He ran his fingers through her hair. “It’s okay, you can make it up to me.”

When he rolled Taryn onto her back and began sliding down her body she knew exactly what his intention was – the same intention he had every single morning. This was Trey’s version of breakfast. Being the kind, generous mate that she was, she lay still and let him feast.

It always felt so good when he tasted her, but it was so much more amazing having him do it while the mating bond was partially formed. She could feel that although it gave him a bone deep satisfaction that she belonged to him, he wasn’t just trying to answer his possessive urges by carrying her taste in his mouth. He was completely engrossed. The combination of her taste, the moans she made, and the knowledge that he was pleasuring his mate all had him totally gripped. As usual, when she came in his mouth he didn’t let a single drop of it go to waste. Then he swatted her ass and, whistling, strolled into the en-suite bathroom. Cocky bastard.

Rather than waiting for him as she always did, she quickly dressed and made her way to the kitchen. Yesterday most people had seemed accepting enough of their mating, but she couldn’t help wondering if their acceptance and offers of loyalty were for Trey’s benefit. As such, she wanted to go alone for breakfast this morning to see if their attitudes were different while he wasn’t around. That plan pretty much flopped, since the only person in the kitchen was Grace. The second she saw Taryn a beaming smile took over her face.

“So…you’re true mates after all,” she drawled, handing Taryn a mug of coffee. “I’m so thrilled. I must say, you look just as shocked this morning as you did yesterday.”

As usual, Taryn settled on the counter. “Yeah. I knew I’d come to care for him, but I didn’t expect him to feel the same. I certainly didn’t expect all this.”

“He’s cared about you from the beginning. He’s just not good with showing he cares.”

“Well, he never had many examples of it.” She hated that he’d had such an awful childhood.

“That’s true. His mom…she was a good person, but she wasn’t affectionate. It wasn’t part of who she was, like Greta. Kids…they need hugs, kisses, praise and words of love. She never gave him that. His dad gave him pretty much the opposite.”

“It’s no wonder he doesn’t know what love is.”

Most likely in response to Taryn’s sudden frown, Grace asked, “What is it?”

“Nothing.” At Grace’s ‘tell me now’ expression, she sighed. “It’s just…I can’t help feeling a little hurt that he doesn’t care about me as much as I do him. I know it should be enough to be mated to someone I love even if they don’t love me back – especially when I’d never thought I’d have the mating bond at all. But the idea of spending my life with someone I love who doesn’t feel the same….I’m worried it’ll eat away at me over time.”

“Of course it hurts. You want to be the center of his everything just like he’s the center of yours. But, honey, I’m pretty sure you already are. He cares about you about as much as he’s capable of doing. It’s up to you to show him what love is, to wrap him up in it until he comes to recognize it and feel it himself.”

“I don’t know if that’s possible. Trey…he’s so guarded. Hell, we both are. I’m not sure that the mating bond will ever be fully complete.”

Grace gave her a gentle smile. “You know what the answer is, don’t you? Chocolate. It’s always the answer, no matter the question.”

Taryn’s chuckle died as Selma entered the room wearing what might as well have been a tissue. Clearly the female was set on continuing to flaunt herself in front of Trey. “He’s not here yet.”

Scowling, Selma took a seat at the table and, naturally, the tissue rode up her thighs to the point of indecency. “I’ll bet you’re feeling very smug. Well, be as smug as you want, but I have to say I feel kind of sorry for you if you think this is over. He’s still not yours. The mating bond is only in the early stages. The link can be quite easily broken.”

“So can your nose. Don’t test me, Selma. Right now I don’t have the patience required to deal with people whose IQ level lands on the right side of the decimal point. Trey didn’t want to mate with you before I was here, and even if I left he still wouldn’t want you as his mate.”

“Oh he wanted me just fine all those times he had me in his bed. Just think…Those silk sheets you sleep on at night – he f**ked me on those.”

Grace snorted. “Oh have some pride, Selma. It happened all of one time and that was years ago in your room! If it’s really that important to you to be some guy’s Alpha female then go seduce one at a club or something.”

“Trey’s mine! This pack is mine!” Her eyes flashed wolf as her attention turned back to Taryn. “You’ll never be accepted here as Alpha female. Never. You might have gotten most of them to pledge their loyalty to you, but you’re naïve if you think they all meant it.”

“Amen,” muttered a witchy voice.

Taryn returned Greta’s glare. “Hey Widow Twankey. Still alive? Hmm. Guess those voodoo dolls don’t work after all.”

“Yes, yes, make your jokes, hussy.”

“Who said I was joking?”

A cruel smirk played around the edges of Selma’s mouth. “I’ll bet it hurts knowing you’ll never run together with Trey in your wolf form.”

It did, actually, but Taryn wouldn’t let her see that her hit had met its target. “You know, I can’t understand why you’d spoil such gorgeous blonde hair by dying your roots black.” Selma’s smirk died and was replaced by a snarl. She probably would have said more if Trey, Dante and Tao hadn’t then entered the kitchen. Dante and Tao both greeted Taryn with smiles and respectful nods of the head.

“Hey, why didn’t you wait for me?” Trey asked against her lips as he stepped between her legs. He heard Selma – a mostly naked Selma, his peripheral vision informed him – call his name, but he didn’t pay her any attention, he wasn’t stupid.

“I needed caffeine.” Taryn gratefully accepted the plate of food Grace handed her. Trey frowned when Grace didn’t present him with a plate of his own.

“You don’t have to start running round after her just because she’s officially your Alpha female,” Greta told Grace.