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“Acquaintances,” we answered in unison and her gaze shifted between us questioningly.

“Trent isn’t pack,” I answered, confusing her further.

“I’m a lone wolf,” Trent specified and Jess shrugged, still lost as to what that meant. Trent glanced at me in confusion, and I sighed, knowing I should have at least explained that much to Jess.

“Jess wasn’t raised pack,” I said, more for Jess’s benefit since Trent already knew this. Trent widened his eyes meaningfully as he said, “She’s a –”

Jess raised her hand.

“Don’t say it.” She glanced over her shoulder and up at me. “We really need to come up with a better term than breeding female.”

“I was going to say firecracker,” Trent remarked over our link, but out loud he just snorted and said, “I like her, man.” I growled and Trent hastily added, “Not like that though.”

“It does explain your scent all over her though, but not why you didn’t finish claiming her as your mate,” Trent said, smirking behind Jess’s back as I glared at him. I didn’t need his help. Jess gave me a confused glance and I shrugged.

“I’ll explain, but not now. It’s not what you’re thinking.”

“What am I thinking?” She immediately shot back and I gave her a sharp look. I handed back the gun I’d taken from her and said, “Next time shoot him.”

“You really don’t have to,” Trent told her, shaking his head as he followed me toward his room. “You’ve got good instincts, follow them. Thanks for not shooting me,” he called before disappearing into room 206.

“Finish claiming her?” I growled when the door shut behind him. “Sleeping in your truck?”

“I improvised,” he answered with a shrug, dropping the duffle bag and sprawling on the bed. “Ahh,” he groaned. “A mattress, hot water, cable TV!”

I sighed, walking around the room and catching faint whiffs of her scent.

“She’s definitely your mate,” Trent said quietly, and I went still. “First time, I’ve been that close to her and, man, your scent is all over her.”

“She’s mine,” I snapped, irritated for no reason.

“I know!” Trent sat up. “You need to claim her. Make it official.”

“She doesn’t know. She doesn’t understand,” I argued.

“Than explain it to her,” he said flatly, for once his humor gone. “She deserves to know what you did at least.” He flopped back on the bed, finished with the conversation and I went to the door. “Talk to her,” he told me as I walked out and I nodded.

When I went down the stairs, I heard Anna talking to Jess. I slowed, curious about their conversation. It didn’t take long to realize they were discussing mating and the bond between mates.

“A bond?” Jess questioned.

“Yes, it creates a connection similar to pack mates. Close mates have the same telepathic ability and can sense when one another is in danger.” Anna answered as Jess nodded with a frown. “It’s a lifetime bond.” Anna stated. “Mates can only have children with one another, and only when one of them dies is the bond broken.”

Jess was silent for a long time and I was about to step around the corner when she asked quietly, “That’s what you were avoiding telling me, wasn’t it?” Anna nodded, letting Jess draw the natural conclusion. “If I was Dominic’s mate they would leave me alone, wouldn’t they?”

I didn’t give Anna time to answer as I said, “No. The Hanleys are cruel. You being mated might not have stopped them from raping you just for the hell of it.”

Anna slipped away as I lowered myself next to Jess. She turned so she could face me, her arms crossed protectively over her chest, and her hand curled around the mark on her neck.

“I don’t want you to think I didn’t consider it.” Jess shook her head automatically and I held up a hand. “Hear me out. I would never do anything without your consent, but if I thought for a second it would keep you safe I would have given you the option.” I nodded to where her hand rested on her neck. “That was an accident.”

Her gaze jerked to mine at the admission and I gave her a rueful smile. “Not the kiss. I intended that, but the effect it had on us…that wasn’t supposed to happen.” I leaned back against the bench, relishing the chance to stare at her openly and her hand slowly lowered from her neck. “The act of mating is intentional. You can’t just bite someone’s neck and suddenly you’re mated. Same with sex. It’s a deliberate act with both people committed. When I kissed you, I did leave a mark, a partial claiming.”

I must have confirmed her suspicions because for a second the mark flared, the imprint of my kiss clear. My eyes darkened for a second before I shook it off.

“I never meant for it to happen. To claim you in any way. You’re young. Innocent to our world. You had no idea what it meant and I had no intention of letting it go further.”