Savage Hunger(78)

“I am right here,” Warrick ground out. “You don’t need to talk as if I’m not.”

“Usually happens that way, kid.” Quinton went on with a shrug, as if Warrick hadn’t spoken. “But a shifter doesn’t bite a woman unless he truly…wants to claim her as his own.”

If she hadn’t been so distraught by being told Warrick was mated with her, she might’ve tried to figure out why Quinton’s voice had faltered on that last statement.

Warrick had claimed her. The idea sent a rush of pleasure and rightness through her, but a frisson of dread too. Because although she was fairly certain she was in love with him, she knew Warrick didn’t want this. Didn’t reciprocate her feelings. He’d told her from the beginning they could never be mated.

“And what if I don’t want to be mated to him?” she asked desperately, searching for some kind of loophole.

“It’s not your choice,” Warrick finally spoke, his voice flat with resignation. “When you went to bed with a shifter you took that risk. The male always picks his mate.”

Disbelief robbed her of the ability to respond right away. What a sexist, ridiculous rule. Sienna leaned back against the bench seat and glanced out the window, watching the late afternoon traffic crawling by them.

“And the women just accept it? I don’t believe that for a moment,” she muttered. “That I have no choice in this. I could just walk away and—”

“You would never do that. You’re emotionally and chemically bonded to him now, Sienna,” Quinton explained as if he were talking to a child. “What passed between you both when he marked you is like twenty times more potent than being in love. You’ll always need him. Want him. Love him. He’s your mate.”

I don’t love him! She wanted to scream the words. They were on the tip of her tongue. But her mouth went dry and tears burned behind her lids. Her heart wouldn’t let her utter them.

“Unless you wipe me?” she asked, the idea darting through her head and taking root. “Would I forget then?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t know that,” Warrick said, casting Quinton a sharp look.

“Actually, I do.” His tone turned frigid and even though Sienna could only see his profile, she saw the emotion slip from his face and his mouth tighten in a clear indication that he wouldn’t be elaborating.

“We don’t have time for this now.” Warrick sighed and started the engine again. “Please buckle up, Sienna. We need to get to your dad.”

What was the point of resisting? Warrick had already pulled the van back into traffic, and she really didn’t want to risk her life by riding unbuckled in rush hour.

“I’m not done discussing this,” she warned resolutely, while fastening her seat belt once more.

Warrick grunted. “There’s nothing to discuss.”

“Like hell there isn’t. Like you both said, this is my future too. And I don’t particularly take well to having it decided for me.”

She slid her attention to Quinton, but found him quiet and seemingly off in his own little world as he stared out the windshield.

Insensitive idiots. Both of them. Talking about her and her future, blithely assuming she was asleep and wouldn’t hear a damn word they said.

But she’d heard. Heard exactly how little she meant to Warrick—even if by biting her that night he’d made her his mate.

His mate!

Smothering a hysterical laugh as the impact really began to sink in, Sienna pressed her fingers to her temples.

Did she want to be Warrick’s mate?

God, yes. It wasn’t even a question that needed pondering. The vision flashed through her head of how it would be. Waking every morning in Warrick’s arms, making love to him, having his protection and love.

Love?

She shook her head. No. Warrick didn’t love her. Strong lust and a history of friendship didn’t equal love by any means. And beyond that, she could never be so selfish as to let this mating stand. Not if it resulted in the sacrifices he would have to make. And besides, it wasn’t as if he’d consciously made the choice. Obviously he was as staggered as she was. He’d been caught up in the moment.

There had to be a way around it. Because what an absolute mess. How could he have done it? How could he have lost control like that? She knew Warrick would never have consciously made the decision to claim her.

Sienna was so caught up in her distressed thoughts, she didn’t even notice when they pulled up in front of her dad’s house. It took the van turning off for her to snap out of it.

Warrick turned around and gave her a searching glance. His expression tightened and he sighed.