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She tried to slam the door shut, but Beck caught it and stepped past her, into the house.

I couldn’t stop my sharp breath in when I saw him.

He was shirtless and shoeless, wearing nothing but a pair of basketball shorts that looked like they’d been through the ringer. He must’ve run all the way there in his wolf form.

His hair was just as messy as I’d left it, hanging loose and tangled.

Somehow, he was even sexier now that I knew he was supposed to be my mate.

“Get out of my house!” Tori tossed a hand toward the front door, which was standing open.

Beck ignored her. His gaze moved up and down my body before he was satisfied that I was okay. Even then, he didn’t look at Tori. He stared at me.

“We need to talk.”

“It’s a little late for talking, don’t you think?” My voice was tight.

“No.”

“It was a rhetorical question, asshole.” Tori put a hand on his bicep long enough to shove him toward the front door. He didn’t budge, of course.

My wolf stirred in my chest, and a loud growl rattled the room.

Tori halted.

Beck’s eyes gleamed.

“Let go of the beta, Tor.” Vex’s voice was smooth, but there was a low undertone. I wasn’t sure if it was his possessiveness, or his worry that my wolf might take over and attack her for touching my mate.

Tori released Beck’s arm instantly, but didn’t step back. “This is our pack’s territory, Bauther. Storming in uninvited might as well be a declaration of war.”

“Hiding my mate from me is far more damning than encroaching your territory. Wouldn’t you agree, Vex?” Beck’s words were even, and his gaze didn’t flick to the alpha as he spoke.

“In most situations, yes. Considering your mate asked my mate—her sister in all but blood—for sanctuary after you lied to her, it could go either way in court.” Since Vex was part of the supernatural government, it seemed safe to assume he was pretty well-versed on the laws.

“I didn’t lie to her.”

“A lie by omission is still a lie,” Tori growled.

“I didn’t know for sure that she was my mate until two days ago. Two days is a very reasonable amount of time to wait before admitting the truth when one knows their female isn’t looking for a male,” Beck said.

I looked at Vex.

He looked at Tori. “He has a point. There’s likely no court that would side with us on keeping him from her.”

“I don’t give a damn about courts,” Tori hissed, her attention jerking back to Beck. “I knew you were wrong for Sienna. Even Ox wouldn’t hide the truth from her like this. I—what the hell are you doing?”

Beck stepped past her, striding toward me.

I tried to shrink back into the couch, and failed horribly.

“Keeping up with the tradition of abducting my blood wolf.” He scooped me up off the couch, and I glared at him, though I didn’t try to fight my way free.

I was smart enough to know that was a fight I didn’t stand a chance at winning.

“Goodnight. You can call Sienna in the morning,” Bauther said over his shoulder.

“She won’t forgive you for this,” Tori huffed, following us out of the house.