Chapter 17

T hat motherfucker dared to touch my mate.

In front of me.

I’ve shoved the man so deep into our consciousness he’s nearly scratching my mental walls trying to be present.

I want to leave this hotel, barrel down the streets of New Orleans, and rip his greedy little throat out. Then I want to shift back and force the man to claim our mate so that no one will ever dare to touch what’s ours again.

Foolish fucking deluded Silas.

Has he not seen our mate? Of course, she’ll attract any hot-blooded male who approaches her. We might be tethered together by her magic, and by the circuit courts. But it’s not enough, it will never be enough.

We need our mark on her, our claim on her.

A deep festering part of me considers doing it right now. Sinking my teeth into her delicate throat. But I won’t.

A forced claim isn’t one worth having, and unfortunately, it can’t be me.

It has to be the stupid fucking man who is ruining everything.

Violet holds her arms, palms facing out towards me, like she’s trying to calm me.

“Um… hello, Thorin,” she says.

My name on her lips is like the sweetest delicacy I’ve ever had. Better than any sweet praline I’ve ever tasted.

“Listen. I know that guy made you mad, and maybe I had something to do with that. But I’m really sorry. You don’t have to do anything. We can just stay in here and sleep. I do need to get our bags though,” she says, trying to pass me to get to the door.

I press my face against her chest, pushing her back, and her body goes rigid, but she obeys.

When I inhale and scent that other Alpha’s scent on her, I can’t hold back the growl that rips out of me.

I nip at the bottom of her dress and she yelps.

“You don’t like the smell?” she asks and I nod my head. “Okay, well, I’ve got to go get my bag from the car and I can change.”

Another growl rumbles out of me. We’re parked blocks away and this city bumps with more than just supernaturals at night.

“What would you have me do? I’m certainly not about to hang out with you naked,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.

A shame really.

I think her naked near me would calm me instead of wanting to run into that pack’s den and rip out their Alpha’s throat.

Instead, I grip the man’s shirt in my jowls and nudge it into her chest.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” she says, grabbing the balled up shirt.

I nudge her toward the bathroom, and she slams the door harder than necessary while I pace outside the door.

She’s my mate. Everyone will know this as soon as she and the man see reason. I do not care that she is different .

My mate is perfect as she is. Even if she can never manifest into a wolf and give me what I also need. I shall treasure whatever she gives me.

The idea of never running in the forest with my mate, or sleeping under the stars, is a depressing one. But I’d rather have the company of my mate, her small fingers running through my fur, her scent surrounding me like a caress, than to not have her at all.

The universe has made her ours for a reason. I’ll take whatever little she gives me. If my purpose in her life is to just surround her in her sleep so that she’s safe, it would be my honor.

She’s mine to protect, mine to care for, mine to adore. No matter if she doesn’t have a wolf to love me in the same way.

She comes out of the bathroom, her odd dual-colored hair in a bun. The man’s shirt nearly looks like a dress on her, but as I inhale, some of the anger and need for violence subsides.

My mate smells like us , and it calms me to my core.

I direct her to go to the bed.

“You’re bossier than Silas,” she says, getting under the covers as I jump on the bed and circle a few times before resting my head on her legs. “I’m sorry about tonight. I won’t do it again,” she says, running her claw-like nails over my fur.

Yes, even this small affection is worth everything.