Wolf Nip Split

Chapter Eight

They stepped through the doors of the pack house, Mark a little wary about the upcoming meet-and-greet. Tessa held his arm, staying right beside him. The fact she was touching him, sticking close to his side made it easier.

I love my pack. I trust my pack.

Mark repeated the words mentally as loud as he could to drown out the internal voice that whispered taking his unmarked mate, his beautiful, impulsive and sexy mate, into a place with a lot of shifter males was a bad idea.

The issue of her being a cat was high on the list as well, but his wolf was far more concerned about the other problem, go figure.

Tessa squealed with excitement, jiggling on the spot as her arm shot into the air, and she waved frantically. “Keri. There she is. Woohoo.”

A rush of relief struck at her enthusiasm—it was the first time in the past couple days that Mark could say Tessa had acted her normal energetic self. His mate was gone like the summer, vanishing between one blink and the next. Keri raced to meet her as well, the two of them tangling together in a huge hug as Keri’s mate, Jared, looked on.

Mark crossed the distance more sedately, but in time to hear the start of the conversation as the two friends curled up on the nearest couch and began catching up.

Jared stood behind them, leaning his hip on the couch. He poked Mark in the arm. “Well, fancy this. Keri told me everything, by the way. You and Tessa, mates, the cat thing.”

Drat. “Yeah.”

“You need anything, let me know.” Jared grinned. “Of course, now I have to wonder what would have happened if you’d made it to the cruise ship on time in July. It would have been you going crazy the entire trip.”

Although on the ship they wouldn’t have been under each other’s feet. “I’m sure it turned out for the best. You and Keri might not have met otherwise.”

“It’ll all work out in the end.” Jared patted him on the back. “Come on, let’s grab the girls a drink.”

Jared’s unexpected echo of TJ’s earlier words, the phrase Mark had taken as a mantra, helped calm the wolf inside. Mark leaned over the couch first, putting his lips close to Tessa’s ear for a moment as she talked with her best friend. “Sorry to interrupt. What do you want to drink, hot or cold?”

“Cold, please, but no—”

“No caffeine. I got it.”

Keri snorted. “He’s already got your number.”

Tessa stuck out her tongue.

The easy banter should have relaxed him, but Mark was too on edge to let his fears go. He squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll be right back. Stay with Keri.”

Tessa blinked at him, a question in her eyes, but she didn’t argue. “Umm, sure.”

Mark pulled himself away. Each step farther from Tessa felt forced. Painful.

“You’re cringing,” Jared pointed out.

“I can’t help it.” Mark looked around the room, eyeing all the lone wolves. Whispered conversations had already started in pockets. He swung his gaze between the two groups that seemed the greatest danger—the most interested in Tessa or the most disgusted to see a cat in their midst. “Everything in me wants to lock her up and hide her away until I know she’s officially mine.”

“That’s going to go over like a ton of bricks, from what Keri said about her friend.”

“Yeah, she’s…definitely not a wolf.” Mark caught the eye of the pack Alpha, and nodded politely. Keil winked in response then turned his attention to the room, and Mark relaxed a little.

If something did start up, he would defend his mate, but with the Alpha on his side, the rest of the pack should think twice about misbehaving.

Jared chuckled softly. “Don’t try to play any Poker tonight. Your game face is crap.”

“If the shoe was on the other foot, you’d be a nutcase as well.” Mark motioned at the pack member working behind the bar. “Two waters with lemon.”

“I’d be a total nutcase,” Jared agreed. “And drinking something stronger than water.”

“Not until I know I don’t have to fight.” Mark turned to wait, keeping a direct line of sight open to the couch where their women chatted.

“Good point.” Jared coughed lightly. “Not that I think you’ll need it, but in case? I’ve got your back, okay?”

Nice. Up to now he and Jared hadn’t been close friends, just fellow pack mates, but with their partners being bosom buddies, chances were high the four of them would be seeing a lot of each other. He glanced over at the other wolf and held out his hand. “Thanks. Appreciate it very much.”

Jared accepted his handshake. “You’re okay. And since Keri’s already talking about all the barbeques and stuff she’s going to invite you guys to, you may as well know, with your reputation in the kitchen? You’re cooking.”

“With your pocketbook? You’re buying the steaks.”

His new pal laughed. “Deal.”

Mark twisted back to check on Tessa, shocked to discover he couldn’t see her. One of the single ladies of the pack had stepped between them. The tall woman flashed him a sultry smile as she trailed her fingers down his shirt buttons.

“Mark. Haven’t seen you in a few days. Nice you could join us.”

“Linda.” He caught her wrist to stop her wandering hands from going any lower. A week ago he would have welcomed her exploration. Today, her touch made his skin crawl. “What are you doing?”

She took a deep breath, moving in close enough her hips bumped his, the full swells of her breasts pressing against his chest. “Saying hello. You know, you don’t need to go slumming.”

His wolf snarled at the insult to Tessa. He would have pushed Linda away, but he never got a chance.

Tessa was there, slipping between them, her warm backside rubbing his groin. She crossed her arms and used him as a backrest. “Hands off. He’s mine.”

The thrill her words gave him didn’t change the fact everyone in the pack house was now paying attention, from leadership down to the lowest-ranked wolf. Mark rubbed Tessa’s arms gently. “I got this.”

Linda didn’t back off. Instead, she raised a brow. “What do you mean, he’s yours?” She pressed in closer and sniffed. “I smell eligible wolf.”

There were more bodies surrounding them now, and Mark attempted to put Tessa behind him.

She was having none of it. She got right in Linda’s face. “Maybe your sniffer is broken.”

The other woman shrugged, reached past both of them and picked up a glass off the counter. She lifted it over Tessa’s head and tipped it over, soaking her with the contents. Satisfaction poured from Linda as she tossed the glass aside and cockily crossed her arms. “Nope, my sniffer’s working just fine. Now I smell wet cat.”

He wanted to snap at Linda, but across the circle, his Alpha shook her head. Robyn and Keil stood at attention—well aware of what was going down. Mark fought for control, but obeyed as Robyn put a finger to her lips, telling him to keep his mouth shut.

If he’d thought not getting to be with Tessa intimately was the worst possible situation he’d experienced in his life, he’d been wrong.

Not defending his mate was by far the hardest thing he’d ever had to do.

The unexpected cold water made her shirt cling to her, a soft drip, drip, drip falling from her hair to the floor. The entire room had gone silent as Tessa analyzed the situation.

She was no dummy. Tension had been high since the moment they’d walked in. Even as she’d enjoyed chatting with her BFF, she’d been aware of the discussion going down around the room.

She’d spotted the woman well ahead of the attack and planned her response. The ice water had been unexpected, but she wasn’t about to melt.

Tessa had even caught the little gesture by the Alpha—a lovely woman who had the smarts to deal with an unruly bunch of wolves on a regular basis, not to mention the big galoot of a mate at her side.

There had to be a reason Robyn wanted this battle to be Tessa’s.

Options one through five were considered and discarded. A straight-out physical confrontation wouldn’t prove anything.

If she wanted to be accepted by these people, if she was going to not only run a business but mate with one of their own, she couldn’t begin by alienating them.

She couldn’t be seen as weak, either.

So she went with option six. She let loose an enormous, dramatic sigh. “You’re right. Wolves’ sniffers are a lot more efficient than cats’.”

Linda angled her head and gloated.

Tessa reached out and caught the woman by the throat. “He’s still mine.”

Her sudden move surprised them all, and a low grumble rolled through the crowd. “You haven’t marked and mated each other,” someone called out, hiding in the background.

Good point. Tessa let go of Linda’s neck, patting her cheek before nodding. “True, although in most of the world, a little spit and being someone’s chew toy do not make a relationship. But just so there’s no doubt. Yo, Keri?”

Her friend pushed into the circle. “Yes?”

“Markers. Please.”

Keri pulled her ever-present backpack off her shoulder and dug into the depths. “Any particular colour?”

“Nope.” Although bright pink would be fun. Tessa maintained eye contact with the woman who’d started the trouble, hoping that sheer curiosity should stop anyone else from jumping in and starting a rumble.

The asked-for marker flew across the room. Tessa caught it in midair then snapped around to face Mark. He flicked a glance at her before focusing back on his pack mates. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he muttered.

She grabbed hold of his shirt and tore it apart, humming happily at the broad expanse of muscles her actions revealed. “Trust me.”

Then she put the tip of the marker to his skin and wrote Property of Tessa Williams in two-inch-high block letters.

“Dark blue looks good on you. Brings out the colour of your eyes.” She laid a hand on his chest, tapping her fingers over where his heart raced. “There, you think that’s sufficient for now?”

Mark glanced down. “Permanent marker?”

She peeked at the label. “Yup.”

“You should be good for a few weeks if I promise not to rub it off.”

Tessa stroked the exposed skin under her hands. “Are they going away?” she whispered.

His gaze darted over her shoulders then back to her face. “Everyone but Keri seems to be real busy all of a sudden. I think we’re safe.”

“Good.” She went to close his shirt and cursed softly. “Sorry about that. You seem to have lost some buttons.”

He shrugged out of the material altogether. “I’ll just go without for a while. Make sure everyone sees your message.” He caught her by the chin and smiled. “You are unpredictable.”

“I’m nice too. I considered writing it on your forehead.” She cuddled against his warmth, strangely happy at the unusual twist to the evening.

“Well done.” The deep voice brought her around to see the pack Alphas, Keil and Robyn, standing a few feet away.

Mark straightened up and dipped his head politely. “Sorry for the commotion.”

“Not your fault.” Keil eyed her and Tessa coughed lightly.

Yeah, okay totally her responsibility. “Hi.”

The head of the Granite Lake pack looked very serious for a moment until his mate elbowed him in the side, and he broke out laughing. “Right. Robyn wants me to let you know we’d like to have you two over for dinner later this week.”

Sweet. “We’d love to.” Tessa snuck her fingers into Mark’s. “Can we bring anything?”

Keil turned to his mate, moving his hands in sign language. Tessa watched in fascination as Robyn responded. It was one of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen. She immediately put learn sign language on her bucket list.

Keil faced them again. “If you’d like to bring dessert, that would be great. I’ll call later to set the date.”

Mark leant over to whisper in her ear. “I’ll cook.”

“Hush, your Alphas are listening. Be polite.”

Robyn hadn’t stopped grinning, only now she reached out her hand. Tessa accepted it happily, pleased at the gesture.

The Alphas excused themselves, wandering through the pack house and visiting with people, making sure everything went back to normal. Tensions seemed to have faded after Tessa’s little display, and she tucked herself against Mark’s side and hauled him back to the area they’d been sitting originally. Really, it had been a pretty good evening, except for the wetness clinging to her body.

Keri shook her head. “Troublemaker.”

“Hey, it wasn’t me.” Tessa crossed her legs under her and relaxed on the couch. Mark had draped his arm along the back of the headrest, enclosing her in his embrace without touching her. It was cozy and warm, and she felt like purring—it was the closest she’d been to being in his arms in days. “Well, it wasn’t just me. It had to happen, and it might not be the last time someone objects to having a cat around. We’ll deal with it.”

Jared stared at the pen markings. “What I don’t get, and excuse me, I’m just a simple wolf… Why?”

“Why, what?”

He pointed. “Why are you claiming him without claiming him? I mean if you don’t want Mark as a mate, I can understand that. I bet you can find someone better.”

Mark growled. “You’re not helping.”

She wasn’t sure herself. “Mark says we’re mates. You think he’s lying?”

Utter shock at the suggestion flashed in both their faces.

“Um, why would he lie about something like that?” Keri frowned. “I don’t know that a wolf could lie about something like that.”

“Right. So…once we get to know each other and a little more time passes, I figure he’s got a good chance at being the one for me. I’m not letting anyone else drool on him.”

Keri nodded slowly, then shot to her feet. “Come on, I need to talk to you.” In a total change of situation, this time it was Tessa being dragged across the floor to the front doors. The guys rose, but Keri waved them off. “Alone. Give us a minute.”

The pack was getting some entertainment tonight. Tessa waved at the cluster of women where Linda had retreated. Two seconds later she was out the door and down the stairs, being backed against the outside railing by her best friend.

Keri glared at her. “Okay, blunt-speaking time. Are you out of your damn feline mind?”

What in the world? “No more than usual. What’s wrong?”

“You’re what’s wrong. I can’t believe you lived next to wolves your entire life and you’re acting like this.” Keri paused and dragged her hand through her hair. “I mean, okay—you were brilliant with the marker thing. And yes, I vaguely see your point in terms of wanting to be in love before you make it official…”

There was an unspoken but written all over the silence that fell as Keri’s words faded away.

“What?”

Her best friend shook her head. “Mark said you’re mates. You kind of, mostly, believe him. You just claimed him…and now what?”

“And now we’re going to turn the paddle wheeler into a B&B?”

Keri poked her in the shoulder. “No. You’re going to be nice to the guy and give him a break.”

She still didn’t get it. “Nope, you lost me.”

Keri dragged her closer. “When we were on the cruise ship, and I’d sniffed out Jared? I swear it was seven kinds of hell waiting until we mated. You just told me about all the things he’s been doing around the B&B, all the fast-tracking and hard work… What the hell are you waiting for? Him to spout poetry and recite some specific lines you think you need to hear?”

“Is it wrong to want romance? To want fine gestures and romantic words? ‘I would die for you’—all that kind of thing.”

Her best friend laughed. “Oh, Tessa, you’re getting romance in the movies mixed up with the real romance of life. Not everyone does things the same way, right? Not everyone is going to say I love you the same way.”

Tessa clung to her ideals, even as they seemed to whither a little. “But Romeo and Juliet—”

Keri’s expression darkened, and Tessa jerked to a stop before she got bitten.

“If there were ever a couple of sickies… How does that story end, Tessa? With partners who listen to each other? Who grow old together? That’s not romance, it’s nothing but selfish, sorry people screwing up big time.”

Her friend’s admonishment was enough to make Tessa ashamed. “I’ve been so focused on the changes around the place, and all the plans I came to Haines to accomplish, I didn’t think.”

Keri rolled her eyes. “Stop with the excuses. And I’m not telling you that you need to simply accept him.”

“Aren’t you?”

“You’d prefer Linda to be the one he was building things for? Or that she was curled up in his lap and running her fingers over his body—”

“Hey.” A hot flush of anger slid over her at the thought. “Now you’re getting nasty.”

“Now I’m being honest.”

Tessa froze, the seriousness of her friend’s expression making her listen, not just to the words, but to the lingering aftershocks of annoyance conjured from imagining Mark with anyone but her.

Keri lowered her voice. Slowed her tirade. “I realize as a wolf I can’t truly understand where you’re coming from. What’s built into me doesn’t compute when I hear you talking about what you need. I hear you say you want to wait for the forever part of the deal, wait until the sunset is just right or something. It makes no sense.”

If her friend couldn’t understand, what was Mark feeling?

Keri caught hold of Tessa’s arms and held her tight. “Maybe that sounds as if I’m putting down your choices, and I don’t mean to. You’re a good friend, Tessa, and a good, good person. What you’re doing isn’t good, though. You’re being mean to that wonderful man, because while wanting you to be his mate right here and right now might not be the cat way, he’s not a cat. And you can only push the wolf so hard before he’s going to go mad.”