“You have to let go of him, Nina. She’s good for him. It’s the way of things. Having him with us without a mate meant he led a whisper of a life while you and I had a full one. That’s not love. That’s selfish.”

She smiled. Her dude was wicked smart for such a big tool. “I hate when you’re smarter than me. Does she have to be so f**king pretty and classy? All, I’m a doctor and I wear pearls and shit? And what, is she like one of those miniature dolls the rich girls kept in glass cases? She’s teeny! What’s up with that?”

He snorted but the beginning of his smile returned. “You’re looking for things to not like about her.”

“She’s a Pellini, Lex. That’s enough. They killed my brother.”

“She didn’t have anything to do with that. No more than you had anything to do with Rey when he broke the law. I adore you and I know you want what’s best for this Pack. You’re going to have to get along with her. Hell, I’d wager you’ll even like her. If you give her a chance.”

“Hmpf. Maybe.”

Cade caught up with her in their room as she tossed a suitcase on the bed and unzipped it.

“I realize you’re worried about your sister-in-law. I’m a doctor, I know how risky it is for humans turned wolf in the first week. But I don’t share, Cade. Period. I won’t live that way. If that’s what she expects, that expectation needs to be eradicated. If that’s what you expected, you need to say so right now so I can leave.” The eyes that greeted his sparked with fury.

She might look sweet but she got right down to the point. In truth the way she’d acted with Nina flipped his switch in a major way. She truly was his mate, truly was an Alpha.

“Grace, honey, I’d kill any wolf who suggested sharing. I don’t share either. Jack got his taste but that’s it forever. You’re mine. I’m yours. You’re not going anywhere. And hell, neither is she. You handled her just fine. She’ll respect your strength and when she thinks about it, she’ll realize she’s being silly and stop being a bitch.”

“She’d better, Cade.” She paused, staying there with the bed between them. “Do you love her?”

He felt her uncertainty, her pain and could do nothing else but go to her and fall to his knees. “I love her, yes. She’s my anchor bond and my sister-in-law. More than that, she’s my friend. She’s been with me through a lot of stuff. She’s the other half of my brother. Lex and I may be at odds every now and again but he’s my best friend.” He put his arms around Grace’s waist and breathed her in.

Her body remained stiff as she processed what he’d said.

“But that wasn’t your question, was it? Do I love her romantically? Sexually? Like I love you?” He looked up into her face and she touched the side of his jaw, softly, gently. “No. At one time, I think I did. Or I thought I knew what it was to love. Partly it was the link, I’m sure Jack feels deeply for you and over time that would grow. Partly it’s because Lex and I are brothers. Our feelings for each others’ mates would be complicated by our biological link to each other. What I feel for you, Grace, nothing in the universe could have prepared me for. There’s no issue of choice, of choosing between you and anyone else. I’ve chosen. I chose the moment I saw you the first time. I don’t want you to hurt, Grace. If the idea that I would take my eyes from you for a single moment bothers you, rest assured, that’s not the case.”

She got to her knees, facing him and kissed along the line of his jaw. “Good. Now I won’t have to maim you in your sleep and start a whole new level of Clan war. I love you too, or I wouldn’t stay here and deal with this business.” She stood and held out her hand. “Now, come on, we have a house full of people to entertain.”

“I’m so going to nail you when everyone leaves.” He looked her over with a wicked grin.

“I’m counting on it.”

Chapter Eight

Grace bustled around the kitchen the next morning, her muscles sore in all the right places. She reached up to brush her fingertips over the spot on her neck where Cade had bitten and marked her as he took her from behind only an hour before.

He’d woken her up, hunger on his face and they’d made love with silent intensity as the sun came up and warmed the room and their bare skin. The man was quite inventive in bed. Which was nice given her vanilla past. The sex she’d had before had been all right but fairly uninspired. Sex with Cade was full of wonderful surprises and it was just a few days.

“Well now, that’s an interesting look on your face.” Lex strolled into the kitchen.

“Good morning. Your brother makes me smile, what can I say? I’m making breakfast, are you hungry? Has Nina eaten yet?” She bustled around, stirring the eggs, turning the bacon, checking on the biscuits in the oven.

“You make it pretty impossible not to like you.”

She turned and looked at him. He grinned back, looking a lot like Cade at that moment and she shook her head. “I’m not the enemy, you know.”

“I do know that. I’m truly sorry for being so suspicious and not being warmer toward you. And if you wanted to share your breakfast with me and Nina, I’d appreciate it. I was just coming down before she woke up. Today is the all clear day so she’ll be pushing me to let her up.”

She turned back to the stove and pulled the eggs off the flame before spooning them into a large bowl. “You can put this on the table if you like. I’ve got shredded cheese, diced tomatoes and some salsa and green onions there too. Plates are out. Coffee is made although hold off for Nina until she’s checked out. The caffeine can agitate blood pressure in former humans.”