The Mate Mistake(The Woolven Secret 3)(22)

"If he has, none that he's shared with me." He stopped to consider. Would Blake tell him, or as Alpha, would he handle that himself? No, his brother was an Alpha, not an asshole. He had enough faith in his pack that he'd bring that to the table. "And he would tell us."

"With Randi being pregnant, I'd understand if he didn't want this on his shoulders."

She said it casually, as if they weren't talking about her life.

"I told you before we started this. You're Woolven now. You mean as much to him as that baby. You're pack. My brother would never trade one for the other."

"Oh, Parker." She put her fork down. "I'd never ask him to make that choice. You need to know that being pack, it means something to me, too. I may be cold-blooded and undead, but I've had a long life. Long enough that I know I've had more than my fair share. I wouldn't let a single one of you be hurt for me."

"That's what pack means. Putting the whole above yourself. But it also means obeying your Alpha, which I think, for you, is going to be a problem." He knew it was inevitable, but he didn't want to think about the coming battle. The werewolf nations were still at war with one another and from what Warner said, it would get worse before it got better.

"Just for me?" she quipped, giving him a knowing look.

"Hey, I always do what my Alpha tells me. If not to the spirit, then to the letter." He grinned. "I know I'm a spoiled little shit, and I wouldn't change it for the world."

Only there was a part of him that would. A part of him that wished he were stronger, harder, more Alpha. He needed to be, to be what Belle needed in the fight that was to come. He didn't want to fail her, or the pack.

This time, he wouldn't be the devil may care little brother who had another affair with a virgin heiress from Monte Carlo that cost the company money. He'd be the weak link that would bring death and destruction to his pack.

Growing up, he'd trained with Warner like his brothers and it wasn't that he hadn't taken it seriously... or maybe that was it. Maybe he'd never believed it would come to this. The werewolf nations were determined to be civilized. That was the point of the council.

"I wouldn't either. I kind of like you the way you are." She grinned at him and took a drink of her bloody mary.

She stretched then, arching her back and seeming to luxuriate in the sun. Her exposed neck made him think about the mark he'd put there several times, and the orgasm she achieved every time his teeth pierced her skin.

His dick was at attention, but this wasn't the time, or the place. They had to get ready to head to St. Louis for the wedding.

"How are your lessons with Westwood going? Can you make your clothes pack themselves yet?"

She frowned. "No, not yet."

Shit, it was worth a try.

"But I can make you pack them for me."

"Oh, how's that?" He raised a brow. Yeah, she totally could. If she asked him to pack her bag, he would. Because he'd been raised to be polite and really, what else did he have to do?

She flashed him and laughed.

"Newsflash. That's not going to motivate me to do anything except get you on your back. Which I pretty much want to do all the time. Or get me on my back, you can be on top. I'm not picky. When you're naked, I forget my name."

She laughed again. "Will you? Pack my bag, I mean."

"Of course I will."

"Is this what it's like being mated?"

Parker considered for a moment. "I'm not actually sure. I've never been mated. I could ask my brothers."

"You don't have to do that. I'm just curious about all things werewolf now."

"Speaking of, have you signed the prenup?"

"Did it yesterday. Signed the magical one, too, that Westwood gave me."

"Good girl." He hadn't signed it yet. Parker knew he should, but there was a definite end date to their union  . Parker didn't know that he agreed with that.

He knew that was dangerous territory, but his wolf wanted what it wanted. His human brain wasn't quite as sure. His human brain understood the logic and was prepared to sign, his wolf wouldn't let him.

Inconvenient, that.

"I didn't see your signature."

"Nope. You didn't." He didn't want to talk about it anymore. So instead, he said, "Make a list of everything you want to bring. I'll pack your bag for you."

"I was kidding, Parker. You don't have to do that."

"I don't really do things I have to do, Belle. In case you haven't figured that out about me, yet."

"Well, okay then. I guess since you're being so nice, I'll have to be nice to you." Her eyes went dark and predatory.

Her smile? Razor sharp.

She was suddenly on her knees, crawling toward him, and licking her lips.