Page 32 of Love Bites

CHAPTER8

Gideon felt her staring at his back, but he didn’t look around to see her. He couldn’t. He didn’t know what to say to her to make her feel better. He knew he was fucking up this mating thing, but he didn’t know a way around it. He’d never felt so inept, and it was only day one of their mating.

This didn’t bode well.

He wasn’t used to answering to others when it came to his choices.

No, that was wrong.

Allhe did was answer to others these days. Whether it pertained to the elders or the rest of the Pack, each of his actions had consequences. The fact that he’d taken a mate would create its own ripple effect. He hoped only that the Pack wouldn’t reject her outright. If he’d been a more ferocious Alpha, he might have held more sway in forcing others to think what he wanted them to think. If he had been as his father, then he could have forced the others to accept Brie without blinking.

He hadn’t been that kind of Alpha though.

He had never been cruel.

Brie would have to earn her place just like every wolf under his keeping.

If he had to bleed to protect her, though, he would. She hadn’t asked for this, and he would not let her be hurt because of it. Despite the fact that he’d only just met her, shewashis mate. He might not know how to care for her, but his wolf already claimed her as his—astheirs.

She wanted to fight for herself, but he wasn’t sure she could survive it. Just thinking that made him a horrible wolf, but he’d worry about that later. Right now, all they had to do was shift, run around a bit, and then head back home. They had many other things to worry about, and she needed to officially move in.

The Pack hunt was just the first of many things they needed to accomplish to move on. There would be obstacle after obstacle, but if he tried hard enough, if she tried hard enough, maybe his pack wouldn’t tear at the seams.

They were almost to the clearing when he felt Brie slip her smaller hand in his. He almost tripped over his feet but righted himself before he did something idiotic like fall.

He looked down at their joined hands then at her face.

“We’re a team,” she said simply, her voice much stronger than he’d given her credit for.

He nodded then continued moving. He needed to stop counting her out of the game before she’d even tried. He just wasn’t used to anything like this.

When they reached the clearing, he held back a curse when he realized they were far from the first people there. No, in fact, he was pretty sure almost the entire Pack was already waiting. Some were even in wolf form, as if they couldn’t wait any longer. Some of the maternal wolves, as well as those wolves with small children at home, weren’t there of course. He made a mental note of any wolves that had no real excuse tonotbe there, just in case. He knew Ryder and Mitchell were probably doing the same. That’s what made them so good in their roles. It wasn’t that the wolves were required to be there, but he had to ensure they weren’t there as some sort of statement.

He looked down at Brie quickly, only to see her studying the Pack as if she was trying to memorize each face, each nuance of body language. Again, he’d underestimated her. He shouldn’t do it again.

When they reached their spot between Brynn and Ryder, his siblings gave him a nod, and he pulled Brie closer to his side.

“Thank you for coming on this Pack hunt with us,” Gideon bellowed out. Every single wolf quieted, their gazes on him and the woman by his side. He felt the tension in Brie’s body, but she kept her chin up and a small smile on her face. It was as if she wanted to show the others she wasn’t afraid of them and, at the same time, showing who she was deep within.

A submissive at heart.

“As this is not a moon hunt, you do not need to hunt with the Pack. We want you to roam and be true to your wolves. There will be food at the den center for those who want it. For those of you I may not see later, may the goddess bless your hunts.”

With that, he tugged Brie closer to him and turned so he could see her face fully. He leaned down so he could whisper and have only those closest to him—his family—overhear his words.

“We’re on the edge of the circle, not the center, so you can shift at my side and no one will be able to see every inch of you as you shift.” She’d be vulnerable while shifting in the Pack for the first time and he wanted to alleviate any pressure he could. Shifting wasn’t easy. It was a painful process that took minutes, not seconds. Each bone broke and reformed, and muscles and tendons tore and shifted to create a new form. It wasn’t the magic that people thought, but a process that took energy—enough energy that most couldn’t shift more than once a day.

She tilted her head then reached up and kissed the bottom of his chin. He froze, unaccustomed to such public affection. The softness of her lips against the roughness of his beard made him want to shave so he wouldn’t hurt her. His wolf pushed at him, already so on edge from the upcoming hunt that Gideon had to hold back hard so he wouldn’t take Brie right then and there.

“Thank you,” she whispered back. “Everything will be fine. Now let’s let our wolves out and let their paws feel the ground.” She put her hand over his chest, and he sucked in a breath. “I’ve never seen you as a wolf before. I’d like to now.”

He’d never seen her as a wolf either, but as they’d just met, that made sense. He gave her a stiff nod then took a step back. He saw the disappointment on her face, but there wasn’t anything he could do about it. His need for her surprised him, and this wasn’t the place. Nor did he think she would welcome his attention considering she was still so fucking innocent.

He could still remember the feel of her under his body and against his skin, the feel of her clenching around him as she came, screaming his name.

He cursed again then stripped off his shirt, needing to shift.

Brie’s eyes followed the movement, and she gave him a sly smile before stepping off to his side so the width of his body could shield her. Nudity didn’t matter much to wolves, but shifting in front of over a hundred strangers while they were all staring at her probably wasn’t the best way to start the hunt.

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