Everyone Has an Opinion

ALLIE

We make our way downstairs to the dining room together holding hands, but as soon as we enter the room, I drop his hand. I don’t want the pack to realize how close we are.

He growls with displeasure but doesn’t fight me on it.

This time when we enter the room, it isn’t as awkward. Everyone doesn’t stop what they’re doing to stare at us.

With a quick bow of their heads to acknowledge their alpha, they continue their conversations.

I’m relieved to realize that my being here is already old news.

We make our way to the head table, where David is sitting, watching us approach with a smile.

When we reach him, I expect him to resume his teasing of James, but he doesn’t. After some questions about what kind of day we have all had, he concentrates on eating his dinner.

Halfway through the meal, James is called away to break up a fight between some of the younger wolves. I take the opportunity to ask David quietly, “Have you given up on teasing James?”

“Yes, for tonight at least. I can’t promise it will last for much longer, though. It’s just so tempting when he acts like your typical lovestruck wolf who has found his mate.

“I never thought I would see him like this again. Happy, carefree, less of the strict, cold alpha. That’s down to you, and I’m so grateful for what you have done.”

“I haven’t done anything,” I insist. “It’s all him.”

“Yes, you have. You have shown him that there is more to life than power and duty, and he will be a better wolf for it.

“I love my brother, but he has been alone for so long. He deserves to be happy. To be loved.”

“He does. I’m slowly beginning to realize there is so much more to him than he lets people see.”

David grins at me, and we spend the next half hour chatting while we eat our dinner.

James doesn’t come back, so I decide to go back upstairs to my room to do some studying. As I enter the alpha quarters, Karen steps out of the shadows and blocks my way.

“You think you’re so great, don’t you,” she spits at me. “But you’re a dirty rogue who has bewitched my alpha and you won’t get away with it. He’ll come to his senses eventually—I’ll make sure of it.

“Don’t get too cozy around here, because you won’t be staying long. Soon you’ll be back with those losers you call friends.”

I sigh. I really cannot be bothered by Karen and her nasty threats.

“We are ~mates~!” I shout. “You’re not going to ruin things for us just because you’re jealous. James does not want you and never will. Get over it and leave me alone.”

She gasps. She may have guessed that we are mates, but I’ve just confirmed it.

So much for not telling any of the pack. Now that Karen knows, the cat is well and truly out of the bag. The rest of the pack will all know what I mean to James by tomorrow morning.

I push past her and make my way to my bedroom, and tell myself to forget about her. She isn’t worth the effort.

***

James doesn’t come back for another two hours, by which point I’m totally frustrated. Our make-out session earlier left me wanting so much more.

When he enters the room, he immediately begins to apologize. “I’m sorry I took so long. The fight—”

I don’t let him finish speaking. I grab hold of his face and press my lips to his.

He groans and pulls me into his arms. He deepens the kiss while gently guiding me back toward the bed.

He pushes me down onto the pillows and quickly pulls his shirt over his head.

My eyes roam over his well-toned chest. There isn’t an inch of fat on his body.

He smirks at me. “Like what you see?” He lowers himself onto the bed, where he hovers over my body.

He partially shifts so that his claws erupt from his hand. I gasp in shock as he slashes down and rips open my shirt and bra.

He grins wolfishly at me. “A neat trick that sometimes comes in handy. I can’t wait another second to taste every inch of you.”

His warm mouth latches onto my left breast as he massages my right one.

I moan. Heat rises from my core. I’ve never felt like this before; I don’t want him to stop. It feels so good.

His hand moves down to my waist and expertly snaps the buttons open and pushes my jeans down.

He massages my skin as he slowly moves down into my panties, and his fingers gently rub torturous circles around my tight nub.

He dips a finger into my sex, all the while continuing to circle and rub against my clit. I let out a shuddering breath.

My orgasm rolls over me in waves of intense pleasure and I shatter, my sex spasming against his finger.

He growls, “Good,” and removes his finger from my sex. I whimper.

He chuckles and kisses me on the lips. “This is just the start, my love. We have plenty of time. We will take it slow while I show you how good I can make you feel.”

I mentally slap myself. I’ve decided that this going slow thing is not a good idea after all.

“What if I’ve changed my mind?” I ask. “I want to feel you inside me.”

He smirks. “There will be no changing your mind. We take things slow until I’m sure you’re ready.”

***

Over the next week, I fall into a routine. Breakfast with James and David, university and study during the day, and returning to the pack house to spend my evenings with James.

Of course, Karen told everyone that we are mates, but somehow I’m not bothered by it. James is delighted.

Each night I make out with James, but we haven’t had sex yet. As much as I want to, he still insists that we take it slow. He takes me to the brink and then leaves me wanting.

I know that he is the one I want, but I haven’t convinced him yet that I mean it when I say that I’m ready.

Tonight I’m going to my old house to spend the evening catching up with my housemates.

I don’t want to lose my friends just because I’ve moved in with James and I’m becoming part of his pack. They were there for me when I had no one.

James has agreed that I can go alone, as long as Clara drives me there and picks me up afterward.

I put on a new pair of jeans and a sparkly top that James bought for me. I don’t like the fact that he has started buying my clothes, but he insisted.

When I arrive at my old house, Adam opens the door and pulls me into a big hug. “Long time no see, stranger.”

Danielle snorts. “She only left a week ago, and you could have seen her every day this week when she picked me up to take me to school. But that would mean getting out of bed before lunch.”

“It doesn’t matter; I still miss her. We are having a quiet night tonight, just us and Jason.”

I’ll be pleased to see Jason. I haven’t seen him since I moved out of the house, and I don’t want to lose touch with him any more than I do my housemates.

We move into the kitchen where Danielle pours me a glass of red wine. Adam, Danielle, and I sit sipping our wine as we watch Toby prepare dinner.

It’s great to be back. I’ve missed them. Being with James is wonderful, but it will take me a while to settle into pack life. At least here I can relax and be myself.

Jason arrives just before Toby serves dinner.

“You’re late. We almost started dinner without you!” Danielle scolds him.

“Sorry, I was at Raffles, and completely lost track of time.”

I smile at him. “Well, you’re here now and that’s what counts.”

He shrugs but doesn’t smile back. “So are you settling in okay with the pack?”

“Yes. Most people have been welcoming. It has been good so far.”

“And the alpha, he’s really your mate?”

“Yes, he is.”

“That must have been a shock for him finding out that he’s mated to a rogue.”

“Well, I don’t think he was happy about it at first. Neither was I, but we are getting to know each other, and it feels right.”

“So, you think it will last, that he will be able to forget about your past and overcome his prejudices?” Jason asks skeptically.

“It’s not about forgetting my past. He’s not trying to change me. He’s making a real effort to accept me for who I am and is open to trusting loners like us, accepting that we aren’t the same as rogues.”

“You’re naïve if you think he’s going to change just because he’s found out you’re his mate. His hatred of us is long-standing and deep.

“He won’t change just because he has accepted that you’re his.”

I’m shocked that Jason would talk to me like this. “You can’t say that. You don’t know him!”

“I know him well enough. It’s ~you~ that I’m disappointed in, Allie. I didn’t think you would abandon your friends as soon as a pack wolf showed some interest.”

“I’m not abandoning my friends,” I shout. I’m angry that he could think that of me. “I’m here with you all now. I won’t forget who I am and where I come from just because I’m with James.”

“Right, of course you won’t. Nothing will stop you from being our devoted friend,” he mocks.

“Jason, calm down. You aren’t being fair. Allie is here to enjoy a nice meal with her friends, not to hear you attack her mate!” Danielle breaks in.

“Maybe I just think that she would be better with one of her own kind, rather than selling out to a pack wolf who hates us.”

“Who would that be then? You?” Toby asks.

“No, but it should be a loner. There are other wolves that deserve her more.”

“No, there aren’t,” I insist. “I don’t want anyone else.”

“Well, there isn’t anything else to say then.” Jason storms out.

Toby starts to go after him, but Danielle stops him. “Let him go. He’s just jealous because Allie has found her mate and it isn’t him. We won’t let him spoil our evening.

“I’ll open another bottle of wine and let’s forget about him.”

I smile at her, but all the joy seems to have gone out of the evening. Jason was my first friend in Linton. He helped me so much when I first arrived, and now we’ve fallen out over my mate.

I don’t want to lose him as a friend, but no one would keep me from James.

When I get back to the pack house, it’s late, but I don’t want to go straight to bed. I go into the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea to take into my bedroom.

James walks in and pulls me into his arms. “You’re back. Did you have a nice night?”

“I guess.”

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you enjoy spending time with your old housemates?”

“It was great to see them…” I don’t know how to finish.

“But?” James prods softly.

“Jason was there, and he wasn’t happy about us being together. He thinks that I shouldn’t be with you.”

James bristles with anger. “Does he now?”

“I told him that yes, I should be with you. That he was wrong about you. I’m just a bit sad that I lost a friend tonight.”

“Because of me.”

“Because of ~him~. He had no right to criticize me for being with my mate. You’re meant for me.”

“I’m glad you feel like that.” James pulls me closer and kisses me gently on the lips.

“I do. No one is going to stop me being with you,” I promise him.