Ivan
"That isn't your concern." She looks down, unwilling to look me in the eyes. "It's no one's business."
"You're wrong! It is my damn business!" I snap, hitting the table and making her jump. I'm scaring her. I need to calm down. "Nefretiri, please understand. You're mine. What happens to you is my business."
"Why? Because you're a werewolf?" It's my turn to look shocked. Humans don't know the truth about us. They write stories, and we make great fiction, but they don't know the truth about the supernatural world, so I'm speechless to hear her accuse me and be right. "Yes, I know."
Hearing my own words used against me isn't easy. However, Nefretiri is sharp, and even though she's anxious to leave, she's not scared of me. So, the million-dollar question I have now is, how does she know about us? And does she understand what's happening between us? Fuck, those aren't questions I can ask here.
"I'll get you a drink, " I say, getting up and grabbing her cup. "What do you like?"
At first, she doesn't speak, crossing her arms and pursing her lips angrily. It looked like my mate had a stubborn streak to her, and I won't lie. It's sexy as hell.
"Cream soda." She's resisting me, but I know she must feel it too. "No ice."
I can't help laughing at how she gritted that last part out, and I have to say I also love her sass. It's adorable, but it also gives me hope that her meekness is less about who she is and more because of her situation.
'Handful, isn't she?' The sound of Steven's voice teases in my head. He's my Beta, my brother-in-law, and Taylor's mate. 'Taylor adores her, by the way.'
I wasn't surprised; I could already see all the trouble they'd get into together. They called my order, so I took Nefretiri's drink before I went to grab it. I didn't only get us pizza. Nefretiri looked so hungry that I didn't think it would be enough, so I bought us some burgers, fries, and a couple of hotdogs.
"Ketchup or mustard?" I set the food down on the table, seeing the longing way she was looking at everything. I love her body, but it's clear she's underweight. Her olive hue lacks the vibrance it should have, and her face looks drawn in.
"Mayonnaise." Yes, she would be a handful, and I couldn't wait. Although at first, she doesn't eat. She watches me until it gets awkward, and I sigh, grabbing her fries.
"Here, eat."
She shakes her head at me when I wave the fry in front of her, but when I let it brush her lips, she groans in defeat and nearly bites my finger off while eating it. Honestly, I'm impressed. She eats like a werewolf. By the time I'm done with my burger, she's eaten hers, her hotdog, and half the fries. She still looked hungry when I opened the pizza box, and I watched with a relieved smile as she devoured half of it.
"Okay, I've eaten. Can I go now?" She demands once all the food is gone. She's glancing between the baby and me, her anxiety growing again. At least she looks better. "I need to leave."
"Nope." There was no way I was letting her go. She had to understand that. "I told you, I'm not letting you return to him."
"You don't understand!" she growls, balling up her fists. "Please, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into with me."
"Why don't you tell me?" I leaned forward, and my voice was just as challenging as hers. "I'm all ears."
"I can't." She shakes her head, her glare becoming more passionate as we get closer. "Just please, let me go."
"No." It's time to put the cards on the table. "Nefretiri, do you know what a mate is?"
She does by her expression. Her face pales, and she sits back, her mouth on the ground.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"You're crazy."
"Am I?" I scoff, grabbing her hand and letting the sparks of our bond burn between us. It's an incredible sensation, and I can't believe I laughed at the others who told stories of meeting their mates. There's nothing like it. "Don't you feel that? You are my soulmate. I'm yours. We're meant to be together."
"I can't be your mate!" Her declaration hurts, and my wolf wants to mark her in front of everyone to prove her wrong. "I'm sorry, but you're wrong. No."
"Why? Does it repulse you?"
"What?" Nefretiri looked horrified at my accusation as if she couldn't imagine what I meant. "No, it's not that, but you don't understand."
Before I can ask her anything else, the baby cries out in Taylor's arms, and we both turn to look at her. I get up before Nefretiri can and quickly scoop up my new daughter before Taylor can protest.
"Hey!" it's Taylor, she protests anyway.
"Shut up, brat." The last thing I need is for Taylor to be Taylor, especially not in front of Nefretiri. I love my sister, but my being Alpha of the pack means nothing to her.
Penelope fusses more in my arms, and I marvel at how tiny she really is. I know it's impossible, but I see some of me in her features, especially how she frowns. It feels so natural to hold her, and even I can't believe how easy it was to switch from one way of being to another. Honestly, I'd never focused on having kids. I wanted them, but there was always so much going on that I didn't take the time to consider it. Now, holding this little pup, I can't imagine not having her, and I'm already imagining having more of them.
"Do you want your mommy?" I ask, and Penelope opens her eyes to look at me. That's the fascinating thing about her. We have the same color eyes. "Yeah, you want her. But, hey, can you put in a good word for me? Make her see we're supposed to be a family?"
"What's wrong, Pen-Pen?" Nefretiri sighed in relief when I placed our daughter in her arms, and I watched her entire demeanor change. The hard edge is gone, and the worry is all replaced with love and affection. She's an incredible mother, and I don't doubt that she'd kill every single one of us if we tried to hurt Penelope. "Oh, you're hungry. Is that it, baby? Hey, hand me the blanket out of my backpack. It was in the stroller."
I raised an eyebrow at the command. She looked directly at me and didn't hesitate. Does Nefretiri realize she spoke to me like I was hers? Instead of teasing her about it, I turned around and collected the backpack, but when I went to give it to her, I froze. Nefretiri had her hand down her shirt, scowling in concentration.
"What are you doing?" I demand, rushing to her side and glaring at anyone who might be staring.
"Unclasping my bra, what does it look like I'm doing?" She rolls her eyes at me Like I'm insane for getting upset. "How else do you think I'm going to feed her?"
"A bottle?"
"Men." She shakes her head at Penelope. No, I don't like this. So, I pull the blanket out of the bag before covering them and lifting Nefretiri in my arms, sitting her on my lap so no one can watch. "What are you doing?"
"Now you can feed her."
"Put us down!" She orders, but I rest my head on her shoulder, inhaling her scent before softly kissing her skin. "Stop that."
"Relax," I whisper in her ear. "Go ahead, feed my princess. No one's watching."
"She isn't yours," Nefretiri mutters, but I think it hurts her to say it. There was so much I needed to know. I hate that she won't confide in me, but I can't expect miracles.
"Easy, everything's okay." I rub her side, tensing when I feel the apparent signs of breaks. Goddess, how was she walking when she was in this much pain? How hadn't I noticed before? If I were human, there would be no way to tell, but I'm not. I needed Danny to check her out once we finished here.
"Have you ever had a vacuum stuck on your nipple?" Her voice is lighter now, and I watch goosebumps spread on her shoulder as I reach under her shirt and gently rub her skin, trying to ease her pain.
"No, I can't say I have." That makes me chuckle. Even though she's in the state she's in, she still manages to be sassy and throw a joke. She's incredible. "Nefretiri? Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Do you love him?" The question makes her stiffen, but I hold her as firmly as I dare. It scares me to know the answer, but I need to know. Before anything else happens, I have to be sure that what I already know is true.
"No." I didn't realize I was holding my breath. "But I don't know you. So, please, I'm begging you. Let me go."
"I can't." Closing my eyes, I kissed her again, this time her neck, knowing there was no way I could let her go. "You can't ask me to let either of you go. You're my mate. She's my daughter. You're mine."
We don't talk until the baby eats and she burps her. Then, glancing at my sister, I silently give her an order, and she nods, approaching us.
"Did you have a good dinner, Pen-Pen? Come on. I think you need to be changed, and I have the cutest little outfit for you to wear." She holds out her arms, but Nefretiri holds Penelope closer to her chest, shaking her head.
"You can trust her, Nefretiri. She's my sister." I assure her, keeping my voice soft in her ear. "We would never hurt you. You're our family."
"I don't know you." She repeats. Maybe she's trying to convince herself more than us. "You can't ask me to hand over my baby willingly."
"Look at me, Nefretiri." I turn her around so we're only an inch apart. My eyes travel to her lips, and I long to kiss her, but this isn't the time. "Do you think I would hurt you? Do you believe I would let any harm come to you?"
I don't know what she sees in my eyes, but Nefretiri shakes her head, and without a word, she hands Penelope to Taylor, who carries her back to the stroller. I get up, still holding Nefretiri in my arms, ignoring the looks I get from some patrons. Nefretiri hesitantly wraps her arms around my neck, burying her face into my chest, muttering to herself.
"We're leaving," I tell the others as I pass their table. "Let's go."