Danger lived in his frown. “I’d hoped that if we mated, you’d give us an honest shot. If you then left, well, no. You don’t die. You just can’t mate another wolf.”
“So I could marry a human?”
A low growl rumbled from Seth’s chest. “Yes.”
If everything he said was true, there didn’t seem to be a downside to being bitten by him. She’d get stronger, faster, and live longer. Even then, she didn’t have to stay with him. “What am I missing?”
“I keep and protect what’s mine, Mia Stone.” His voice lowered to the timbre of gravel spinning in a mixer. The sentence was both a warning and a declaration.
So she did him the courtesy of returning the favor. “I chart my own path, Seth Volk. Period.”
A ding sounded, and Seth yanked his cell phone from his pocket. “What?” After listening for a moment, he shut his eyes and leaned his head against the door. “I understand. We’ll be there at dawn.” Ending the call, he lowered his head to meet her gaze. “My father is finishing the ceremony tonight but has your house surrounded. If we’re not there at dawn, he’s killing your mother and aunt.”
Heat slammed into her gut. Mia shot toward the door. “I’ll kill him.”
Seth stopped her by wrapping both hands around her biceps. “You won’t win. Not against twenty of them. They’ll burn the house before letting you get to it. There’s one chance, and I’ve spelled it out for you.”
“Are my aunt and mother safe?” Her chest hurt.
“Yes. They won’t even know they’re being watched,” he said.
There didn’t seem to be much choice, and it’d give her an edge when dealing with Ben during dawn. This was so crazy. “Does mating hurt?”
“Yes.”
So now he was being completely honest. Great. “No offense, but the last thing I want right now is to fuck you.” She shrugged free from his hold.
“How about I fuck you, then?”
The coarse language matched the lust leaping into his eyes. Her abdomen warmed instantly, and her cheeks heated. A dangerous mixture of anger and desire rippled through her veins. “This might be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.”
“Of that, I have no doubt.” His hand encircled her nape, drawing her closer even as he kept one hand on the gun. Warm lips wandered against hers, gentle and somehow sweet.
She grabbed him with her free hand, jerking him closer and deepening the kiss. Gentleness was the last thing she wanted—this was a logical move without emotion. Frankly, even though she’d seen him turn into a wolf, she wasn’t so sure this whole mating situation held any truth. Maybe his job was to distract her.
Shoving him, she wrenched free. “I need to call my mother.”
Keeping her gaze, he hit a number on his phone. “Go ahead.”
The phone rang several times, and then Dotty sleepily answered. “For goodness’ sake…what?”
Mia sighed in relief. “Hi, Aunt Dotty. Sorry to wake you, but I wanted to check on you and Mom.”
“We’re fine, sweetie. Your mom played with her wolf for a little while, and then she went to bed. Cute little thing is still on the deck asleep.” She yawned loudly.
Dread iced through Mia until even her eyes chilled. “Um, okay. Well, I’m going to, uh…”
“You’re a grown-up, Mia. I’ll judge you at a later date. Night.” Dotty hung up.
Mia slowly handed the phone back to Seth. “Your brother is on our deck in wolf form, but Dotty seemed fine.”
Seth’s jaw hardened. “Your family is safe until dawn. You have my word.”
That would have to do, now wouldn’t it? “You need to know, if I do this, it’s only to protect my family. I have no intention of tying myself to anyone for life.”
He smirked. “If I mate you, we’re tied for life whether you like it or not.”
“Only in your world. Not mine.”
