Wolf Bite (The Blue Mountain Wolf Pack #5) - Emma Dean Page 0,22

over her chest and glared at him, not understanding why he was avoiding the commendation, but wasn’t hiding his distress.

“I need to get this to Olivia.” Liam didn’t look back as he walked toward the stairs, still shirtless. His tattoos were beautiful, and she looked away before anyone could catch her staring.

For someone who wasn’t that aggressive, Liam was insanely good at manipulating situations to his benefit. He’d dismissed her question with something she couldn’t argue with. He was a pretty interesting person for a guy.

And totally not her usual type.

Normally she went for the soft boys who were more likely to beg her for a variety of things. It was what she wanted after all. Zoe wanted to be the one with the power over the relationship, but she had never found someone who could stimulate her outside of the bedroom.

She didn’t want someone to give in to her every desire and wish. No, Zoe wanted someone to know their own power and use it to be her partner, even if she was the one who had him by the balls…willingly.

It was never satisfying unless they handed them over to her like a prized possession.

Despite how much she hated the whole fated mates thing, Zoe had to admit that Liam seemed like he might be able to fill that position.

Something about that was aggravating, but Zoe wondered if maybe there wasn’t a point to it after all. She’d have to study the other mated wolves before deciding.

Liam was a complication, but he wasn’t more or less complicated than the fact that she was now a fucking werewolf. That was the biggest problem she had and everything that went along with it. She was going to have to call Rodriguez eventually.

Footsteps reached her before the smell of whatever Liam wore. It reminded her of pine trees and lavender with a dash of cedarwood. It fit him somehow.

“Is she feeling better?” Zoe asked. “If she won’t see Laura, I can take a look at her.”

“Did you see Laura?” Liam demanded, avoiding her other question.

Olivia was apparently none of Zoe’s business right now, and she respected that more than she anticipated. Liam protected his own, just like Noah had said.

“I did.” Zoe watched as some of the tension in Liam’s shoulders eased at that admission. “She says I’m perfectly healthy, but take it slow for the next few days while I adjust.”

A wolf now, but perfectly healthy.

“I didn’t realize she was Lily’s sister.” Zoe shook her head, thinking of her own sister. “They couldn’t be more different.”

“They both have a nasty temper. Most females I know do.” Liam chuckled like he found that endearing and Zoe remembered what Olivia had said about that being a turn on for him.

It was fucking weird, but she kind of liked that about him. For whatever reason it made her feel less defensive.

“Females?” Olivia finished her sandwich and then dipped a carrot into the ranch.

“I know humans are weird about men saying that word, but in the paranormal world there are a lot of different races and species. It’s easier to say female when encompassing more than one species.” Liam shrugged and set out the sandwiches before grabbing his phone. “Not to mention that in some species, being female makes a huge difference.”

This was what she really wanted to know. “How?” Zoe crunched her carrot, watching Liam the whole time.

She really wished he’d put a fucking shirt on. It was unnecessarily distracting.

“For example, female witches are always more powerful than the males. Almost all positions of power are held by their females. Males marry into a female’s family and take their name. That kind of thing.” Liam was watching her as he spoke just as closely as she watched him.

“So, Laura is also a witch?”

“It’s a gene so yeah, witch clans all share that gene though humans can be born with it too. Laura is a witch doctor. Hilarious, right?” Liam snickered and took another messy bite of his sandwich.

Zoe couldn’t help the way her mouth tugged upward in a smile. “Yeah, that is funny.” A witch doctor. She shook her head and finished her last carrot before reaching for the pickle jar. “And is Lily mated to someone?”

“Alexander.”

So, they weren’t just dating. They were mated.

“Who else is mated?” The jar popped open, and she was pleased Liam hadn’t offered to open it for her.

“The Alpha, Kai, is mated to Amelia who is our Alpha Female. If the female wolf is the Alpha, her mate is