not together. We never were. Webothmade that clear long ago. In fact, you were the one who first said you wanted to roam in order to find your mate. Second, if I don’t want you in my bed anymore, then it’s my choice. We both have to want it for it to work, and I don’t want it anymore. So don’t think that you can dictate to me because, if you wanted me out, I’d be out.Thatis what we had. Nothing more. Nothing less. Don’t try to act like I’m your mate because we both know that was never a possibility.”

No, his mate was Brie, and he was sure not going to let that happen either.

Not when his Pack would eat her alive.

Iona raised her chin, but because she didn’t meet his gaze directly, he didn’t call her on it. “We’ll see.”

She stormed away, and he let out a breath. He was going to have to watch her to make sure she didn’t fuck up things for the Pack, but that was his fault. He was the one who’d wanted to fuck her, so now he had to deal with the outcome of them not seeing to each other’s needs anymore.

For the time being, the only person seeing to his needs was himself. His hand was going to get a fucking workout it seemed.

“You sure have a way with the ladies, big brother,” Brynn teased as she made her way to his side.

Gideon closed his eyes yet again and prayed for patience. Of course his sister would be there to witness him being an asshole. Why wouldn’t fate provide her, and thereby the rest of the Brentwoods, entertainment?

“Did you have to watch everything?” he growled, moving to the side to let her in the house. “Can’t some things be private?”

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