Page 62 of Half Wolf Mate

“What?” I asked.

“So, this is what finding a mate does to a man.”

I lifted an eyebrow in question.

Adam smirked. “It makes you go soft. Big bad Cole Grayson, with the blood of one of the most powerful werewolf lineages, gazing upon a little half-human with hearts in his eyes.” He chuckled as if he’s told the joke of the century.

Sydney glanced up at us with curiosity. It seemed she didn’t hear what Adam said. Neither did Macy. But I was sure Dominic, who was on the other side of the room, heard.

Gritting my teeth, I fought the urge to plant my fist in Adam’s face. The smug bastard. However, he was on to something. Maybe I had gone soft. I entertained the thought of claiming my mate, the opinion of my pack be damned. I was willing to take her and disappear from here, keep her safe from hunters and my pack. I’d never had those crazy thoughts before.

“While Sydney is getting looked after, why don’t you and I have a chat, Adam?”

He frowned and looked around the room. Damian, who was usually by my side, wasn’t in the room. I had pity on my Beta and sent him back to the compound with Stephan. The minute Macy arrived, he’d lost his wits. Alex was at my office, helping my assistant, Justin. So, Dominic was the only one here. He insisted on staying if the Alpha of a rival pack was going to linger in my apartment.

“A chat, huh? By that, do you mean you and your henchman over there,” he tilted his chin toward Dominic, “escort me out outside and take me out?”

One corner of my mouth twisted as a smile threatened to surface. “As long as you give me no reason to, I have no intention oftaking you out…tonight.”

His unwavering gaze met mine. “How comforting.”

A wave of worry washed over me. I quickly figured out it wasn’t my emotions but Sydney’s. She watched Adam and me warily, and her wolf reached out to mine beseechingly. She didn’t want me to hurt Adam.

I sighed. “I just want to talk. Really. In private. If I attack, I’m sure you can defend yourself.”

Adam grunted. “Of course, I can. I’m just afraid of killing you if you attack.” He glanced at Sydney. “She won’t be happy.”

That familiar jealousy pushed through, and my mood darkened. “You’re awfully concerned about my mate’s feelings.” Just what in the hell was going on between Sydney and Adam? She didn’t want me to hurt him, and he didn’t want to do anything to hurt her. Had they connected while she’d been with him after he saved her?

A sliver of panic rushed through me. If she chose him over me, I had no one to blame but myself. I rejected her, treated her like shit for weeks, and had been avoiding her lately. Perhaps she wanted to move on. Though she was rightfully my mate, another could claim her. It was an old rule that mostly ignored because the occurrence was rare. But, if a mate was rejected, another had every right to swoop in and claim him or her. I’d only heard about it happening in the past, but admittedly, the slight possibility had me worried.

Tamping down my agitation, I kept my cool mask up. “Come on, Adam. I’m curious about your interest in Sydney.”

He lifted his eyebrows but followed me when I walked toward the door.

“Cole,” Sydney called, giving Adam a concerned look. “Where are you guys going?”

“Relax, Sydney, we’re just going to talk,” I told her.

She opened her mouth to say something, but I quickly added. “I promise. Just let Macy take care of you. Dominic, stay here with the ladies.”

“Where the hell are you going with Adam, alone?” Dominic asked.

I stifled a groan. He was just as bad as Damian. It was amusing that the guys were so hell-bent on being loyal and protecting the Alpha that they forgot just how dangerous I was. Still, I appreciated being cared about by my pack. “The next room. I’ll be fine…Dad,” I joked.

Dominic’s eyes widened as he stared at me as if I’d sprouted another head.

A little snicker sounded. I glanced back at Sydney to see her trying to hold back laughter. Dominic’s shocked expression was comical. He wasn’t accustomed to me joking around. I guess Sydney was rubbing off on me. I sure as hell wasn’t going to lose her to Adam Blackwell.

***

Adam sat across the desk of my home office. He stared at the glass of scotch I’d slid to him.

“It’s not poisoned,” I assured.

His gaze lifted to mine. “Maybe there’s nothing in it to kill me, but how do I know there isn’t something in there to weaken me? A few drops of wolfsbane, perhaps?”

I looked skyward. “You know, I never pegged the Alpha of the Blood Claws to be so melodramatic.”