Page 38 of Love Bites

CHAPTER10

Nothing was going right, but honestly, Brie shouldn’t have been surprised. It had been a week since she’d mated Gideon, and she still felt as though she’d only seen a glimpse of the man beneath the power and title. They’d made love each night, learning each other’s bodies and desires, but that was only a small part of what made a mating…a mating.

Entwining her soul with another person wasn’t all about sex—despite the fact that all evidence so far indicated the contrary. At some point, she wanted to learn who he was, see him smile, make him laugh. She wanted to have inside jokes and cook dinner by his side. She wanted to be able to walk through the den with her head held high and smile back at the Pack members who truly wanted her there.

She didn’t want her life to be only about hiding in her new home while she waited for Gideon to arrive so he could make love to her.

For all she knew, it was merely the mating urge riding the both of them through their bond that made Gideon want to be with her. Maybe he couldn’t help himself because of an outside force, not because of who she was. She could have been any person at that point and he’d have gotten his rocks off because he could.

She closed her eyes and cursed herself. That was unfair of her to think that way since she hadn’t actually asked him what he felt. There hadn’t been time. She was also too scared to do so, but she wasn’t going to think of that last part. The time thing was at least true. Gideon was almost never home. His duties as Alpha took him away from the house and her for hours every day. And since he didn’t know her well enough to allow her to ease his burden, she was stuck at home.

Sure, she’d asked Ryder for the old texts that told the history of the Pack, but there was only so much reading and learning she could do without bashing her head against the wall. The Talons, like the Redwoods, had a rich history of survival. She’d been most interested in therecenthistory and Gideon’s father, but unfortunately, that part wasn’t in anything thing she’d read yet.

It seemed, to be able to understand the man she’d mated, she actually had to speak with him.

That would be a bit easier if he was actually home.

She ran a hand over her face then sank down into the cushions of Gideon’s large couch. It wasn’t hers, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel like itwas. This was Gideon’s place, Gideon’s things, Gideon’s life. She was only a visitor that made it possible for him to remain Alpha without Iona latched on to him.

“Brie?”

She jumped up, claws out, and then sagged. “I didn’t hear you.”Or scent you or notice you.Some Alpha female she was.

Gideon frowned at her, tilting his head like he did when he was in wolf form. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just coming home for a quick shower before the Pack circle.”

She held back a sigh. Oh yes, the Pack circle. Yet another thing she had yet to endure other than the one during their mating ceremony. She had a feeling this wasn’t going to be fun. People would stare, judge, and wonder what the hell their Alpha had been thinking when he’d suddenly taken her as his mate.

Since the hunt, Gideon had practically locked her away in the castle, afraid of anyone hurting her. He didn’t trust her to take care of herself. She didn’t blame him since she’d done such a poor job of protecting herself on the hunt. She’d let those wolves make her bleed, though she’d been the one victorious until Gideon had stepped in and finished it for her.

The other Brentwoods had done their best to stand back and let her take care of herself as it was supposed to be. Gideon didn’t seem to understand that. If she stood back and let others fight for her as if she was a cosseted princess, she’d never earn the respect she needed in order to stand by Gideon’s side.

Considering how he hid her away though, maybe she wasn’t supposed to be by his side. That thought hurt like a slice to the chest, and she quickly turned away so he couldn’t see the pain in her eyes. Perhaps she was supposed to be the one hidden away, taken out only on special occasions. He’d been forced into this mating after all. Maybe he didn’t want her except in the bedroom.

Her hands curled to fists, and she let out a breath. He’d have to think again if that’s what he thought. There was no way she could hide out much more. Tonight was the Pack circle where the Pack would meet and discuss things they needed and events that had taken place. She would join in even if it killed her to do so. She would bepartof the Pack. She was a Talon now. It was time she acted like it—whatever that meant.

She jumped again when Gideon touched her shoulder. “Sorry, I guess I’m a little jumpy today.”

He cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheek. She sucked in a breath, seeing the man who held her every night, not the man who ignored her during the day.

“Are you nervous about the circle?”

“Yes and no. Nervous only because it’s my first Talon circle, but I’m excited too. I haven’t been out of the house much.” She hadn’t meant to say the last part, but she couldn’t help it.

The barb seemed to have stung because his face tightened before he relaxed again to that cool dominant air of his.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

And they were back to that again. He was also going to just ignore the fact that she was locked away in the house for her own “protection”.

“I can take care of myself, Gideon.” She pulled away but gripped his hand so he would know that she was not walking away from him. She’d gone into this mating with her eyes wide open, and she’d work her ass off to make sure she didn’t fail in what she had.

“You are mine to protect,” he growled out, his words deep.

“I know. And you’re mine to protect.” She put up her other hand when he opened his mouth to speak. “Don’t go into the whole weak submissive routine, okay? You’re stuck with me for a long time, so let’s get some things straight.”

He raised a brow.

“I’m your mate. I’m the Alpha female. I need todosomething. You need to not freak out if I leave the house and actually become a productive member of the Pack. I’ve only stayed in the house because your wolf is riding you hard, and I can see that. I hadn’t wanted to push either of you too much when we were just getting to know one another, but I can see I was wrong.”

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