Read Mating Behavior for Free Online Page B

clenched. “She did?” he asked,
pretending he didn’t already know.
    “Yeah and she lingered for a bit too. I’ve
never been that close to a wild wolf before, Alan. It was amazing!
Do you think the others will approach us too?”
    I sure the fuck hope not.
    Forcing a smile to his face, he grabbed his
boots and headed towards Katie. “I don’t know. We should probably
try to keep our distance. They’re wild, you know.”
    She pulled the knit cap off her head,
letting her mass of unruly, long hair spill forth. Alan raked a
hand through his own hair, his mouth suddenly dry. As Katie
unzipped her fleece, his heart thumped madly, trying to break free
of his chest. She pulled it off, leaving her standing in a thin
t-shirt and jeans. Her nipples pressed against the fabric, making
his cock twitch and his blood boil with need.
    The hairs on the back of his neck stood on
end, indicating danger was near. He already knew the beta male was
close. So was his female. They were waiting for him to deliver on
his promise to claim Katie in view of them. His cock was in full
agreement. His mind however, told him how very wrong it was to not
only expose Katie, unknowingly, to prying eyes while he attempted
to seduce her, but to then claim her for all eternity without
sharing his secrets first.
    “Umm, what are you doing?” he asked.
    Katie shrugged as she began taking her boots
off. “Getting ready to go to sleep. Isn’t that what you’re doing
too?” She glanced at the tent. “Looks like we’ll be sleeping in
tight quarters, huh?”
    He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t take her
without her knowing who and what he truly was. He ran a hand over
his face and sighed as the weight of the situation settled on his
shoulders. “Go ahead. I need to gather a few more things. I’ll be
back in a bit.”
    Her eyes widened. “Alan, it’s getting
dark.”
    He knew. He also knew the beta male would
bring the wrath of the pack down on Katie should he not carry out
his end of the bargain. The man had offered up a female from his
pack. Alan didn’t want to have to resort to that, but it beat
fucking Katie while others watched. She wouldn’t want that. Hell,
she wouldn’t even really want him, let alone an audience.
    Katie covered the distance between them and
grabbed hold of his arms. “Alan, what’s going on?”
    “Nothing.”
    Liar.
    Her brown eyes widened. “Alan, talk to me,
please. Ever since we set up camp here, you’ve been different…
distant and—“
    That’s because I can’t fight the need to be
in you.
    He held back from confessing the truth and
decided to take a different approach. “Listen, Katie, no offense,
but I need some space.”
    “Space?” she asked, hurt evident in her
voice.
    His chest tightened. “Yeah. Space. Back home
I can shut myself in my room, go for a walk, whatever to get some
breathing room from you.”
    As the pain from his words moved over her
face, Alan fought the urge to pull her into his arms and admit he
was a liar. He didn’t want space. He wanted her. All of her, but
not this way. Not on display for others—when she didn’t know the
truth.
    She pulled away from him and Alan had to
turn to keep from going to her. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
    “Whatever,” she said, her tone even. “Take
all the space you need, Alan.”
    He stared out into the darkness and clenched
his fists. A bitter breeze seemed to come out of nowhere. Thunder
rolled and Alan shivered. There were no storms predicted for the
area. Another blast of cold air struck him and he had the fight the
urge to glance back at Katie. That was ridiculous. She didn’t have
anything to do with the weather.
    He lowered his voice to a level he knew a
human couldn’t pick up on and spoke to the wolves he knew were
watching him. “Not tonight. I gave you my word and I’ll do it, but
not tonight. Go. You’ve had all the fun you’re going to have with
us this evening.”
    He sensed it then, the werewolves pulling
back. Alan could