Gage wrapped his arms around her, and rested his chin on the top of her head.
“Baby, even if we weren’t mated, which we are, I would accept a challenge from him for everything he put you and your sister through.” He turned her around so he could look in her eyes. “I love you. I will make sure you are always protected.”
Reaching up, Marissa cupped his cheeks. “I love you.”
As their lips met in a soft kiss, all of their troubles seemed to melt away. As the kiss went deeper, he heard someone clear their throat from across the room. They broke away, but Gage held onto her.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, embarrassed.
Gage’s father’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “It’s understandable. I can remember—” His cell phone ringing cut him off.
The conversation was quick and brief. Marissa knew Gage could hear what was being said on both sides of the phone. Her hearing, while good, wasn’t that good. When the phone call was over, Gage hugged her tightly.
“There will be no challenge,” Gage’s father announced.
Marissa relaxed. “Really?”
He nodded. “Seems Brandon’s father stepped in and won’t allow him to take this any further.”
“Oh thank God!” Marissa kissed Gage quickly. “What’s wrong?” she asked when he didn’t say anything.
Gage smiled and kissed her back. “Nothing, baby. This is good. Why don’t you go upstairs and change, and we’ll take my father to town for a steak dinner?”
Marissa nodded even while she looked suspiciously at him. He knew she would still worry, but he didn’t want her involved in the next discussion. She looked over her shoulder before she opened the door and he sent her what he hoped was a relaxed smile.
Gage waited until he heard the bedroom door open before speaking. He looked at his father and then his Beta.
“This isn’t over. No matter what they say. They are up to something.”
Logan took a few steps from his post by the door. “I saw his face when he said Marissa belonged with him. It doesn’t matter what his father told him.”
Gage’s father rubbed a hand over his face. “I agree with both of you. And since he is Alpha now, he doesn’t have to follow what his father says.”
Gage thought of when Marissa had told him that she loved him. He hadn’t cared about the other Pack. He’d only cared about having her in his arms for the rest of his life. He wasn’t about to give that up.
“From everything I’ve read and what Marissa’s told me, I don’t think he’ll come at me through proper channels.”
“An ambush, maybe?” Logan suggested.
“Or they may just try to take her,” Gage’s dad mused out loud.
“They won’t get her,” Gage assured the men. “They would have to get through me first.”
His dad nodded, but worry was etched on his face. “That doesn’t mean that they won’t try.”
“Let them. I would love a chance to go after that entire Pack for what they did to Marissa.” He fisted his hands in anger just thinking about what his mate had gone through. He slowly unclenched them and ran a frustrated hand over his face.
“You need to keep a calm head,” his father advised, walking over to refill his glass.
“And what would you do?” Getting angry, Gage began to pace the room.
His father took his time refilling his drink and took a sip before responding. “I’m no longer the Alpha of the Pack, so it doesn’t matter. What does is how you handle this threat to your Pack.”
Gage took a deep breath before speaking. His father had always run the Pack fairly, and they’d thrived under his leadership. “I understand I can’t go looking for trouble. But if they bring it to me, I will be ready for them. The only way they’ll get to her is to come into my territory.”
Logan cleared his throat and drew both men’s attention. “So she’s not leaving?”
“Of course not!” Gage shouted.
Logan nodded and dropped his eyes in a submissive gesture.
“Damn! I’m sorry, Logan. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.”
His father walked over and threw his arm around Gage’s shoulder. “I think I’ll take a rain check on dinner. Logan can keep me company. You need to go see your mate.”
Gage went without looking at either man. Who would have thought falling in love and claiming a mate would make him feel so out of control?
Chapter Eight
“Would you like to repeat that?” Marissa asked even though she was certain she heard Gage correctly.
“You need to make arrangements to have your stuff sent here,” he told her.
He currently prowled the bedroom floor, looking very much on the edge. He had been sweet and loving last night, and that morning when he’d woken her in the most pleasurable way. Now, fifteen minutes later, he was issuing orders.
“My stuff?” Marissa kept herself calm, knowing one of them had to be. “I think we need to discuss this.”
“What’s to discuss? You are my mate. I can’t leave my Pack or my territory, so you have to move here,” he announced, looking at her like it didn’t even need to be said.
Marissa took in his demeanour and knew this could turn bad, real fast. “Gage. I don’t know that I want to live on Pack territory.”
She saw the change in him immediately. His eyes went flat and cold, and his face hardened.
“You don’t have a choice.”
“I…I don’t have a choice?” Her voice rose and she knew she was just as close to losing control.
“That’s what I said. You are my mate!” he yelled.
“I may be your mate, but I don’t belong to you, Gage Wolf!” she yelled back. Forget being calm. She wasn’t going to let him dictate to her about her future.
“Actually, that is exactly what that means!”
Gage watched as Marissa’s face fell and she jerked as if he’d just struck her. Damn, this was not going the way he wanted. He hadn’t meant to bring it up at all, but he just wanted her safe in his home, in his arms.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he said and took deep breaths to relax himself.
She turned away from him and he had to stop himself from reaching for her.
“I think it is what you meant, Gage. You may not be like my old Pack Leader, but you are an Alpha.”
“I am in no way like your last Pack Leader. This Pack is nothing like your old one. The sooner you realise that the better off you will be.”
“Maybe,” she said softly, turning back towards him.
He could see unshed tears and it broke his heart that he’d hurt her. “Baby, I’m sorry…”
She held up a hand to stop him from approaching. “I know I have issues, Gage. You knew that coming into this. I can’t just forget everything in my past. And you can’t expect me to drop my entire life.”
“You actually think that you can just walk away from me, from your mate? Marissa, think about this.”
“I am. What happens ten years from now when I become too much trouble? Hell, it could happen in one year.”
Ignoring the fact that she didn’t want him to touch her, Gage embraced her. “That won’t happen.”
She tilted her head back and her eyes met his. “You don’t know that.” She moved from his arms. “I’m going for a walk, alone,” she told him as she started out of the room.
“Marissa.” Gage stopped her with words even though he wanted to use force. “Don’t—”
She sighed and interrupted him. “I won’t leave the territory, but I wasn’t asking for permission.”
Gage watched her walk away. The woman who had stolen his heart and held it in her hands. He would love her forever. He could feel it and the wolf inside him agreed. He knew he needed to be patient with her, that she had a lot to get past, but he needed her to start making her way to him. To his Pack. He needed her with him. It was more than just sexual. He needed her like he’d never needed another person.