Page 46 of My Unexpected Mate

“Not yet. Let him calm down,” he whispered in my ear.

We all watched him take a few more deep breaths and he finally raised his head.

“I am sorry, guys,” he said. “I am having trouble controlling my wolf lately.”

“It’s okay, Nick. I understand,” Annie said and took his hand.

What does she understand? Is it a wolf thing? Why do I have a feeling they know something that I don’t?

“Aria,” Nick said, turning back to me. “Can you please tell me what he wants from you? I need to know.”

I wanted to scream. Why did he need to know? Why was he so angry at me?

“He asked me out on a date,” I said, getting out of Gabriel’s grip.

“You are not going,” I heard Gabriel behind me and I turned around.

“What?” I asked.

“You heard me. You are not going,” he repeated, and I felt anger coming to the surface.

Who the hell was he?

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I said angrily. “You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do. I am an adult, and we are nothing but acquaintances who have some sort of prophecy to find. You don’t get to meddle in my life and make choices for me.”

I felt anger fueling up my magic. I needed to calm down before I did something stupid.

“I do get to make decisions,” he said, gritting his teeth. “You are obviously important in this prophecy, and you can help save our kind. That gives me the right to keep you safe. And going on a date with some vampire I don’t know who could hurt you or give you to inquisitors is not safe.”

“He wouldn’t do that,” I spat back at him.

“You don’t know that,” he said. “Please. Just listen to me. Let’s figure this out first and then you can go on as many dates as you want.”

I heard Nick growling behind me, and Gabriel sighed.

“Not now Nick,” he told him, looking annoyed.

He was staring at me waiting for me to agree. I didn’t want to agree. I was not as important as he thought I was. There had to be some mistake. I couldn’t be the key. And Jack was not dangerous. I wanted to scream.

“I think you are wrong about him,” I said quietly. “He is not dangerous. Annie knows him. She knows he is not a threat.”

I saw him take a few deep breaths. He came closer to me, put his hands on my shoulder, and lowered himself so his face was right in front of mine. He was staring into my eyes, and I could see how similar his eyes were to mine. I was definitely going crazy.

“Aria,” he said calmly and quietly. “Please. Don’t go with him. For me. If he is that good, he will wait for you. And I need you safe and by my side.”

I stared back at him trying to find a way out of this, but I was tired of fighting. I would not win. Not right now, anyway.

“Fine,” I sighed. “I will tell him no.”

He smiled brightly and hugged me. He placed his chin on my head and breathed in deeply.

“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Thank you for understanding.”

Suddenly, I was pulled away from him and my back was pressed into Nick’s chest. I felt tingles all over my body.

“Thank you, Aria,” he whispered into my ear, and I could feel him breathing in my scent.

“Okay,” Annie said, getting off the sofa. “I had more than enough drama for today. Go home, guys.”