“Actually, Dad, there’s one more thing. Athena, now that you know about us, I can give you this warning. Be careful around Rob Maplewood. You’re protected as long as you’re in Blackwood Pack territory. If you need to leave for any reason, which you’ve not done since you’ve moved here, tell Dad or Draco so they can have someone with you. Maplewood is dangerous where you are concerned,” Deidra pleaded with her.
She couldn’t understand the fear in her best friend’s eyes. Rob was just a two-bit thug who preyed on those he considered weaker than him.
“She’s right, Athena. Rob is also a shifter. He’s the son of the Maplewood Pack Alpha. They are not a good pack. They are dangerous. So, please let me or Draco know if you need to leave the territory so that we can protect you,” Coren pleaded with Athena.
“O-okay. I don’t see me needing to leave anytime soon, so no worries at the moment.”
“Mom, Dad, I’ll be out in a second. I’d like a minute alone with Athena,” Deidra requested, looking back at her parents and brother.
“Ugh! Girl talk.” Draco rolled his eyes. “I’m going to go start my perimeter search.”
Chapter
Sixteen
Athena bitback her laughter when Draco’s mother smacked him on the back of the head at his statement. It was funny to see his sheepish grin at his mom.
When the three left, she turned toward Deidra and waited for her to say something. Knowing Deidra, it could be anything.
“We are okay, right?”
“Yes, Dee. We are okay. I’m still in shock and disbelief, but I’m okay.”
“Any questions you have that you couldn’t ask in front of my parents?”
Athena had several but looked out of the window as she watched a large black animal…wolf walk around outside. Draco’s wolf was fucking huge and black, like her Shadow was.
“I think, well, strongly believe you and Draco are fated mates. Mom does, too.”
“W.T.H., Dee! He’s…you all are shifters. I’m not. How could I be his mate? I mean, how would one even fuck a shifter? Dog form? Our kids?”
“For starters, he’d fuck you in his human form, since you are human. Especially since we are in human form more oftenthan not anyway. Second, we aren’t dogs. We are wolves. Huge difference. Although Rob is a mangy dog wolf…same thing.”
“He shifted and killed one of his own. His teammate.”
“To save your life. You are an innocent. Something we have always protected. With Draco being an Alpha, his abilities are more powerful than regular wolves. Plus, if Mom and I are right, his wolf took control to protect you, his mate first and foremost.”
“He sniffed me. In front of everyone.”
“Well, you did smell nice with that perfume I had you spray on.”
Athena rolled her eyes at her bestie as she stood to pace. Her mind was whirling with everything and anything.
“We aren’t fated mates. He can’t stand me. He only tolerates me for your sake.”
“Oh, please. He looks at you like you’re Little Red Riding Hood and he’s the Big Bad Wolf.”
“He’s your brother!”
“So?”
“You just called him the Big Bad Wolf and me Little Red Riding Hood.”
“Seriously. Please. He’s hot. I know because that’s all I heard growing up from all the chicks he went to school with and then some.”
“He’s still your brother.”
“You know, shifters can elongate their tongues to eat you out better.” Deidra wiggled her eyebrows at her.
