Chapter Thirteen

“Dyana Vance?”

A young woman stood at her side. Blonde hair a gleam in the sun. Her large blue eyes wide with awe.

Releasing Paps, she smiled. “That’s me. And who are you?”

“I’m Rainie. I never knew my alpha’s mate was Dyana Vance.”

What little conversation which had resumed fell silent again. Rainie’s face turned bright red.

“She’s not his mate, you fool!”

“Sorry, Jetje,” Rainie blurted.

Dyana glanced up to see that tall woman approaching swiftly. The smack was out of nowhere and happened before she could register what was coming. Fury swarmed Dyana as Rainie’s slender body trembled.

Narrowing her gaze, Dyana inserted herself between the two females.

“Out of my way, human.”

She didn’t move. “Is it common in this pack to hit kids?”

Cold green eyes landed on her. “Our pack rules are none of your business. Get out of my way.”

“No.”

“I can kill you.”

Deep within her something stirred in her and she wanted to snap her teeth. “You can try. Shouldn’t get mad at her though, for she speaks the truth.”

“About what?” Venom dripped from her words.

Ignoring those watching the altercation, Dyana sneered at the woman. “Her alpha. But you can call him my husband. Because, bitch”—she stepped closer to her—“until I sign those papers, he’s mine. And by that, it means I’m your alpha. So back the fuck off.”

Her hands went to fists. “Accidents happen around here.”

“I ‘spect they do.” She ran her gaze over the future Mrs. Lars. “What color is your wolf? I hope nothing pale or washed out like you. Mind you, I’m curious because I always wanted a wolf pelt.”

Jetje hissed.

“One last thing. Don’t ever hit a child in my presence again.” She turned her back, very deliberately, on the woman and lifted the girl’s face. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I follow you.” Her words were quiet and subdued.

Dyana understood. Her fingertips burned as did her jaw. She knew an attack was imminent.

“Jetje!”

Casimir’s commanding voice cracked whip like through the air. Dyana ignored him. She wanted no part of their relationship issues. She moved Rainie to the side.

“You do?” she asked the girl, giving the little one her total attention.

“Yes. You’re amazing. I have my own bow.” A brilliant grin. “Would you like to see it?”

“I absolutely would.”

Three others came up, one an adult. Rainie’s mother if looks told the story.

Casimir had a difficult time controlling himself. He strode up to Jetje, eyes wolf and got in her face.

“You dare threaten her?”

Jetje averted her gaze, well aware showing dominance would get her punished. “She’s nothing and she challenged me.”

His wolf cried for retaliation. Casimir didn’t understand why his wolf demanded blood.

“She is under my protection”—he lifted his head and gazed around—“and under the protection of this pack. My pack. So states the conditions set by Paps twenty-five years ago. Threaten her and I view it as one against me.” No one moved. He glared back at Jetje. “Are. We. Clear?”

“Yes, Alpha.” She ducked her head and backed away, shoving another in doing so.

His wolf gnashed his teeth and tore at his insides with his claws. Casimir ignored the disapproving glare from his grandmother and returned his attention to Dyana.

She stood off to the side with some of his pack. Rainie, her mother Bethany, and two other youngsters, Inno and her twin brother Tray. Dyana signed pieces of paper for all of them.

The cubs stared up at him with a bit of fear in their expression that faded. Bethany barely met his gaze. She was a true beta.

He stared at Rainie who couldn’t take her eyes off the signature she held.

“Why so excited Rainie?”

Her grin, wide and pure, made his heart melt a bit. “She’s famous. And she’s my alpha.”

Yes, his wolf howled. Mine!

Famous? Who is she? And why was my wolf claiming her?

He lifted his head and saw Paps watching him. “Let me introduce you around.”

Dyana didn’t respond and he saw her talking to Inno, giving the typically shy girl her complete attention. Even when her phone rang she didn’t ignore the child.

“Thank you,” Bethany said, herding the children away.

“Come.”

“No.”

He faced her. “Do not challenge me, wife.”

“I have been here”—she glanced at her watch—“ten minutes and I find out I have to wait a week for the papers and your bitch smacks a kid then threatens me.” She poked a finger in his chest. “You don’t want me as your wife. I don’t want you as my husband. You said the papers were here, now I have to wait? This is fucking bullshit, hoss.”

He backed her inside his grandparents’ house into a wall as the door slammed shut behind them. She continued to hold his gaze, unafraid for he scented no fear about her. Arousal? A completely different story.

“Do not ever challenge me.”

“You’re even more delusional than I first thought if you think I’m going to blindly follow your orders.”

He just reacted, a purely animalistic one. A reaction used on his pack, when she attempted to bypass him. It wasn’t to be cruel or mean, it was instinct to get her to submit. He was the Alpha.

Casimir clamped his hand around the nape of her neck, a warning snarl pouring from his lips. “Don’t you walk away—”

She whirled, smacking at his hand. “That shit may work with your bitch, but not me. Now take your fucking hand off me.”

They were close. Noses nearly touching and Casimir froze. This wasn’t him. She was human, not Pack even if they were currently married.

“Don’t challenge me.” His words were nearly ineligible.

“This goes both ways, hoss. I’m not your servant.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t touch me.”

He could have let go. He should have let go. He didn’t. Casimir kissed her. Drew her to him so their chests touched and her breasts pressed into him.

She tasted like the freshest, juiciest watermelon in creation. It rolled over his taste buds and imbued into his soul. His hair stood on his arms and electricity shot through him. Lust followed hot on its heels.

He thrust his tongue past her teeth, need riding him harder than it ever had before. His wolf encouraged him along. Then, then she responded. Slight at first, her moan slid up from her throat and into him. His cock went rock hard.

She met his seeking tongue and wrapped her arms around his neck. Casimir flexed the fingers on her neck while he cupped her ass with his other hand. She ground against him, her moan deeper, richer.

He wanted her.

The doorknob rattled and she sprang back with an uncanny quickness.

Her eyes watched him, wide with dilated pupils and the air permeated with the scent of her arousal. She touched her lips and shook her head.

“That won’t be happening again.”

He begged to differ. “I don’t agree with you on that, wife.”