“When?” she groans.
“Soon.”
She whimpers at my promise.
I force her eyes to mine as I thrust upward into her. She’s in her head again and listening to the self-doubt. “Look at me.”
Her gaze locks onto mine.
“I want you. More than you could ever know. It’s takingeverythingin me not to mark you right now. I said ‘soon,’ and I mean it. Everyone will know who you belong to. Until then, I’ll have you screaming my name. Mark or not, know that you are in every way damned to be mine, Jay.Hopelessly and completely mine,” I growl.
She swallows her self-doubt and nods. “Yours.”
“Good girl.” I nip and suck at her neck anyway, allowing myself only a taste and trusting not to take it any further.
Her nails dig into me, and I moan. I imagine they are her teeth sinking themselves into me, and it’s enough to have me tumbling over the edge.
Our breaths come in ragged bursts. It’s everything to watch the pleasure in her eyes unfold and unravel around me. And knowing I had something to do with it.
My hand is around the back of her neck, our foreheads touching as we breathe into each other.
Coming down from the high, she utters the most delectable words, “I love you, too.”
***
Seeing Jay stand up for Bloodhound to Jeff solidified my devotion to her.
Now I just need to tell my mother.
If I’m honest, I don’t need her blessing. Iwillbe with Jay, regardless—but it’d certainly be easier if Bloodhound’s current Luna was on board.
I left Jay with Dax to train. I told her I had some urgent matters to tend to.
I find my mother in my father’s study. Whatever she is doing can wait because I can’t. “Mom, I need to talk to you.” I look around the room, at all the people in it. “Alone.”
My mother nods to the patrons, excusing them.
When we are the only two remaining, she asks, “What is it, sweetie?”
“It’s about Jay. She isn’t who you think she is.”
Her mouth forms a hard line. “Go on.”
“She killed dad.”
I brace myself for the worst, searching her face for any sign of anguish. I expect tears, screaming, even dodging a thrown object or two, but it never comes.
Instead, calmly, she says, “I know.”
I blink rapidly, “You do? How?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize her scent from my mate’s body?” my mother scoffs. “I’ve been searching for it everywhere.” She stands to put away a file in a cabinet, then closes it. She doesn’t even slam it.
Not once did my mother scream, throw a fit, show Jay any lick of distaste or make Jay feel unwelcome. And, yet she knew this whole time. She sits at the desk and reaches for the newspaper.
“How did you not tear her to pieces?”
My mother chuckles softly. “Oh, there were times I wanted to, believe me. But strangely enough, I wanted to get to know who she was. Come to find out, she’s thoughtful, kind and patient. She’s got a good moral compass on her.”
