Mates: Prequel (Claws Clause 0)

He’d challenge any idiot that got in his way. The threat of that alone kept the other shifters out of his hair while allowing him to continue passing as a human in front of his oblivious mate.

Terrence backed his son’s choice, too, throwing the Alpha’s weight behind Maddox. According to Colt, it was because their mother told him to—Sarah really wanted her boys to settle down with their mates—and that was totally fine by Maddox.

Whatever it took. So long as he had his mate at the end of it all, it would be worth whatever it took.

After their dinner, it was still early. The summer sun hung high in th

e sky, shining down on them as they strolled down a less busy side street.

Evangeline seemed to notice the gleam at the same time as Maddox did.

“It’s really bright out here.” She lifted her hand, shielding her gaze. “Do you have an extra pair of sunglasses I can borrow, honey?”

Maddox froze. “Um. No. Just mine.”

“Can I use them?”

He could deny her nothing. But outside… it would be almost impossible to hide the way the sun reflected off his golden eyes, making them appear more amber than anything.

It was a hallmark of a shifter, just like how purple eyes were a tell-tale sign of someone being a witch. Unlike a witch, though, he couldn’t hide them with magic. If she looked close enough, she would definitely be able to tell.

Even so, there was still no other choice for him.

Maddox removed the sunglasses. He held them out to her.

She didn’t take them.

Instead, she let out a soft breath. Her stare was locked on his face, searching for something. He knew in an instant that she had found it.

A triumphant whisper as Evangeline murmured, “I knew it.”

Maddox closed his eyes. Sighed. “What gave me away?” When Evangeline chuckled softly, almost in amazement, he opened one eye, peeking over at her. “What?”

“Oh, Mad, honey. You can’t be serious.”

He absolutely was. “I acted human whenever I was around you, sometimes even when I went home, even if I saw a packmate in the area. I wore sunglasses at night and had my neighbors wondering if I had somehow turned into a Nightwalker. My brother thinks I lost my mind. My Alpha is humoring me. I was so careful… how did you know?”

“I’ll give you points for trying, but it was kinda easy. I mean, you tracked me down at my apartment, showing up before I even told you where I lived. Then you didn’t even realize how much of a stalker that would’ve made you if I hadn’t already guessed that you were a shifter. You’re kinda hairy sometimes, babe. And then there’s the way you sniff me whenever I move next to you—”

So maybe he hadn’t pulled off pretending to be a human as well as he thought he had. Still, he had to try to salvage this any way he could. She seemed like she was cool with it, but he hadn’t planned on her discovering his deception until she already loved him too much to leave.

“I do not,” he retorted without much heat. Because, well, he probably did. Who could blame him? She smelled so damn good!

She nodded. “Except you totally do. Hey, don’t worry about it, it’s fine. Honest. Sure, the first couple of times, I began to freak out that I forgot to put deodorant on or something, but you always smiled when your nostrils stopped flaring so I figured I was good enough—”

Maddox went predator-still.

Good enough? That wasn’t good enough. She knew he was a shifter? Then he would finally let himself be a shifter.

And a shifter male would never, ever let his mate think she was anything less than perfect.

“Your scent is intoxicating,” he said, half growl, and half purr. “I’ve never breathed in anything better in my life. I guess I couldn’t help it. I’m addicted to you, Evangeline.”

She grinned shyly. “I… I liked it, once I got used to it. You made it easy, too. I heard so many stories about what happens when a Para decides to go after a human. It always made it seem like we never got the choice, but then you came and you tried so hard to… I don’t know. Give me a choice, I guess. Make it seem like we’re on an even foot.”

He let his gaze flare golden. Good thing she was admitting that she knew. No way he could hide it now. “We’re not, though.”

Uh-oh. Letting the wolf peek through might not have been the best idea. Either that, or there was something in the way he snapped so suddenly because Evangeline immediately took a step away.