‘Idon’t like being told no.’He staredinto my eyes.
Igrinned and leaned in to kiss him as Shamus and the others started cheering.
“Geta room!” one yelled as Kai slammed the front door and raced down the hallthrowing me on the bed.
Igave him a sultry look and began to unzip the back of my dress. Kai stood inthe doorway.
“Arewe interrupting?” A voice came from the hallway behind Kai. Kai’s mom! My eyeswidened and Kai laughed.
“Mama,you’re here,” he said with a twinge of annoyance and embarrassment.
“Practicingfor tomorrow night?” his father commented. I quickly zipped and smoothed mydress and met them in the hallway.
“No,of course not. We were going to nap.” I was bright red.
Kai’smom laughed. “Yeah, Raj and I napped a lot too before our wedding.” She winkedand we all shared a laugh.
Rajlooked at me. “Why the sudden wedding date change?”
Isighed as we made our way out into the living room. Kai glared at his father. “Papa,my mate will not be interrogated.”
“I’mnot interrogating my daughter-in-law. I’m asking her a simple question,” Rajcountered.
Ismiled at his use of the term daughter-in-law. He had already accepted me asfamily.
“Lifeis short, why wait? Kai and I deserve to be mated, no matter the cost.” Istared into his eyes a little longer than was polite. I needed him to see thatI could hold my own. The decision was final.
Thecorner of his lips curled the smallest bit. “Well, I’ve brought one hundred ofmy finest wolves. This wedding will be well protected.”
Kai’smother placed an arm around my shoulders and walked me into the kitchen. “And thenI will have some grandchildren soon!”
Ismiled weakly but didn’t respond. As we neared the living room, deep growlingcould be heard outside.
Ipushed his mother gently aside and ran out the front door with Kai hot on myheels.
‘Oh,Shit!’I told Kai as I saw it.
Someof the Seattle wolves had shifted. So had ours. Max and Tara were both in wolfform, staring at each other. Their markings were exact opposite. He was glaringat her with a growl in his throat.
Shamuswas running across the lawn in human form.
“No!What happened?” Shamus asked one of his wolves.
Theguy looked surprised. “Max asked Tara and a few of us if we wanted to go for arun. Then we shifted and he saw they were mates. Why is he growling at her?”
“It’sa long story,” I interrupted. I quickly stripped off my clothes and shifted. Iran in front of Tara going head to head with Max as I felt Kai come up behindme.
‘Iknow this is hard to take, but Tara IS your mate. I had a vision at the weddingin India. I wanted to tell you, but Kai didn’t think it was best after what youhad been through.’
Maxcircled me slowly like a predator.
‘Don’tmess with me, Aurora. You’re a witch. This is a trick!’He pulled back his lips and bared his teeth.Kai lunged at him and knocked him over.
‘Howdare you threaten my mate! You’re my best friend. You helped me pick out herengagement ring. Get your head on straight,’Kai yelled at him and I think the entire pack heard it.
Maxlunged at Kai and knocked him over, pinning him down. Kai could easily push himoff and get up, but he didn’t. They stared at each other as Tara whined.
‘MelissaMcAlister is my mate. She smelled like vanilla and mint. She had an adorablefear of birds and she was my other half, the mother to my child. Melissa is mymate. If you say different, I will kill you right here. You knew her, Kai. Youloved her too.’
