Page 24 of Tolerated By the Sigma (Mate Hunt 7)

“I forgot, you expect me to be a quiet, challenge-hating mouse.”

His eyes flickered to red before going back to blue. “When I’m commenting on how sexy you are, yes.”

“Word to the wise, buddy—there’s not a mousey gene in my body. I was raised by a raging feminist who flips houses for fun, so I can get dirty, get shit done, and bake cupcakes with the best of them.” I pushed away from his chest, but Ryder held me in place.

His eyes were hot with interest, his hands big and warm in my hair and on my back. “You promised me something, mouse.”

I snorted. “Iofferedit to you, and if memory serves…” I reached a hand up to his mouth and dragged his lower lip downward, running my finger over the length of it and making his eyes burn hotter. “You turned me down. Multiple times, in multiple ways. So you’ll get what I offered, when I’m ready to give it.” I tugged my hands off him and stood up, careful not to let him see my uneven inhale when I saw his erection practically waving at me.

Shit, that thing was huge.

“Let’s find you some pants or get you back in your wolf form so you can give me a tour of wherever the hell we are,” I told him, stepping up to the flap that would lead out. Before I could unzip it, Ryder caught my wrist and spun me toward him. Our chests collided, and my head tilted backward automatically as I tried to meet his eyes.

“You’ll wait in here with me while I get dressed,” Ryder said, his eyes not flashing red.

Damn, he was bossy.

Why was I so into that?

“Only if you start explaining this, right now.” I waved a finger in a circle around the tent.

He dipped his head in a nod, and I made myself turn my back to him as he unzipped a duffel bag I hadn’t noticed sitting off to the side of the enclosed space.

NINE

He started talkingwhile he found a pair of clothes. “Have you heard of the feral pack?”

I frowned. “The pack in town that decided to abandon city life and live in the forest?”

“After their omega’s mate died,” Ryder agreed. “Their gamma decided to stay in town, but the rest of them are living out here. I forced myself to spend time with my brother’s pack after Lisa, because they kept my wolf at bay a bit more, but this was my safe place.” I glanced over, and he nodded at the tent’s door out. “I feel at home with Rocco’s pack now too, but I used to only ever feel like I belonged out here. In the forest, where my wolf and I are equals, as bat-shit crazy as that sounds.”

I shook my head. “It doesn’t sound crazy. I hike a lot, by myself most of the time. There’s something about nature that just lets you breathe deeper than you can in a town—even one as small as Moon Ridge.”

Ryder’s eyes went red. “Female,” he growled through the human.

“I always brought pepper spray, and a pocket knife. I’ve only ever seen three wolves out here at the times I hike so I’ve always been fine.”

The wolf snarled more viciously, but then the red retreated from his eyes and Ryder staggered toward me. All he had on was a pair of basketball shorts, which was definitely lucky for me.

“No more hiking alone,” Ryder practically snarled at me, even without the wolf forcing the words out.

“We’ll see.”

To say I’d never go alone would be a lie, and I’d rather avoid lies considering we were permanently connected. Orwouldbe permanently connected, after everything happened.

Ryder’s hands found my hips, and he pulled my chest to his. His erection dug into my belly in a way I realized that I loved.

His hands cupped my face, and he tilted it backward until our eyes met.

My gaze locked with his, and his with mine. His voice was low and gravelly when he said,

“It’s not safe for you to be alone in the forest, Kelley. I don’t say that as your mate, but as a man who has spent more time out here than most people could imagine. Wolves run in packs for safety; there are too many threats out here for you to hike alone.”

“It’s not like I go alone by choice.” I pushed his hands off my face, and he let me—but then set them on my shoulders.

He frowned, and I could tell he was asking what that meant without actually asking what it meant.

“I don’t have many friends in town. Mainly just Del, Sab, and Lizzy. Del and Lizzy are busy with their mates and kids, so I can’t ask them to go with me. And Sab hates exercise, so that’s out of the question.

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