Adele, Claire - Guardian of His Love [Wolves of West Texas 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Read Free Page B

family has arranged a marriage for me to a family friend, but I don’t want to marry him.”

Chapter Three

    “What the fuck?” Derek lurched from the sofa beside Kelly. “What the hell is this all about? We just had mind-blowing sex, and now you say you’re pledged in marriage to someone.”
    “It’s not like it sounds. I can explain.”
    He paced the floor in front of the couch. “Good, because I damn well want an explanation.” Here he’d taken a chance on letting his feelings get involved again, and it was already backfiring. Hell and damnation .
    “My family is a werewolf pack.”
    Derek stopped in his tracks and turned to search her face for the truth of her words.
    “Yes, I’m also a werewolf,” she said softly. “I watched you fight off the Hawks while I hid inside the Rescue Mission that night. You took my breath.”
    Derek ran his fingers through his hair, and a grunt of amazement escaped him. “Interesting. But that shouldn’t be a problem for us.”
    “No, it shouldn’t.” She shook her head slowly.
    “So, what’s the problem? Tell me.” He sat beside her on the couch and took her hands in his. She was a werewolf. Good God .
    “The problem is my family holds to old family traditions and pack laws.”
    “And?”
    “Our family, the Wolford pack, has been marrying members of the Wolfgang pack for generations. In my generation it’s no different. I’m the oldest daughter, and my family pledged me in marriage to the oldest son of the Wolfgangs. My family refuses to break with tradition. But I’m a modern woman with a mind of my own. I refuse to marry someone I don’t love, and I shouldn’t have to in this day and age. I want to marry the man that I’ll love someday. And now my brothers have found me, and I know they’ll insist on taking me home to be mated and wed.”
    “Kelly, you don’t have to go with them if you don’t want to. You don’t have to mate and marry someone you don’t love. I can help you.”
    “I don’t know how to avoid it unless I sneak away and go on the run again.”
    “You won’t have to. We’ll work this out. You can stay here in Mike’s guarded home while we figure this out.”
    “Are you sure that’s all right with Mike?”
    “I’m positive. I’ll let him know you’re going to be staying here. I‘ll stay here with you if you want me to.”
    “Yes. I want you to.”
    “Good. That’s what we’ll do.” He had to know if she’d had sex with this Wolfgang guy. Just the possibility made him want to rip the guy to pieces. “How close are you to this guy they want you to marry?”
    “I know him because we’re close in age and our families’ properties are side by side in central Texas. But I’ve never had sex with him. He doesn’t appeal to me at all. He’s the alpha of his siblings, and he’s aggressive and arrogant. I’ve never liked him much.”
    It didn’t sound like Derek had any competition from the guy. The problem must be with her family insisting she marry their family friends’ son. “Doesn’t your family know that it’s against the state law for cousins to marry?”
    “They keep pretty much to themselves. And as it turns out, Rafe and I are third cousins. There’s been fewer children born to first cousins over the years. The families take that into consideration when arranging marriages. They’ve been close friends for so many generations. The cattle-ranching business is a partnership between them. I don’t care anything about cattle ranching. I want to live in the city where things are happening. I want to live my own life.”
    “You will. I’ll see that you do. We’ll work something out with your family, but meanwhile you can stay here where you’ll be safe.”
    “I hope they’ll leave me in peace.”
    “Bet on it, sweetheart. Why don’t we get out of here and take a walk. You’re safe in this neighborhood.”
    “Sounds great. I’d better change into some clothes, though.”
    “We wouldn’t need any