Page 45 of My Unexpected Mate

He took two beers from me, and we walked back to the living room.

Both girls were on their phones, and I could see Aria typing.

Nick and I took our seats, and I could see how nervous he was.

“Aria,” I called her and she looked up at me. “Who are you texting?”

I could see Annie looking up from the corner of my eye. She knew.

“A friend,” she said.

“What friend?” Nick asked and I could hear the anger in his voice.

I gave him a warning glare. He took a deep breath. Annie was nervously glancing between Nick and me.

“A friend I met at that party Annie and I went to,” Aria said, looking at Nick.

“Is this friend a man?” Nick asked.

“Yes. It’s Jack,” Aria said calmly.

Nick let out a growl so loud we all flinched. Aria was looking at him with a shocked expression.

“Nick. Calm down,” I told him. “Aria, what does he want with you?”

She turned to me, and I could see her getting angry.

“Why does that concern you?” she asked me.

“Because we don’t know him. He could be a threat,” I said calmly.

“He is not a threat. He is Annie’s friend,” she said.

Nick looked at Annie with such anger that she whimpered a bit. I think it was her wolf.

“Nick, what the hell?” Aria yelled. “Do not look at her like that! What is your problem?”

“My problem is that fucker who wants you,” he said, gritting his teeth.

I could see his eyes going from brown to black and he was shaking uncontrollably. Fuck. I couldn’t let him shift. He would hurt her. I stood up and pulled Aria to her feet making her stand behind me.

Aria’s POV

I watched Nick shaking and fighting his wolf for control. What the hell is going on? Why is he so angry at me?

Gabriel was in front of me in a protective stance and he raised his hands like he was surrendering. Annie was frozen in her seat.

“Nick, please calm down,” Gabriel said slowly. “Don’t give Nate control.”

He kept growling and his eyes were on me.

“Breathe, man,” Gabriel spoke again.

He took a few deep breaths and slowly calmed down. He closed his eyes and put his head in his hands.

“Aria I am sorry,” I heard him say quietly. “I am afraid of something happening to you.”

Gabriel was still standing in front of me. I tried to move past him to sit back on the couch and talk to Nick, but he grabbed me and pressed me to his chest.