“What’s it like then, mate,” El snarled, her lioness in charge now.
“There are things that must be done.”
“Pride law, yes, you’ve said that.Am I mistaken that you are, in fact, Alpha?”El inquired.
“El, I can’t change laws that have been in place for centuries just to please my new mate.”
“No, youwon’tchange those laws,” El countered.
“Do you want pride members to be able to fight at pride gatherings just so you can get off free?”Ryan asked.
“No, what I want is for your mother to be held just as accountable as me.I’ll take my punishment when she takes hers.Furthermore, I am her Alpha, she challenged me, if we’re going by pride law, she lost and should now be banished.”
El was a bit shocked at the information that was flooding out of her.She had been picking up bits and pieces since her time with the pride, but it was like the laws were ingrained in her lioness subconscious.
“She’s right, Ryan,” Marcus said when Ryan failed to respond.
“If that be your command,” Ryan asked her.
“You’re the Alpha, Ryan,” El scoffed, turning back to throw the last bit of her clothes in the duffle bag.
Once she had it zipped, she turned back to him and waited for his response.
“Maybe you going with Shawn for a time is the right thing for now.We all have some decisions to make,” Ryan told her.
It felt like a knife had cut straight through her heart.Leaving had been her idea, and she knew she needed the break, but hearing that Ryan also wanted her to leave stung.
“This is crazy.You are our mate, and your place is with us,” Marcus urged, moving to take El’s hands in his.El reached up and cupped his cheek.Marcus had been her ever-faithful peacemaker, and he didn’t deserve the separation.Honestly, El was nervous about being separated from him as well.He seemed to be the only one capable of keeping her beasts in check.
“Leave us,” El snapped at Ryan and Trip.
“El, please baby, you’re making more of this than what it needs to be,” Trip purred as he moved closer to her.Marcus stepped back, giving them space.
The closer Trip got to her, the harsher Claudia’s smell became.El had to take two deep calming breaths to keep her beasts in check.
Holding her hand up to keep him from coming any closer, El said, “When I come back, please try not to reek of another woman’s stench?”
Trip’s eyes fell, and he realized that he wasn’t going to get anywhere with her.That was fine with El; he had hurt her, and it was unfair of him to try to make her feel bad about being upset.She had every right to not want him hugging an ex-lover, mate bond be damned.Trip finally turned and left the room.El’s gaze moved over to Ryan.She wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but something told her that the battle lines had been drawn, and he was just as stubborn in his position as she was hers.He finally dipped his head to her, turned and left.
“I don’t like this fighting.It’s not healthy to fight,” Marcus told her.
“Shh, I’ve had enough of this talk for the night.I’m leaving soon, and I need a shower.Will you join me?”
She felt Marcus waiver.He felt as if he was betraying his triad brothers by not having a conflict with her, but he also felt turning down his mate was a betrayal to her.El didn’t want him to be in the position, so she didn’t push him on the matter.El headed to the bathroom and stripped out of her tattered clothes, while the waterfall jets warmed.
El stepped under the hot water and moaned with satisfaction.It felt good to cleanse herself of the night entirely—all the makeup, blood, and scents.She needed a break from her new world.A few minutes into her shower, she heard Marcus come into the bathroom.He stripped out of his clothes and joined her.El didn’t think she’d ever get tired of seeing any of her mates naked.
He wrapped his arms around her and drew her body against his.Even though his erection nestled against her back, his hug was more for their emotional connection than a sexual act.With all the tension between her and Ryan, she knew it was hard on Marcus.He had a bond to nurture and protect not only with her but with his triad brothers as well.
“I love you, Marcus.I love them too.Everything will be okay.We all just need time,” she said, hoping to soothe him.
She also prayed she was right.The mate thing was so clear for them, but for her, there was a learning curve and distrust.She had come second to everyone in her life, most especially ex-boyfriends, so she was self-conscious.
Marcus began placing small kisses down the side of her neck.El wanted to turn in his arms, but he kept a firm hold on her.He nibbled at her ear and her collarbone.His hands moved up her body to cup her breasts.He rubbed his thumbs over her pert nipples gently, and then he began to pinch them between his thumb and forefinger.Marcus asserted just enough pressure to make the brief pain pleasurable.El rocked her ass against his erection.Her adrenaline from the fight earlier still hadn’t worn off, and she needed Marcus to help take the edge off.He must have sensed that because he was being more aggressive than he normally was.
El turned her head back to catch his lips, but instead, he guided her hands to the shower wall, spreading them wide.
“Keep them here,” he grunted.
