Page 45 of Clashing With The Grumpy Wolf

After what feels like hours of introductions, Meredith is drawn away by an elderly woman in need of assistance. I take the opportunity to catch my breath, moving to a small table laden with drinks.

"White wine, please," I say to the young man serving beverages.

"Make that a whiskey," a feminine voice cuts in from behind me. "She'll need something stronger to handle what's coming."

I turn to find myself face-to-face with the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Tall and athletic, with flowing blond hair and flawless features, she radiates the confidence of someone who knows exactly how stunning she is. Her golden eyes mark her as wolf, and the predatory smile she offers confirms it.

"I'm Jennifer Fangsworth," she says, extending a manicured hand. "Adrian and I go way back."

My stomach drops as I recognize the name. The wolf who was waiting naked in Adrian's bed. The one his mother wanted him to mate.

"Julia Schroeder," I reply, shaking her hand briefly. "Adrian's mentioned you."

"Has he?" Her smile widens. "That's surprising. Men rarely mention their past lovers to their current… distractions."

The barb finds its mark, but I keep my expression pleasant.

"Good thing Adrian isn’t easily distracted."

Jennifer takes a step closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. She gives all the outward appearances of being friendly, but I’m not a fool. There’s a mean streak in her eyes as she looks at me. She looks at me like prey.

"You know, I don't see a mate mark on you. Interesting, considering how Adrian's been parading you around as his chosen one, but he didn’t bother giving you a mark."

My hand instinctively goes to my neck, then drops when I realize I've given her exactly the reaction she wanted.

"I suppose Adrian hasn't told you what that means." She takes a delicate sip of her drink. "A true mate bond is sealed with a mark. Without it, you're just temporary. When it’s all said and done, he knows where his best option lies."

Heat rises to my face, but I maintain my composure.

"You and Adrian, you’re like oil and water.” Her eyes narrow slightly. “You don’t mix, no matter how much you try."

"Mixing together?" I can't help the disbelieving laugh that escapes me. It’s bolder and more aggressive than I’ve ever been in my life. But somehow, I don’t care. That woman is not going to drive me away from Adrian. "Is that what you think would happen when you waited in his bed, before he sent you away?"

Jennifer's smile falters.

"He told you about that?"

"Of course he did." I take a calculated risk, pressing my advantage. "Mates don’t have secrets from each other."

Something dangerous flashes in her eyes.

"You're deluding yourself if you think this is anything more than curiosity for him. Wolves mate with wolves, Julia. It's nature. It'sinstinct. When the time comes for him to take a true mate, to give her the mark, he'll choose one of his own kind."

The surrounding conversations go quiet, and I realize we've gathered an audience. Jennifer's eyes flash gold, her posture shifting subtly into something more predatory.

Alarm bells ring somewhere in the back of my mind, but I ignore them.

"You're out of your depth, human," she hisses, all pretense of civility gone. "You don't belong here."

I should back down. I should smile and walk away. Instead, I straighten my spine and step forward.

"Adrian makes his own choices," I say, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "And if you were truly what he wanted, Jennifer, you wouldn't be standing here alone, marking your territory like a junkyard dog."

Gasps ripple through our audience. Jennifer's face contorts with fury, her canines visibly elongating as she takes a step toward me.

"That's enough."

Adrian materializes at my side, his eyes glowing emerald with protective rage. His arm encircles my waist, drawing me against him in a possessive gesture that leaves no room for misinterpretation.