Dawn was peeking over the mountains outside and the entire compound was on alert. Enforcers were pacing nervously along the walls and calls had gone out to pull more in. She stared up at him, seeing the savage determination in his expression, the stubbornness in his gray eyes. He was refusing to accept the danger she represented to the community Wolfe had slowly fought to make safe for their people
“Think about it, Aiden,” she told him firmly, aware of the half dozen Breeds, including Wolfe, who listened behind him. “The drugs were specifically designed to force ovulation and compatibility with your sperm. When their tests revealed the added Breed component in my blood, they checked their own records and matched it with you. They had samples of your sperm. They designed a drug that would enhance and would speed up the process my body had started…”
“Because we are mated,” he bit out triumphantly, as though the ongoing argument over the mating was behind her words.
Charity rolled her eyes as she pushed her fingers through her hair in frustration. Was he never going to give up? He was the most stubborn person she had ever laid eyes on.
“Listen to you. You did not mate me, Aiden. You marked me somehow. The drugs mated me, not you.”
His eyes flashed like a mercurial storm, the color twisting and surging within itself.
“Drugs created from my sperm. From my individual DNA,” he bit out arrogantly as though the fact that it was he she had mated with made him somehow superior to anyone else she may have been tested for.
And still, he missed the point. The danger she was bringing to the compound was her concern, not the damned mating, drug related or not.
“Goddammit, this isn’t about the f**king mating!” she yelled as she came to her feet, clutching the blanket tightly around her na**d body as she faced him furiously. “Don’t you hear what I’m saying, Aiden? I’m a danger to everyone here. To everything Wolfe is attempting to build. You have to let me leave.”
Incredulity filled his expression. “And go where?” He spread his hands wide. “Where else would you be even reasonably safe, Charity?”
She would never be safe, and she knew it. But she wouldn’t hide behind the very people she had fought so many years to protect, either.
“And if they launch an all out assault?” she asked him loudly. “What the hell will you do then? They know you’ve f**ked me…”
“I mated you,” he yelled back, his voice dark, wickedly sensual with its angry growl.
“They know conception is possible, Aiden…”
“By God, if you haven’t conceived yet it’s not from lack of trying,” he growled. If she hadn’t needed to keep the blanket on her to preserve her modesty she would have pulled her hair in frustration.
“Are you trying to make me crazy?” she snarled. “Stop changing the subject.”
“There is no subject under discussion,” he informed her arrogantly. “You are my mate, and therefore part of the pack. You are safest here. When you are no longer so weak, you will realize this.”
She gaped at him for a moment in amazement.
“Get over the mating stuff, Aiden. They won’t stop. How many of your people will die before you hate me for it?” she screamed back at him. “Look at me, Aiden. I won’t allow it…”
“My mate.My decision.”He crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly.
“Drugs do not make a mate.” She wondered what it took to convince him of this. “Do you understand me, Aiden? Not.Your.Mate.”
“My mate.My woman,” he growled.“My child.”
The last word shocked her into silence, but only for a moment. “There is no child.”
“Yet.”Satisfaction glittered in his eyes.
“Ever.”
His brow arched slowly. “Do you think you can deny me, Charity?” he drawled sensually. “Already your body is hot, aroused. Any man in this room can scent your need.”
Her eyes widened as she swallowed tightly then turned and looked at the interested men watching the exchange with no small amount of amusement. She felt her face flush in embarrassment as her gaze went to Wolfe questioningly.
“You can?” she asked, humiliation crawling through her body as she faced the men. Wolfe sighed deeply as he flashed Aiden a disgruntled look. “Charity, it is no different for Hope or Faith. The need is natural. And the scent is very elusive, though very pleasant. There is no reason to feel shame.”
“Why should you feel shame?” Aiden questioned almost angrily. “Does it shame you to be my mate?”
She was going to cry. Charity could feel the tears rising behind her eyes, the fear blooming in her chest. The need to do so made her furious. Damn him, damn him to hell for making her cry.