Her nose wrinkled as though smelling something unsavory, and a fire burned in her eyes. “Great! Nothing I’d like more than a bunch of horny werewolves trying to get between my legs. Unless, of course, it’s a bunch of jealous bitches—with claws, I might add—who’d kill to trade places with me.”
“No one, male or female, will lay a hand on you.” The mere thought of it had his wolf in his throat.
She patted his chest. “Down, Cujo. You can’t protect me. Not from this. Doing so would make me look weak.”
“You’re my mate. You carry my child under your heart. I bloody well can and will keep you safe.” Rory felt his eyes go wolf, and the tips of his fingers prickled, claws waiting to spring out.
She narrowed her eyes in such a way that he knew, just knew meant he wasn’t going to like what came next. “Respect is earned, not forced. Eventually, I’ll have to stand on my own.”
Though it went against every protective instinct in his body, Rory knew Shay was right. But still… “You’re human. Not only that, you’re mine to protect.”
Snorting, she responded, “That’s fine as long as your idea of protection doesn’t cause me to lose face.” Suddenly she sighed and inched closer. “Rory, I know enough about shifters to know that anyone wanting to get to you could do so through me. Granted, you’d make them wish they’d never been born before you kill the bastard and anyone associated with him. But afterward, once the anger abated, grief—the crippling kind—would hit and most likely you’d be done for. In this relationship, I’m the weakest link.
“I also know enough about animals, canine in particular, to know you can psych them out. It’s all in the attitude. If you treat me like I’m powerless, then in their eyes that’s what I’ll be. I’m not saying throw me to the wolves—no pun intended—but I need you to stand back and let’s see what happens. I guess what I’m really saying is give me a chance to show I’m strong enough to stand by your side.”
Rory thought about it. He could understand her not wanting to appear weak. Could he suppress his protective nature enough to give Shay what she needed? “I can’t promise anything. You’re my mate. Protecting you is as natural to me as breathing. It’s instinctive to all shifter males. Not doing so would send the message that I don’t value you, that you aren’t truly my mate. Shifter males protect their own.”
He could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she considered his words. He went on. “Think of how Alex is with Kiesha, Hugh with Mary Elizabeth, even the vampire with my sister. Do you honestly think I could do or be anything less with you?”
Shay sighed as she rolled her eyes. Finally she said, “You’re right. You do what you do, and I’ll handle the rest.”
He cupped her jaw. “As stated, there’ll be some friction at first. A period of testing and adjustment because I’ve been without a mate for so long, and because I’ve made known my intentions never to take one. You and the babe will be a shock, but they’ll get over it and if they don’t, they’ll deal with me.”
She considered his words. “What about the enemy within?”
Her words threw him. “What enemy?”
“Your enemies,” she clarified, her gaze intent.
Her expression indicated there was some bit of knowledge she wasn’t sharing with him. He wanted to ask, to push. Instead he decided to bide his time. Build trust between them and the rest would come.
“Everyone has enemies, and every pack has dissenters. If I’m not powerful enough to hold the pack and protect what’s mine, then I don’t deserve either one of you.”
Eyes narrowed, Shay pointed a finger at him and commanded, “Watch your ass.”
“Yours and mine, always.” Rory patted the body part in question. Though she smiled, she still seemed worried.
Part of him was offended. “Shay, I’ve been alpha more than eight years. You think someone handed me the position? I had to kill for it, my own father, and while I was still tired from the battle, had to take on five others who thought they were the better wolf for the job. In the years since, I’ve proven by combat and by wits that I’m more than tough enough, powerful enough to hold it.”
Rory rolled away from her, intending to get out of bed and put space between them. How dare his own mate doubt his abilities? How dare she think him too weak, too feebleminded to protect her and their babe?
“Rory…” Shay laid a hand on his arm. He shook it off and made to rise. Suddenly her arms were around his neck as she gripped him in a headlock.
“Oh no you don’t!”
“What the bloody hell is wrong with you?” He pulled on her forearm. In response she tightened her grip to near strangling and wrapped her legs around his waist.
“You’re not going anywhere until we finish discussing this like rational adults. Well, I’ll be rational. You try not to be so hardheaded.”
“I’m done with this subject,” he grunted, still trying to pry her loose.
“I’m not.” She bit his ear—hard. “Think, damn it. Shove your ego to the side. Do you think I’d be here with you in the midst of a bunch of freaking werewolves who want my blood if I thought you couldn’t keep me safe? Hell, Rory, you fought off two horny wolves for me, or don’t you remember? You think I’d have been screaming your name at the top of my lungs if I hadn’t believed you’d do otherwise? And that’s when I thought we hated each other’s guts.”
The reminder of that night, the first night of the blue moon, calmed him. “Then what’s this about?”
“Conor.”
He stiffened and dropped his hands to his sides as the lightbulb in his head clicked on. Looking straight ahead, his tone neutral, he asked, “Are you ready to tell me now what the seer said?”
Shay was quiet. Through the link, he could feel the war going on inside of her as she debated whether or not to trust him with the truth. Tell me, baby.”
She released her hold, and the mattress shifted as she retreated, putting space between them. Rory turned and caught her by the wrist. “Trust, Shay. That’s what relationships are built on.”
She tilted her head to the side, her gaze bouncing between his hold on her wrist and his eyes. He knew the minute she dropped her guard. Felt it deep within as their mate bond strengthened.
“Don’t get crazy,” she warned.
“I won’t,” he promised.
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
She narrowed her eyes in stern warning. “You blow up at me, and I’m going to be pissed.”
“Shay…”
“Oh, all right,” she said with a sigh. “I’m paraphrasing, but Conor said for me to be careful. That I’d be surrounded by treachery and that my safety and the safety of our daughters depended on you and I working together to defeat the enemy.”
Rory stared, unable to believe he’d heard right. Then what she said sank in.
UNDERNEATH HER BREATH, Shayla counted down. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three—”
Rory surged to his feet, and the words that came out of his mouth had even her flinching. He paced across the room and back. It was more of a prowl, that of a caged predator. Suddenly he spun and pinned her with a glare. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“You’ve already tried to send me away once for my protection.”
He visibly winced before shutting his eyes. Rory pinched the bridge of his nose and took a couple of deep breaths. “Shay, that was completely different.”
“Uh-huh.” She made certain he saw the skepticism in her facial expression.
He stared a moment, shook his head, then resumed pacing. A thought must have struck, for he paused midstep before turning to face her. “That’s why you refused the pack’s midwife.”