Page 76 of Wild Games

And Jax.

When I let out a dark chuckle, Zane looks at me, puzzled about what’s so funny about this situation.

“Zane, Raven deserved it, and you know it. He’ll be lucky if he’s still got a mate when he leaves here tomorrow.”

Zane rolls his shoulders. “Okay, maybe you have a point…”

“Maybe?” I push. “So, you’re telling me that if you found your mate but couldn’t claim her for fear of hurting her, that you would act calmly and rationally?”

A hint of longing, of knowing, flashes across Zane’s expression, and I see it, clear as day. This is a man who wants amate, who understands Jax’s turmoil all too well. “You can’t just do whatever you want.”

I shake my head. It’s like talking to a wall.

“Can’t you?” Lynn’s voice floats to us from the treeline. She walks closer, eyes never leaving Zane’s face, which is rapidly draining of colour as he watches her approach.

“So, seeing your mate, running side by side with all these powerful males who are looking for a female to breed, would be fine?”

The tendons in the side of Zane’s jaw flex, but he says nothing.

“And you wouldn’t care if someone, knowing she belongs to you, came to her and told her they should be together?”

Zane seems to have lost the power of speech as Lynn moves to stand beside me.

“It wouldn’t upset you knowing he wants to bite her, to sleep in her bed, to fill her belly with pups? Not even a tiny bit?”

I appreciate the back-up, but as I stare between them, I get the distinct impression there’s something else going on here that I have no idea about.

“I’d control myself,” he grits out eventually.

Lynn is amused by his delusional denial, her tone dripping in sarcasm. “Of course you would.”

But she’s not done yet.

“Even when you saw him lusting over her naked body, eyes lingering on her breasts, scenting her desire, and…?”

Zane’s wolf suddenly flashes in his eyes, and he surges forward, getting right into her personal space. “Enough! If any man dared to covet what’s mine, I’d gouge his fucking eyes out.”

Lynn smirks, victorious, as Zane stands, hands clenched at his sides, chest heaving.

“Not looking so controlled now, Mr. Bigshot Enforcer. But you expected Jax to keep his cool?”

Zane curses and drags a hand back through his hair, looking more rattled than I’ve ever seen him, and angry at himself for snapping.

What the fuck was that?

Needing to redirect this conversation away from whatever the hell is going on with these two and back to my problems, I try to reason with Zane again.

“If it were any other wolf, you’d tell them to get on with the marking. Which he won’t do while he’s under threat of termination. It’s a catch-22,” I argue.

The urge to stamp my foot in frustration is strong. Why can’t anyone see what I can see? That the mark will help him.

I see Zane’s resolve falter, so I push home by advantage.

“If he was so out of control, how come he hasn’t marked me? He doesn’t need to be assessed. He needs his mate.”

Zane groans, looking back and forth between me and Lynn, thoroughly ganged up on. Eli and Dash smirk, but don’t join in, knowing we’ve got the edge on this debate.

“Let me think about it. But keep him out of trouble, Camille.”