“No, you said I was your obsession. That’s not ‘caring.’”

“I also said you were mine. I don’t claim things or people, Ally. I’m protective of what’s important to me. But I’m not a possessive person.” He traced her hip bones with his thumbs. “But if you really need me to say the words, fine, I care about you.” He knew the smile that curved his mouth was smug. “And you care for me.” He could feel it.

Sensing an element of surprise mingled in with all that masculine satisfaction, Ally cocked her head. “You thought I didn’t?”

“I thought it would take a lot of work on my part before you did. It was bad enough that I was a shit to you in the beginning. Add in that I’m pretty much an asshole, have an underdeveloped conscience, and I’m fucked up in too many ways to count, and I’m not exactly easy to care for.”

“You’re not an asshole”—she smiled—“all the time.” His mock scowl made her smile widen. “It’s true that you’re an awful cook, have little room for error in your world, can be somewhat judgmental, and are a little too serious. But you’re also extremely supportive, your word is as good as gold, and you own your shit to the extent that you actually verbally admit you’re wrong—do you know how rare that is for a dominant male wolf?”

Sitting upright, he pressed a kiss to his claiming mark. In his opinion, he didn’t deserve her glossy view of him. He was a selfish, aggressive bastard with a serious amount of baggage. But it didn’t change anything; she was his mate, and he was keeping her. Would have kept her even if she hadn’t been his true mate. “I know you find it hard to settle in places, baby. But you belong with me, which means you belong here. Now that I’ve marked and claimed you, you can’t leave.”

That commanding tone never failed to make her bristle. “Well, I could. But I won’t leave, because I don’t want to.”

“Have you always had such a serious issue with authority?”

“Let’s get something straight right now.” She pointed hard at him. “You’re Beta male here, yes. But you’re not my Beta. You’re my mate.” He couldn’t be both at once. Their relationship would never be peaceful if he tried.

Gratified by the latter fact, he smiled. “It’s cute when you get all assertive.” She’d make a perfect Beta female with her strength, dependability, and way of inspiring loyalty in people.

“Do you think the pack will be as shocked as we are?”

“I don’t know. We’ll find out tomorrow morning. For tonight, I want to be alone with my mate.” He lifted her and poised her above his cock. “Ride me.”

“Ooh, I like this plan.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The next morning at breakfast, their news was met with a stunned silence. Only one person claimed to have suspected that Derren and Ally were mates.

Draping his arm over the back of Ally’s chair, Derren asked Kathy, “What made you suspect it?” The fact that he hadn’t suspected it continued to gall him, even though he understood why.

At the stove, Kathy shook her head in exasperation. “Derren, I’ve known you a long time. I’ve seen how you relate to people, how you keep females you’re dating at a distance. Though I suppose ‘dating’ is a generous word.” She gave a disapproving huff at his past of casual hookups. “You treated Ally differently. You were protective and possessive, and when placed in a dangerous situation, your first thought was for Ally’s safety. Your instinct was to protect her. Not Nick—your Alpha, friend, and pack mate—but a wolf who was technically an outsider until now.”

“If I hadn’t believed Cain was her mate,” began Eli, “I would have suspected it.”

An excited Shaya smiled at Ally. “I did start to wonder about it after our little chat yesterday morning.”

Bracken looked at Derren. “I noticed you were pretty heavy with Ally, but I just figured you were pussy whipped.” At Derren’s growl, he shrugged innocently. “What? Just sayin’.”

Stone, Shaya’s human father and ex–Navy SEAL, who took utter delight in torturing Nick, laughed. “A little like my daughter’s mate.” He’d arrived for a visit early that morning and was extremely annoyed with Shaya for not alerting him to the danger the pack had been in.

“Well,” drawled Nick, ignoring Stone’s comment, “congratulations to you both. And welcome to the pack, Ally.”

Shaya clapped. “I already considered you one of us, Ally, but now you’re an official member.”

That comment felt like sunshine on Ally’s skin. She smiled. “Thanks.” The warmth increased as everyone offered their congratulations. Her wolf was more than content with their acceptance.

Shaya grinned at Derren. “Now aren’t you glad I argued to have Ally come here?”

Nick rolled his eyes. “Yes, baby, he owes his happiness to you.”

“Damn right, he does,” Shaya stated smugly before taking a sip of her coffee. “Roni will be glad to hear the news. She and Marcus have gone to Phoenix Pack territory.”

“I didn’t want them to leave,” said Nick. “But Marcus hasn’t seen them for a while, and they’re family to him. It’s difficult for him and his wolf to be separated from them for too long.”

“It has to be hard to be caught between packs like that,” mused Stone, feeding Bruce a slice of bacon. “I’m surprised he didn’t insist that Roni remain here.”