The Alpha smiled knowingly and cut her eyes to a spot over Jens’ shoulder. “Also, he’s standing in the doorway looking worried and frustrated.”
Jen whipped around to find the mate in question, standing, staring at her, his amber eyes boring into her.
Alina walked past Decebel and patted his shoulder. “Go easy on her, Beta,” she said to him as she smiled back at Jen.
“Traitor,” Jen muttered as she narrowed her eyes on Alina. The alpha female just chuckled as she left them alone in the kitchen.
Decebel stepped further into the kitchen as he continued to stare at her. “Jennifer, baby, what’s wrong? You’ve been closed off for days. I’ve tried to give you space, but that’s not working. Talk to me, please.”
Jen stood, unable to meet his eyes. She wished he’d yell and growl at her. She knew how to deal with a yelling and growling Dec. But this Decebel, the one who is hurting just as much as she is,becauseshe is, this Decebel slayed her. “Can we take this somewhere else?” Jen asked finally. She knew she was going to have to tell him about the stress she was dealing with, but she didn’t really want someone looking for an afternoon snack sauntering through the kitchen and providing them with an accidental audience.
“Rachel is in the suite with Thia,” Decebel said. “Is the garden okay?”
The indoor garden of the Romania mansion might as well have said ‘Therapy Room’ on the door because it was often the destination of deep conversations.
“Alright,” she said as she took his offered hand and let him lead her out of the kitchen.
“Talk to me, Jennifer,” Decebel said again as they walked into the indoor garden, a place that she, Sally, and Jacque loved.
“What is there to say?” Jen asked, trying to keep the irritation from her voice and failing miserably. Shewasirritated. Actually, she was beyond irritated. She was suddenly downright pissed. But, she’d matured over the past two years and had been trying to learn to hold her tongue. It sucked.
“You’ve barely said anything to me for the past three days. You won’t open the bond more than enough for me to feel you’re alive, and you haven’t made fun of anyone in at least thirty-six hours. I have a feeling there is much to say but, for some reason, you’re scared to say it.”
“Scared?” she said through gritted teeth, the word leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. She was scared of a lot of things, but speaking her mind wasn’t one of them. She was scared of hurting someone with her sharp tongue when she felt out of control of her emotions. She was scared she would lose herself in the war that was knocking on their door. She was scared of losing someone she loved. She was scared the entire world was going to implode on itself because of all the stupid supernaturals in their world. Why the hell couldn’t they just go back to their own realms? Why did they have to invade the human realm and act like they had some claim to it? Just because humans could be selfish pricks didn’t mean they didn’t have a right to live out their selfish-prickish lives without being forced to bow down at the feet of overinflated, egotistical supernatural beings with sticks up their asses.
“Okay, that’s a little better,” Decebel said, sounding amused.
Jen’s head whipped around to face him. “You heard that?”
He nodded. “You’re feeling quite emotional at the moment, and it’s coming through loud and clear.”
She growled at him, which only made his stupid, handsome grin grow wider.Stupid bond, stupid wolf.
“You know I won’t let anything happen to you or Thia, right?” Decebel asked. He ran his hand up her back and under her hair until he could wrap his hand around the nape of her neck. He gave a gentle squeeze, and she knew it was meant to comfort her, but all it did was make her want to bite him, and not in a good way.
“I’m not worried about me, Dec,” she said, which was a partial lie, stepping away from his grasp and liking the growl he emitted, which was little too strong for what the situation warranted. “I can handle myself.”A little too well, she thought but didn’t say out loud. “I can take care of our daughter.”
“Then what do you need me for?” he asked as he narrowed his, now glowing, amber eyes on her.
She rolled her eyes. “Eye candy, duh.”
“Jennifer.” He growled.
“Decebel.” Jen growled back, mimicking his irritated tone.
Apparently, he’d reached the end of his rope with her as he snarled and slammed his fist into the wooden gazebo that sat at the center of the garden.
“Way to go, brute. Take it out on the poor gazebo. Like it spit in your kibble or something,” she said as she glared at her mate.
“TALK TO ME.” He practically roared at her.
Jen’s wolf pushed at her skin, wanting to take a swipe at their mate for being a butthead. Why did he have to push? Why couldn’t he just let her worry and fret and freak the hell out in peace and quiet? “FINE,” she snapped. “You want me to talk?”
“No, not at all. Please, by all means, brood in silence and push all of those who love you away. Because that’s healthy for everyone,” he said, the sarcasm in his voice thick.
“Don’t be coy, Dec. It isn’t attractive.”
“Talk.” He growled again.
