Wolf's Call (Wolves Next Door #2) - Auryn Hadley Page 0,7

ignore you, but he didn't. Seth made that call, Elena. Not Ian, and not us."

The tension vanished. The sick feeling released, and I felt like I could breathe again. "So this whole thing is real? What we have, it's really as good as I think it is?"

Lane nodded his head vigorously. "It is. We care about you. We're trying to explain everything, but it's crazy and confusing, and we don't know what parts we should tell you first or last, but this? If she's going to try to challenge you..."

My mouth fell open. "Challenge?"

"Uh..." And he let his chin drop against his chest. "Fuck. Let's just add that to the list of things you still need to learn about."

"Later," I decided. "Promise me I'm not going to die today, and I dunno, maybe you can come over tonight and fill me in on that part?"

"I promise," he said, coming around the desk to kneel before me. "And I love you, little bunny. I can't help it, I can't change it, and I'm not upset by it. I was made to love you, and if you think I'll let anyone make a mess of that, then think again."

I found my lips curling up regardless of everything else. "Little bunny?" It made me laugh.

He just smiled back. "Small, cute, and meant to be eaten. Yeah. You're my little bunny. Besides, that exposure thing only goes one way." Then he stood. "I really do need to finish taking down the Christmas banners, but think about it."

And then he headed through the door, but this time, he was smiling. Then again, so was I.

CHAPTER 3

Lane sent us all a text about his conversation with Elena. It sounded like she wasn't pissed, but we'd just added another list of things to explain to her. Part of me felt guilty. She hadn't asked for any of this, and yet she kept getting dragged deeper and deeper into my world. My problems had just become hers, and the only thing I had to make me feel better was that it went both ways. Her problems were now mine as well. All of ours, actually.

So I headed back to the office just before lunch. I'd gotten Elena's message about the doctor, but that had been while I was still talking to the guys. Now, I wanted to see how that had gone, which meant a little meeting with my sister before stealing away my mate for a lunch date. Even the thought of it made me smile.

I pulled up in front of the office and had just gotten out of my SUV when a little blue Kia parked beside me. A groan fell out, but I tried to pretend like I didn't recognize Karen's car. On the upside, at least it meant she wouldn't get to blindside Elena without a little backup.

"Ian!" she called as she climbed out of her car. "Fancy meeting you here. Two times in one day? I'm starting to get the wrong impression."

"What are you doing?" I asked, pausing on the sidewalk because I'd much rather do this out here.

She made her way over with a blinding smile on her sensual lips. "Came to update my credit card on my account. You?"

"I'm taking my mate to lunch." The words came out cold.

She just pushed out her lower lip. "Poor thing. Doesn't sound fun." And she took one more step, invading my space. "Isn't she like forty?"

Because Karen was a couple of years younger than me. Twenty-eight, I thought, although I could be wrong. She'd been two years behind me in middle school, at any rate. Three in High School. Four by the time I got into college. That made it a little harder to keep track.

I just gave her the fakest smile I could. "What can I say? Seems I don't care for little girls."

Karen actually huffed at that. "Please. Your betas do."

"My betas like easy women. So long as they're legal, age doesn't matter." And I lifted a brow, making sure she caught the point.

Karen glanced over to the door of the office, then stepped even closer. Her chest was almost against mine, but I knew she was trying to force me to back down. She wanted one little hint of submission that she could hold over my head, and I refused to give it to her. Instead, I crossed my arms between us, preventing her from crushing her body against mine.

"I don't know how to break this to you," I said, "but