Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,179

but it won't be as bad. If I'm already a wolf, it removes one of her threats. And if I work as hard as Gabby did, maybe I can even learn how to run away so you can protect me."

"And if Karen wins the dominance challenge?" I asked. "What will you do if she banishes you from the pack?"

She pulled in a breath and sat a little straighter. "I'll get an apartment in town and wait for you all to fix it. I'll trust that Ashley or Kim would challenge her back, or that some rule somewhere would make this all better. Lane, I don't care about my title. I'm not worried about no longer being the official Alpha Female. I just want to be with you. All five of you."

My heart thumped hard in my chest, feeling like the wind was just knocked from my lungs. "Really?" I asked.

She nodded. "I like this. I love you, Lane. I..." She paused, glancing away. "I think I'm in love with Ian, but I'm scared to admit it. And Seth..."

"I'll have to bite you," I reminded her. "If you want to make sure this happens, then sex isn't predictable enough. The only way to all but guarantee that you'll be exposed is if I bite you - as a wolf."

She swallowed audibly. "I'm scared it'll hurt."

"It'll hurt," I admitted. "There's no other way to do it. So are you sure this is what you want?"

My mate paused, but then she nodded. "I want to be a wolf." Then her eyes jumped up to mine. "And I want you to do it, but I don't want to tell Ian until it's done."

"Monday night," I told her. "The full moon is Wednesday evening, so I'll do it on Monday night. That way you won't be too sick. I'll also have to tell Ashley, because you'll be out of work for a while."

"What if she tells Ian and he says no?" she asked.

"I don't think you'll have a problem." Because we already knew she was trying, and I had a feeling this was just her inner fears talking, but I'd run interference for her. So, I leaned in and kissed the side of her neck. "I promise that I will take very good care of you, but you need to tell Gabby. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, but she deserves to know that you're planning this."

"Tomorrow," she decided, reaching for my hand. "Thank you for believing me."

"You know..." I laced my fingers with hers. "If anyone ever tries to hurt you, Elena, I will kill them. I'm scared you'll hate me for it, because you're this sweet, gentle little bunny, but I'm still a wolf. I'll always be a wolf, and I'm not always a nice guy."

"I know," she promised. "But it makes me feel like it's ok to be brave, Lane. I can take a risk because I know you'll make sure it ends up ok."

"We all will," I swore. "And even when you're a wolf, you'll still be my bunny." This time, I kissed the side of her face. "Because I really like eating you."

She pulled her hand back with a laugh. "Go do whatever you were doing. I need to make dinner."

"Monday night," I told her again. "I'm spending the night - just us - and we'll make this happen. So, you have until then to change your mind."

"I won't," she said.

I just headed to her door. "I know." Because this sweet, gentle woman wasn't weak or timid. She just hadn't realized that yet.

CHAPTER 52

"Elena wants me to turn her."

The words entered the house before Lane was even in view, making all of us stop. I shut off the water, putting the dish I was washing in the rack, and turned to see how Ian was handling that. Pax and Trent were also watching him when Lane finally marched into the living room.

"Why?" Ian asked.

"Because she does," he said. "She's already trying, Ian. No condoms, remember? She wants to be a part of the pack, and I'm pretty sure she realizes there are things she's missing because she doesn't have this thing."

Ian just crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, and Damon called to threaten me today. Seems Karen's now a member of his pack. More than that, he's taken her as a mate."

"A mate?" Pax asked.

Ian nodded. "One of three. I'm sure she doesn't care, either. She's just happy she's finally been given the title of Alpha Female."

"Mm," Trent grunted. "But Hidden