Chapter 50

Phoenix

I start making breakfast for everyone, my mind still reeling from the vile information I found in the file. I doubt I'll be able to eat, but I can at least make sure the girls are taking care of themselves.

It's nearly noon, and Selene hasn't gotten up yet. A smirk tugs on my lips. I must've fucked her better than I thought.

Just as I'm wondering if I should wake her, I hear the shower running upstairs. Good—she's already up. I can't help but wonder how she's going to react. Will there be awkwardness between us? Will she pretend like nothing happened? Will she regret me marking her?

Goddess, I hope not. That would fucking shatter me.

Her scent hits me before her footsteps do. I turn around just in time to catch the blush coloring her cheeks. I couldn't tell if it was just because of the memories of last night or something else, but it's cute as hell.

I smile at her. "Good morning, princess," I purr, breathing in her scent.

She's wearing a orange dress with thin straps, the swell of her breasts on display for me and only me. I fight the urge to pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck.

Shit. Now that she's marked, she's fucking irresistible.

This could be bad for the other people staying in this house with the ability to hear.

As she looks at me, a surge of emotions flood over me. I quickly realize they're her emotions—love and an overwhelming rush of lust. Then, the scent of her arousal wafts into my nostrils.

"Damn, that's strong," I murmur.

If she doesn't stop looking at me like that, I won't be able to stop myself from bending her over this table, and fucking her from behind. My wolf instincts are kicking in, and I have to fight the urge to breed her.

I smirk, stepping into her space. I brush aside her hair, my fingers grazing the fresh mark on her neck. She gasps, her knees buckling.

I wrap an arm around her waist, steading her as I chuckle.

Damn, did I do that?

"Sorry," I murmur, though satisfaction surges through me at how I can make her body react like that.

Like the gentleman I am, I pull out a chair and gesture for her to sit down. I squeeze her shoulder gently, trying to convey my joy at having her her, though I'm sure she can feel it.

"Eat. You must be starving after last night," I tell her, my tone leaving no room for argument.

She sits down, a smile gracing her lips. As I turn back to the stove to make the rest of the plates, I hear Makayla enter the room.

"Where's Sam?" Selene asks, her voice higher than usual.

"Oh, he went to work, but he said he would be back to check on us later," Makayla replies.

As I place a plate in front of her, Makayla's eyes meet mine. "Hey, Nix."

"Mornin'," I respond, sitting beside my little wolf. I don't really have an appetite, especially after what I found out about my father this morning, but I can at least try. After taking a bite of toast, I find myself distracted, my hand sliding up Selene's thigh. I hear her breath hitch, and I fight the urge to smirk.

I could shove my fingers inside her right now, and I bet she'd fucking love it.

As I take another small bite of toast, I catch the silent exchange between Selene and Makayla. It's not hard to guess they're talking about me. But what exactly are they saying? Is my little wolf telling her about us? Sharing the details of our night together? I know girls do that—shit, guys do it too, when you know your friends aren't fuckboys that are going to go after your girl the second they get a chance.

When Selene's cheeks turn rosy red, my heart skips a beat.

What are they talking about now?

Hopefully, she's telling her that my dick is big, and I'm satisfying her just the way she needs. I mean...after last night, I think that's the truth.

I'm pulled back into reality when Uncle Luke strides into the room, a seriousness on his face.

"I need to speak with you, Selene."

Shit, he's going to tell her right now. I feel the tension grow in my shoulders, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me.

"You want to talk to me?" Selene asks, and I can feel her anxiety.

My uncle nods curtly. "Honestly, this conversation is overdue, but we needed to have our facts straight."

She glances over at me, confusion written all over her face.

After Luke lays out the situation, the tension in the room thickens, both of the girls starting to panic.

"My mom's in danger and we just have her sitting at the fucking packhouse? Holy shit. I can't believe this!" Selene nearly shouts.

Fuck. She's freaking out, and I need to calm her down.

"Selene," my uncle tries to calm her down, but she's already standing, ready to jump on the phone with her mother.

It's not time for Christina to find out; we'll tell her when she's safely away from the threat that is my father.

"Don't freak your mother out," I cut in, pulling her into my embrace, hoping to calm her. It works, somewhat. She takes steadying breaths, her heart rate starting to climb back down. "Call your aunt. Tell her that your mom needs a break from the packhouse, and she needs to convince her to leave."

She stares into my eyes for a moment before whispering, "Okay."

After Selene rushes out of the room, Makayla's gaze shifts to me. "She's been hurt enough. When she loves someone, she sees what she wants to see."

What the hell is she trying to say?

I know she's just looking out for her friend, but she needs to have faith in her possible cousin. "I will never hurt her. She's everything to me."