Page 55 of Ice Wolf
“Sounds like exactly what you need in your life. Control.”
“Fuck off.” At least I could laugh as I scrubbed my jaw.
Every time my brother studied me intently, I was either about to hear a barrage of reasons the previous night’s game had sucked or he’d had another epiphany about future business ideas he was eager to con me into.
“Whoa. Are you talking about your PR guru?” He didn’t bother waiting for me to answer before doubling over with laughter.
I bent at the waist, gripping my knees, and did nothing more than groan.
“Well, holy shit. It seems my brother is getting married.”
That brought me out of my sinful haze and I jerked up, glaring him in the eyes. “Even if there is some truth Lily is my mate, that doesn’t mean we’re getting married. Sean and Maria are just living together. Hell, Mark and Patricia travel different parts of the world and still make their relationship work.”
Steven shook his head. “Mark is a pilot and Patricia is an executive with a travel firm. They can drop everything within hours when she goes into heat. Even if it means fucking in the lavatory during a flight.”
“Trust me. Even if the thought was plausible, Lily would kill me in my sleep. Sharp knife to the jugular. Hell, what am I saying? She’d use a dull knife.”
“Well, the two of you look hot together, even if eight different women appeared in the background with daggers in their eyes.”
“The picture we took didn’t have anyone in the background.”
“You need to pay attention to the shit that’s said about you. Do I need to do everything?” He continued grumbling under his breath as he pulled up another photograph. This time from Facebook. “Nice shot, buddy. You look like a real hero for a change. Not just on the ice.”
The photo captured the moment I’d shoved aside an asshole who’d insisted I owed him an autograph. Lily was in my arms, her head nuzzled against my neck with her hand on my chest. And my brother was correct. The women standing close by were pissed.
I didn’t say anything, finally turning to my coffee. As I lifted the mug, I gathered a whiff of her scent all over again and my balls immediately tightened.
“So far no one seems to know your PR girl’s name, but you know it’s only a matter of time.”
“We’re not trying to keep the relationship a secret, Steven. We’re trying to fool the press, the fans, and all those psychos who are determined to believe in werewolves that we’re the hottest couple on the planet.”
“In other words, you’re trying to fool yourselves.”
“As I said before. Fuck off. We’re faking because that’s what she was hired to do and what my coach, dear old Dad, and the world insists I do or lose everything I’ve worked for. I assure you spending time with her isn’t any fun.”
He glanced at his phone and even from where I was standing, I could see the sparkle in the man’s eyes. “Could have fooled me.”
“You didn’t drop by just to involve yourself in my less than fabulous love life.”
“You’re right. I came here to beat your ass. You need to calm your shit down or both of us will be lucky to get a job at the local hardware store.”
“You won’t be hired there,” I teased. “You don’t know a hammer from a wrench.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He looked away. “I’m sorry I barged in on you, bro. But you need to understand everything you do reflects on me.”
That much I knew. Almost every news article reflected his likeness to me as well as his skills. But there was always something I did better. Which was crap. “I get it. I just thought it would blow over.”
“Not if you keep feeding the beast.”
“Maybe that’s the problem. I need to feed to beast before he refuses to be controlled.”
“So you do believe there’s truth to the crap Dad told us as kids?”
“Which part? That once we discover our true mates our beasts won’t be denied?” Pops had said the words more eloquently than I’d just done, but the gist was the same.
“Yeah, that. What if Lily is the one?”
I thought about his question. Every day thousands of kids were told stories about their ancestors, whether they were great politicians or actors, award-winning musicians or simply the best electricians in the city. Some aspired to accept their place in a preconceived legacy while others despised the people who’d spawned them.
