Alpha’s Strength(13)

She shivered beneath his hands. “That’s not fair to ask me.”

“Why not, princess?” His cock hardened. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to lose all finesse and take her on the floor while the members of his pack arriving waited outside on the front stoop.

“I make poor decisions when it comes to men, and I always feel bad about it after. I’m not doing that anymore, no matter how desperately I want it. To say I’m not attracted to you would be a lie. I don’t care about it though. Not being a slut means not being a slut.”

He let out the long breath he’d held. “Don’t ever call yourself that again No one is allowed to insult you. Not even you. Am I clear?”

She pulled back. “I think that if something is bad enough to use a bad word, then using it is appropriate at certain times. Sometimes I can’t keep my legs closed. It’s humiliating to me, to my family. I’m always sick to my stomach about it after. Maybe I have some kind of illness, but I think slut is the right word.”

“No.” If she’d been raised as a wolf, as she should have been, she would have understood this better.

“Look, I get it. Here in New York City it may be acceptable for women to have as many lovers as they want. I get it. I even admire the way people are here, but where I was raised, and based on what we believe, what I do is not okay.” And if she truly believed it, why did he hear doubt in her voice? Not a direct lie—that he would have scented, but her wolf side knew better even if her human half didn’t understand.

“Oh?” He walked away from her—needing the distance to get his temper under control. How dare she think so little of herself? Touching her was only making his desire to claim her worse. Putting a little distance between them seemed the best course of action.

“So what happens now?” Betsy cleared her throat, a definite tic. She was as uncomfortable as he.

“I’m sorry. I can’t let this go yet. You’re not a slut. There is nothing wrong with you. Female wolves go into heat in a different way than their female human counterparts. It has to be handled, and it’s the male werewolf’s pleasure to make them feel more comfortable.” Although, since he’d become Alpha, he’d had to withdraw from the duty. Without a true mating, sometimes wolves mated for other reasons, even knowing they weren’t the other halves of each other’s souls. He didn’t want to ever give anyone the wrong impression.

She gaped at him. “You guys go around screwing each other? Ooh, a female needs servicing, I’ll go bend her over and get it on? Like it means nothing?”

He laughed, and she put her hands on her hips. Apparently, she hadn’t meant her statement to be so amusing. Cyrus tried to drop his smile. After a second, he gave up trying.

“Listen, I think you are getting the wrong impression. We’re not animals looking to rut. If a woman goes into heat, she picks a male to share the time with. Condoms protect against unwanted pregnancies. Mostly, it’s a time shared by pack mates who care about each other. But you needn’t worry, princess. Once a true mating happens, its one man and one woman forever and ever. What do you say? Do you want me to ease your needs? How did you put it? Bend you over and go for it?”

“You’re an asshole. Did you know that?” Contrary to the fire in her eyes, she dropped her gaze.

“So, she gets submissive again after she delivers the blow to my ego.” He grabbed his chest like she’d wounded him and moved toward her again. “I can be a jerk. Maybe more than I should be. You can help me with that if you want to. Make me a better wolf.”

Someone knocked on the door. He sniffed the air. Another four of his wolves had arrived. Securing Betsy’s safety came before anything else. He’d find a way to reach her heart one way or another. He had to. Anything else was inconceivable.

“Come in.”

The four wolves that waited on the stoop entered, including his sister, Lake. She took one look at Betsy and drew in a breath. “She’s not Lilliana.”

“Congratulations. My entire pack is showing themselves to be more adept than I am at identifying the obvious.” He returned to Betsy and took her hand. “Everyone, this Betsy. Betsy, this is everyone. She is my mate.” He ignored the murmurs around him. There was no time for everyone to have an emotional response to this. “They’ll all introduce themselves later. For now, we have things to do. Lake, I need you to call Travis. Don’t tell him why; just get him here with Lilliana. The rest of you, search this place. I want info on the human who lived here with Betsy. His name is Nathan. His family is threatening hers.”