Page 40 of Tender Wild

It was the kind of house you saw in glossy real estate brochures—too pretty, too perfect, too far out of reach.

Miguel’s fingers clenched around the throttle until his knuckles ached. He pulled into the driveway and killed the engine fast, not wanting to draw any attention from the neighborhood watch types peeking through curtains.

Sweat slid down his back as he stared at the place, chest tight, like he’d just parked outside a prison instead of someone’s home.

Jared’s fingers dug into Miguel’s tense shoulders when he climbed off. He brushed strands of hair from his face and smiled.

But the smile was strained, as if he was just as anxious as Miguel. “Come on in.”

Miguel kicked down the stand, but didn’t move. “I’ll just wait for you out here. I’m lacking vitamin D. Could use some more sun.”

His mate looked disbelievingly at him, his nose scrunched in the cutest way. “Seriously? I’m about to go in there and announce I’m mated, and you’re not even gonna come in with me? The guy I’m mated to?”

Miguel ran the pad of his thumb over the scar on his face while turning to look down the street. Not once in his life had he felt unworthy to be with someone.

Not that he’d dated a lot. But the thought of meeting Jared’s mom and dad made him break out in a cold sweat.

First strike was the fact he was a wolf.

Second, he wore a leather, was tattooed to the nines, and rode a motorcycle.

Third, he couldn’t provide his mate this kind of life. Ever. He received monthly settlement payments from his accident. Miguel had sued the manufacturer over a faulty brake caliper that sent his bike sliding across asphalt.

But the payments weren’t enough to afford a home in an upscale suburban area.

“I’m nervous too.” Jared gripped Miguel’s hands, curling slim fingers around callused ones. “Please don’t make me go inside by myself.”

Shit. As much as Miguel would rather swim alongside sharks with a bloody limb, he couldn’t let Jared do this alone.

Motherfuck. He dismounted, wishing he didn’t have to meet the parents.

“Thank you,” Jared said with a breath of relief.

“You don’t need to thank me for doing the right thing, solecito.”

And Miguel needed to stop sweating this. He’d never apologized for who he was or the life he lived.

He was proud to belong to the Salvador pack. No amount of money could buy the loyalty or brotherhood he shared with the men he called family.

They climbed the porch just as the front door swung open. Behind the screen stood a blonde-haired woman, same green eyes as her son. She was a slightly large female who looked as though she loved hard and lived life on her own terms.

“I could kick your butt for worrying me,” she said to Jared, but undeniable love backed up her motherly threat.

Then her gaze slid to Miguel—a quick assessment of the eyes.

He braced himself, waiting for the snide comment he just knew was coming.

“You brought a friend.” She glanced back at Jared, her lips twisting to the side. If she said anything condescending, Miguel was grabbing his mate and leaving.

“Is this the friend with the grunting cat?” She gave Jared a pointed look that said he hadn’t fooled her one bit.

“Wolf,” Miguel clarified, cutting to the chase. “I’m a wolf, ma’am.”

“I know,” she said with a touch of humor in her tone. “My nose works perfectly fine, young man.” She turned to fully face him. “I’m guessing you’re the reason my son has been lying to his own mother?”

“I just—”

She held up her hand, instantly shushing whatever Jared was about to say. Miguel’s hackles began to rise, a snarl seconds away from ripping free.

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