Page 37 of Mated to Team Shadow

"So, you will keep me prisoner?"

The challenge in her voice snapped me to the sickening reality. If she didn't want to stay with me—with us, what could we do that wouldn't break the law?

Persuade her,said my cat.

A low growl rumbled in my gut that I could not contain, and her gorgeous blue eyes flew open in surprise. Jeanine scooted backward.

"Don't do that," I pleaded.

"You growled. Cats growling signals a threat." She stared at me fiercely, and I melted. Then I said something I rarely do.

"Sorry."

"You are?" she said with skepticism.

"Yeah. It's just…well…I…we…" I lowered my head, clueless as to what to say. How did you explain to a woman you just met that she's your forever mate? It sounded insane even to me who long ago got used to the quirky nature of my blended selves.

Jeanine laughed then, and my head snapped up again.

"What?"

"You're all tongue-tied."

My face flushed.Damn it.This woman turned my head around. I was the Alpha here, and one small woman should not turn my guts inside out.

Even if she did.

"You do that to me," I admitted. "Look, this is uncharted territory for me."

"Hmm, so does that mean you expect danger to pop out at us any moment?"

"It could. We aren't sure where we are or what government we're dealing with. If law enforcement takes us into custody, we're cooked. The brass will disavow us, and we must do whatever to keep our mission secret."

"Even if they imprison you?"

"Wouldn't be the first time."

She shook her head. "Why do you do it then? The special ops stuff must be dangerous."

"It's what we do."

"That's not a good answer, Ryker."

I sat next to her and gazed out at the ocean.

"I suppose once I learned I was a freak, I thought the usual stuff, a wife, home, and kids, was out of my reach."

"You're not a freak."

"Yeah? You didn't seem to think that when Damon changed in front of you."

She shrugged. "You guys surprised me."

"Yeah, but what woman will want a man who is part cat? And a dangerous one at that? Who will say, 'yeah, baby, come here and make some kittens with me?'"

Jeanine blew out a puff of air.

"Tell me something, Ryker. What were you like as a kid?"

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