She shook her head, her long, brown hair falling over her face.
There was. She was hiding something, but only time would allow her to trust me enough to tell me. I was sure.
“Okay. Well, Claire’s sending us back to our house for the night. But if you need us, we are literally a house away.”
I stood up and she looked up at me, her eyes wide and frightened as she took in my size.
I couldn’t stand it.
I bobbed down and rested on my haunches.
“Give me your hands, beautiful girl.”
She didn’t, so I unbuttoned my shirt slowly. When she didn’t move, I picked up her hands and put them against my skin.
“I’m huge because I’m the Alpha of my pack. It comes with my genetics, it’s not a choice. It’s not for intimidation. It’s not to hurt you. I’m strong so that when a bear comes for you, I can literally beat him to death, if need be.”
She relaxed her palms flatter against my skin, “Did you kill him tonight?”
She sounded… strangely expectant.
“Ah, no. It was more important to get you back here. Why? Do you know who the bear shifter is?”
Nevaeh withdrew her hands, and the cold that flew in to replace her warm palms was like ice on my skin.
“No. I just… You said…”
“I said I could protect you. That is the reason I am so big and strong.”
I stood up and walked towards the door.
She was lying to me. And I wanted to find out why.
But perhaps tonight was too soon.
“Claire, we’re right next door if anything happens. You have our numbers.”
“Yes. Thank you, Grayson.”
Aaron and Brad came to the door also and bid our mate goodbye, and we all left, retreating to our home.
It hurt to do so. I can’t deny it. But we were playing a long game in this moment, and I needed to remember that the only important thing at this time was Nevaeh feeling safe.
Thus, our mate would sleep beneath Dex’s roof tonight, though it rankled me extraordinarily.
“What’s going on with her?” Aaron asked, as we stomped inside our house and began to pull food from the fridge.
None of us had eaten properly and it was time to take stock of what was happening.
“What do you think she’s hiding?” Aaron asked.
I grabbed some leftover pasta and began forking it into my mouth.
“I think she knows who the bear shifter is. And I bet you it’s that douche bag of an ex-boyfriend of hers.”
“Really? Well wouldn’t that be an odd bit of luck.”
I shook my head, shovelling more food into my starving body.