Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,66

to work with our rules - and to tell us when he has problems - that he's welcome to be a part of this. But see? Shifters and not. There's no black, white, brown, or such."

"Huh." She paused to think about that. "So, they just think of me as a brunette?"

"Lean, dark, and sexy?" I offered, doing my best to play on the stereotype of tall, dark, and handsome. "Ian thinks your accent is elegant. You and I both know that you've probably gotten shit over it in your life. And the fact that Gabby doesn't have one at all?"

"I tried really hard to make sure she didn't," Elena admitted. "Because I hoped she wouldn't have to deal with being told to go back to her own country like I did."

"Yeah. I'm sorry." I paused for another bite. "But as for your question?" I leaned forward to grab a paper towel from the dispenser and wiped at my face. "We're kinda waiting for you to take the lead, I guess? Elena, we went from keeping secrets to almost dumped, to cut off because of this virus. The truth is that I don't think any of us know what you're comfortable with."

For a little too long, she just worked on her lunch, taking a bite, chewing, and staring into the kitchen toward the stove. Finally, she set her taco down and turned to look at me. From the set of her shoulders, I knew this talk had just turned serious.

"I don't think I know either," she admitted. "In my head, I have these visions of wild, passionate romances. And then I start thinking that you guys have to be squabbling about whose turn it is when I can't see. And I feel like Trent and Pax are avoiding me, well, sorta. Pax was waiting for me at work, but he said something, and now, I just don't know what I'm supposed to be doing either."

"Exactly!" I said. "That's how I feel too. I like you. A lot. If it was just us, I'd be flirting and making a fool out of myself every chance I could, but I've never dated like this before. Shit, I stopped dating when I became a wolf, and I'd only ever had one serious girlfriend, and that was from high school, so me dumping her was half-expected when I got to college. So, yeah."

"Really?" she asked. "Just one?"

I nodded. "Yep. And, um, betas don't date. When Ian made me the offer, well, I jumped on it. I'd been a wolf a matter of days, but it was something to work for. So, I know how to hook up with girls, but that's the problem. You're neither a girl nor a hookup. Trent and Pax are convinced that they screwed up so bad you're only being nice because of Ian and Lane." I lifted a hand when her mouth opened. "I know you told them otherwise, but they think you're just trying to be nice."

"I talked to Pax about that today," she explained. "I'm hoping I made it clear that's not the case, but can you help?"

"Promise," I said. "But what about you? What are you actually ok with? Gang bangs when Gabby's upstairs? I'm guessing that's out."

"Yeah," she agreed. "But I like that you guys come over to spend the night." Her cheeks were turning a little pink. "It's what I look forward to every evening. I just don't want it to always be PG-13, you know?"

"So, weeknight sex is allowed?" I chuckled because that sounded as stupid out loud as it felt to ask.

But she nodded. "I think so."

"So..." I shoved a hand across my mouth, convinced this was the dumbest thing I would ever say in my life. "If I encouraged Pax and Trent to come over, I wouldn't be ruining things for myself?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Elena, I still remember being human. I know that you could like one of us more than the others. You're not a wolf, so there's not the same shit in your head that we have. This 'all for one' mentality, and I kinda don't want to cut my own throat, but I also have this urge to work for the good of my pack. Well, the other guys, in this case. I mean - fuck." I was screwing this up so bad, so I decided to just try again. "I want you to fall madly in love with me. I want you to think that I'm