d my head slightly to

r than the steak. I'd officiall

ell had he

e the way things smell?"

ll better than either of our meals, right now." He nodded toward my food, his hands

eks re

like a blush

ost of them, but they tended to be either too intimidated by me or too afraid of my parents to risk touching me. I was twenty-

ave to respond to his compliment, chewin

. He'd probably heard most of my conversatio

another big bi

unked it in a little container of barbecue sauce.

ch a big bite. Swallowing it down, I grabbed a sealed water

t Merrick didn't strike me as someone who appreciated e

a move. The cats killed my parents, my bears killed the couple leading the cats, and instead of bringing peace,

aller one. "Maybe if you mated w

ls off," He said, bluntly.

unked another fry, this one a bit more

rue Mates, and we don't have a term for that. But I know they smell really good to each other, so the

Most normal shifters don'

mom." I scooped up more potatoes. "My best

, taking my wa

your parents' death?" I asked, imagining that

e ones that slit m

about the grizzly bear just seemed genuine. But t

e call me

It was bears verses cats back then, and we won the ruling seat, but the cats never accepted it. The war has continued, on and off, ever since. Mostly

Alpha Female of All for a long time, and definitely didn't believe i

people in charge again," I sa

mine would be working hand-in-hand with them. My people are the best fo

d for all I know, you caught a whiff of me and realized I was a wolf before you

ontrol over my pheromones than you

r into the top of his hand. His scent immediately intensified, and I found myse

ithdrew quickly. Occupying my h

d. "I won't back down, and the pheromones w

rs tomorrow. Growl all you want; I'm the one who's going to have to jump in bed with a stranger

would definitely finish eating it all, but didn't want to do

sticking it in the door. The light lit up green, and the lock clicked open. Thou

date, True Mat

de and shut the door behind me. The lock clicked as