Captivated By The She-Wolf. Kristal Hollis

for all wolfans.

      Independent of a mate-claim, which was established during sexual intercourse with a bite and bound a couple for life under wolfan law, a mate-bond synced the lovers, body and mind, heart and soul.

      Mostly, the bond began forming from the first moment true mates met, but not always. When Zeke had claimed Ronni, to keep her out of Jeb’s clutches, she didn’t sense a mate-bond. Theirs had developed over time.

      So, she’d already had her true mate and lost him.

      The argument could be made that she could find another, as Rafe had done. Though his heart had been no less broken, he’d been younger when his first mate died and they didn’t have children.

      Ronni’s situation was different. She was a mother and Alex’s needs always came first.

      “Bless you,” Grace said to the beverage server who refilled her coffee. The young man topped off Ronni’s cup, too.

      “If you’re more comfortable with non-date dates, I’ll get Tristan to ask Bodie to join us at Taylor’s,” Nel said. “We could do a group family night.”

      “That’s a great idea,” Grace said.

      “No, it isn’t,” Ronni replied.

      “Don’t you like him?” Cassie asked.

      “I like him just fine, but this isn’t the right time for me to start dating.”

      “That’s why this will be a non-date.” Nel grinned. “Trust me, Tristan is an expert at setting these up.”

      “At the very least, it will give Bodie a chance to meet people,” Cassie said.

      Ronni understood it would also give the upcoming leaders of the pack a chance to assess Bodie for themselves.

      “Do whatever you need to do.” Ronni waved her hand, as if her heart wasn’t picking up speed and her nerves weren’t tingling.

      Nel leaned toward her. “You will be there, right?”

      “I need to check my calendar.” Ronni picked up her cup and took a slow sip, watching the three women watching her and hoping they couldn’t see the giddiness her brain was doling out.

      “If you have any interest in him at all, be there,” Grace said. “Now that Bodie has made a public appearance with a woman, all the single ladies will have him on their radar.”

      Ronni swallowed the silent growl tickling her throat. She might not be sure what to make of Bodie’s interest, or her own, but she definitely didn’t like the thought of him turning that interest toward someone else.

       Chapter 8

      “I’ll be out in a minute!” Ronni paused the mental replay of her Friday night encounter with Bodie. If not for her busybodied friends probing her for details yesterday, she might’ve been able to put the non-date date behind her.

      Liar!

      Smiling, she finished tacking the hem and smoothed the dress over the mannequin. Everything looked even, but she would inspect the garment more thoroughly later.

      Feeling good, she went to greet her customer.

      The long-forgotten scent raised her hackles even before the man turned from the storefront window to face her.

      “Hello, Veronika.” His low, raspy voice caused her stomach to roll over like an armadillo playing dead.

      “Jeb.” She stood behind the service counter, her palms flat on the glass top. “You shouldn’t be here. Gavin is supposed to arrange contact.”

      “With Alexander.” Removing his mirrored sunglasses, he walked confidently toward her. Dressed in snug jeans, a dark blue long-sleeve knit shirt, a black leather jacket and polished shoes, he looked downright civil. “Nothing prevents me from seeing you. And you look...” A smile slithered across his mouth and arrogant possessiveness gleamed in his gray eyes. “Well, I’ll give Wyatt my thanks for taking such good care of you.”

      “Stay away from Rafe.”

      Jeb tipped his head.

      “The Woelfesenat said I had to let you see Alex, but understand this. You will only visit him with Gavin’s permission and my supervision, and only so long as he isn’t upset by your presence.”

      “I don’t like restrictions, especially those concerning my family.”

      “We are not your family.” Fire flamed in her chest despite the ice crystals in her veins. “We will never be your family.”

      “Blood is a bond that can’t be broken.” Jeb’s cool demeanor caused chill bumps to pebble her skin. “Everything that belonged to Zeke, I intend to claim as my own. Including you and Alexander.”

      “Never gonna happen.”

      His calloused hand firmly captured her wrist. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. All the while, his calculating gaze froze her breath.

      “You should’ve been mine, Veronika. You were meant to be mine.” Turning her wrist, he exposed the tender underside and touched his nose to the delicate skin, dramatically inhaling her scent. “Had any other male been stupid enough to take you from me, I would’ve ripped out his throat. But Zeke...”

      Jeb had loved his brother like no other. Ten years older, Jeb had been the one to raise Zeke after their parents’ untimely deaths.

      “I left the pack so I wouldn’t hurt Zeke. But he’s gone now, and I intend to take back what should’ve been mine.”

      “I was never yours. I was never going to be yours. There’s nothing for you to take back.” She yanked free of his clutches.

      “I expected resistance.” Jeb’s jaw pulled tight. “Can’t say that I like it.”

      “Get used to it.” Ronni crossed her arms over her chest.

      “I should’ve come for you sooner.”

      “You shouldn’t have come at all.”

      “Are you going to contradict everything I say?”

      “Are you going to listen to reason?”

      “This doesn’t have to be difficult.” Annoyance narrowed his eyes.

      “You’re right. All you have to do is turn around, walk out that door, leave Walker’s Run and never come back.”

      “I will, as soon as you and Alexander are packed to come with me.”

      “Alex is happy here. He’s safe.” She held his gaze. “I’m safe.”

      “I would have returned to Pine Ridge sooner, had I known the state of the pack.” Jeb’s fingers curled into his hand. “If Zeke would have told me, he might still be alive.”

      “We thought you were dead.”

      “Obviously, you were misinformed.” Jeb opened his arms. “I’m very much alive and Zeke damn well knew it.”

      A vacuum formed in Ronni’s chest. The air whooshed out of her lungs and her heart squeezed until she thought it would explode.

      Breathe! Just breathe!

      “Easy, darlin’.” Jeb reached over the counter.

      “Don’t touch me.” Needing to regroup her sensibilities and her composure, Ronni took a step back.

      “It seems Zeke was keeping secrets.”

      “He would never!” But the truth of her mate’s deception stood before her, full-size, in living color and a very clear and present danger if she didn’t get a handle on her emotions.

      Forcing