Dominated(27)

“That’s . . . unconventional you know. Once you’re claimed, it’s not easy to walk away. Did he hurt you?”

Kathleen shook her head again, more forcefully this time. “Of course not.” Not physically. I’m more worried about what he might do to me mentally over time if I give him that opportunity. Already, she was lost in a vortex that allowed her no other thoughts except those that were about him. His scent, his lips, his deep blue eyes that reminded her of the sea.

“Do you need me to go find him?”

“No,” she blurted. “Please, Mom. Can’t you just let it go? I need to sleep on it.”

There was a pause before she spoke again. “I doubt you’ll be able to do that. Nor will he. Newly mated couples don’t separate, Kathleen. The draw is too strong.” She paused again. “If there’s some reason why you shouldn’t be mated to him, I need you to tell me. If not, we’ll take you home and let you figure it out if that’s what you want to do.”

“I’m just so young and inexperienced. He . . . isn’t. I need a good night’s sleep in my own bed before I make a decision.”

Her mother chuckled. “Okay. . ." Her voice trailed off. “You can give it a shot.” She climbed out of the car and moments later all three other doors opened. Her sister took the seat next to her, her father and mother in front. No one said a word. By silent agreement, they gave her a mile of leeway. She was never more relieved of anything in her life.

As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Kathleen bolted from the car and headed straight for her room. She shut the door and stood in the middle of the floor turning in a slow circle. The world as she’d known it twelve hours ago ceased to exist. She didn’t see anything the same as she had this morning.

Her childhood room wasn’t a baby’s room. It wasn’t that. She was a grown woman and had updated her space recently to reflect that, but nevertheless she felt out of place here, as though she no longer belonged.

She shuffled to her desk and fingered the stack of papers neatly lying in the center. Applications for jobs. Her acceptance letter that had just come in the mail days ago saying a position was available for her this fall at Kings Elementary teaching second grade.

She’d been so excited. Now? Could she even take the job?

She plopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling fan as it whirled in a slow circle to circulate the air.

Visualizing herself in the life she’d known yesterday was difficult. She’d graduated from college weeks ago, finishing her student teaching requirements before most of her classmates were done with school.

What if she threw it all away and left town with Gabriel Albertson? How long before she didn’t recognize herself anymore? How quickly would he transform her into someone she didn’t want to be? She shuddered. She’d never visualized herself as someone who would allow themselves to be manipulated by another. She was stronger than that. Wasn’t she?

A knock at the door made her cringe. A moment later, her mother walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. “You want to talk about it?”

“No.” What was she supposed to tell her mother? She’d already fretted over this problem in the car.

“I am mated, you know. I might be able to help.”

Kathleen glanced over to see her mother’s wry smile.

“I know he already claimed you, honey. It’s done. Sex can be . . . difficult the first time. Is that what’s worrying you?”

She so didn’t want a lecture about sex from her mother. She groaned and rolled away from her to face the wall.

“Was he too rough? Sometimes men, especially wolves under the mating influence, can be less than perfect when they claim their mates. It doesn’t mean it will always be that way.” Her mother patted her back.

Kathleen stiffened. Her mother had no idea how close she’d come to the truth.

“Instincts are powerful weapons in the mating game, Kathleen.”

“That’s an understatement,” she muttered before she could stop herself.

“Ah.” Her mother continued to rub Kathleen’s back with her soft hand. Several minutes went by.

“Was Daddy ever. . ." She swallowed. She wanted to know if others were like Gabriel, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask the question. She rolled over to look at her mother. Who else was she going to ask the questions she needed the answers to?

“Overpowering?” Her mother raised her eyebrows in question.

“I guess.” That wasn’t quite it, but . . .

“Demanding? Forceful? Dominant?” Her mother’s words were getting closer to the truth. Maybe she wasn’t alone.