Page 150 of Dominion

He tried to stay focused on Ben, but his gaze kept sliding to Melissa, his gut twisting. She’d be leaving now.

He never had to see her again.

Every cell in his body rebelled at the idea. His wolf itched to snatch her up and hold her tight against him, to refuse to let her leave his premises. Ever.

But it couldn’t be. They’d just proven over and over again they were utterly incompatible. She didn’t care about him—thought he was beneath her. And he shouldn’t care about her. Shouldn’t want a human.

He caught Stone’s sharp gaze and gave himself a mental shake. Melissa had moved inside, and seemed to be making quick work of packing her things.

“How does that sound to you?”

“I’m sorry—what?”

Don’t let her leave, his wolf growled.

Both his new guests had also lost focus on the conversation as they caught Colleen’s scent. Mark gaped at her where she had shrunk back in the kitchen as if to hide.

With effort, Cody tore his attention away from Melissa and beckoned Colleen forward. “Colleen, come here, please.”

Her green eyes appeared wary, but she obeyed, walking slowly into the room as she wiped her hands on her jeans. Her children, who had been playing on his computer in the bedroom, also emerged, standing in the doorway of the bedroom.

Mark’s expression had turned predatory, and Colleen responded to his interest, tugging her blond hair out of its ponytail and letting it fall across her shoulders.

“This is Colleen. She and her children may need more protection than my pack can provide.”

“They can stay with me.” Mark spoke before he’d even finished his last word, before even hearing what she needed protection from.

It was fine with him. He couldn’t focus, couldn’t think as his wolf clawed and scrabbled just beneath the surface.

Don’t. Let. Her. Leave.

He was sweating, the pain of transition as sharp as if the moon were still full.

Melissa hadn’t looked at him as she moved about the place, gathering up her things. She’d packed a duffel bag. Where it came from, he wasn’t sure.

“If you want out of it, my pack can handle the meet,” Stone was saying. His words sounded dim over the blaring in his ears.

He shook his head. “I’ll handle the meet.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Ruhl will go with you, with backup from my pack. Yours, too, if you like. I’ll take the females and pups back to Denver until it’s over.”

Not my female.

But she wasn’t his female. He hadn’t marked her. Dammit! Why hadn’t he marked her? At that moment, he didn’t care that she was human, or whether she thought he was good enough for her. He’d give her everything she ever wanted. The house of her dreams. Clothes, makeup. Flowers. He’d treat her like the fucking princess she was. Why had he mocked her with the name that suited her so well?

The room spun around him, too warm.

No, Melissa had to go. She needed to get out of harm’s way, Stone was right. He would protect her like his own mate. She was his family.

He drew several deep breaths to clear his vision. Stone watched him with an assessing look. Ruhl was deep in conversation with Colleen, who looked five years younger now as she smiled shyly up at him.

Melissa walked past him and put her hand on the doorknob. “I’ll pay you back for the stuff you bought me as soon as I get paid.”

“I don’t want your money. Melissa?—”