Chapter 8
“Why did you bring me here,” Emily asked, training her gaze on Jenn.
Her whole body itched. It felt like a million and one bugs were parading under the surface of her skin, making her want to scratch them off.
She rubbed her hands up and down her arms for the hundredth time, wondering what the fuck was going on.
“You’re here to get away from everything and to spend some time with me.
I need you here for moral support. I hate coming to these things alone.
It sucks being surrounded by all these supernatural beings yet knowing almost no one.
Besides, it’s a good opportunity for you to mingle.
” Jenn winked at her. “This place is crawling with hotties.”
“You’re not wrong there,” Emily giggled.
“But I’m not interested. There has only ever been one shifter for me.
You know that,” she sighed. Her body was still humming from the night she’d spent with Ian.
Her body wanted that again, and so did her heart.
Her brain told her to stay the fuck away from the sexy thoughts and images rushing through her mind. She had to stay away from Ian.
“I don’t know how you do it.”
“What’s that?” Emily’s heart started to race. She drew in a deep breath hoping to slow it.
“Ian. How do you do it?”
“Do what?” Emily had somehow lost track of the conversation and where it was going. She rubbed her clammy hand over her forehead, checking to see if she had a fever. Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
“I’m guessing that’s your mom again? Just answer her already. She’s just going to keep calling until you do,” Jenn clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
“Hello,” Emily answered as pleasantly as possible.
“You were supposed to be here for brunch today. Where are you?” her mother demanded.
“I told you and Daddy that I was going out of town. I wasn’t going to make it this weekend.”
“And I told you that I didn’t want to hear it. That you were to be here regardless.”
“Mom, stop. I’m an adult. I’m perfectly capable of living my life. I don’t know why you try to control every aspect of what I do, but I’m done with it. No one else lives this way.”
“You will get your ass home now,” her mom growled into the phone.
“No, Mom. I’ll see you when I get back to town.” Emily ended the call, her heart feeling heavy as if she were somehow a disappointment to her family.
“Hey. You’re not doing anything wrong. You know that.
Don’t let your mom make you feel like this.
It’s about control. She wants to keep that leash tight around your neck for whatever reason.
I know you think she is this way because she only wants what is best for you, but it’s not.
Trust me on this. Parents want their kids to spread their wings and fly.
They want them to create their own independent lives because that is what’s best for them.
That’s the natural order of things…of life. ”
“I know.”
“They’ve kept you from what you’ve really wanted in your life. Who you’ve really wanted to be with. And for what?” Jenn asked.
Emily didn’t know how to respond to Jenn.
Lately, she had been questioning everything regarding her parents and their brand of control.
None of it made a lick of sense to her. She knew none of her friends lived under their parents' rule like she did.
They had when they were teens, but not as adults. It had to stop.
“I’m working on it. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I took a couple of weeks off from work. I need to figure my life out– free from their influence.”
“You got this. Now, let’s go and have some fun. I need to see if my one true mate is here,” Jenn giggled.
A tingling sensation swept over Emily’s skin.
She knew the feeling well. It was the same feeling that overwhelmed her when Ian was near.
Her body was drawn to him like no other man she had ever met.
A shiver ran from her spine to the base of her neck as she turned to see none other than the man who held her heart.
“Did you know he was going to be here?” Emily’s head quickly snapped back to face Jenn.
“Umm…”
“So this was a setup?” Emily wanted to be mad at Jenn. She really did, but another glance at Ian, and she knew she couldn’t be.
“Em, please. It’s not what you think. Well, maybe it is. But I can explain,” Jenn tried to plead her case.
Emily placed her hand gently on Jenn’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. We’re good. Go find your fated mate or whatever. I’m good.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yep. Go,” Emily’s voice was firm but caring. She had never been more certain of anything in her life.
“I’m assuming I shouldn’t wait up for you.”
“Probably not,” Emily chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes roaming greedily over Ian.
She wanted to run her fingers through his messy hair as she peeled off his skin-tight t-shirt.
Her eyes continued south, finding dark jeans that hugged his ass and thighs perfectly.
Images of him crawling up between her legs flashed through her mind.
She could feel the heat pooling in her core.
His nose twitched. No doubt, smelling her arousal. Ian clenched his jaw, his eyes once again glowing as they did when he was turned on.
“He’s trying to control his wolf. The animal wants to be set free.” A strange voice filled Emily’s mind.
“Weird,” she whispered to herself, perfectly content with ignoring the voice. She had better things to worry about.
Her heart sped as Ian quickly closed the distance between them.
“What are you doing here?” His voice came out as more of a growl than an actual sentence. Emily was surprised she understood him.
“I’m here with Jenn. What’s it to you?” she wasn’t going to let him push her around. Not like this, anyway. If he wanted to push her around in another way…Well, that would be fine.
“Do you have any idea what kind of a get-together this is?” His nostrils flared.
“I do. Jenn said it was a place for shifters to find their mates. She wanted me here for moral support.” Emily shrugged, trying to act calmer than she felt. Turning her head, she sucked in a deep breath as she tried to slow her racing heart.
“Do you even know what that word means? Did Jenn explain it to you?”
“I’m not an idiot, Ian.”
“Then you know that any shifter who thinks you are their mate has the right to claim you, in front of everyone…for the world to see.”
“What?” Emily gasped. “I’m human, that doesn’t apply to me!” she screeched, surprised by what Ian had said.
“So Jenn didn’t explain things to you then?”
She wanted to wipe that smirk right from Ian’s face. “Whatever. Maybe I’ll go find myself a hot shifter like Jenn suggested. Why not live it up a little?” She tried to make her voice sound sultry and sexy. She hoped it had.
Ian closed in on her faster than she would have thought possible—invading her space, her back pressing up against a tree. His eyes flashed brighter than she’d ever seen them.
“Watch what you say. He’s barely hanging on to his beast,” the voice in her head warned.
“He won’t hurt me,” she replied to the voice in her head before she could even think twice whether or not she should.