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His answer is unsatisfactory. “Itchy feet.”
I frown a little but don’t press. Instead, I ask, “Do you know why Conall left?”
“He mentioned it when I came by for a visit while he was building this cabin.” The glimmer of humor returns to Hunter’s gaze.
“Well, what did he say?” I pick up my wine, taking a sip.
“He said, I moved far away from the pack so I wouldn’t have to deal with unwanted visitors all the time, yet here you are.”
His imitation of the cranky, terse Lycan is so good I can’t stop the laugh spilling out of me.
“See? You already understand him better than most, and you’ve only spent, what, twelve hours in his presence.”
I stop giggling then. “I’m not his mate, Hunter.”
His answering shrug irritates me.
“I won’t have someone trying to run my life. He’s the bossiest male I’ve ever met. I doubt he could stop himself, even if he wanted to.”
Hunter shakes his head. “That’s the alpha in him, I’m afraid. Most likely part of the reason he chose to leave the pack. Conall is too dominant to bow to another alpha, but he’s said several times he doesn’t want the responsibility of running his own pack. It causes issues for the current alpha when one of his or her wolves won’t fall in line.”
“There are female alphas running packs?” I ask.
The idea intrigues me.
“Yes. Lycan females are strong and vicious. They may not be as physically powerful or large as male Lycans, but they more than make up for any difference in strength with cunning. They also have at least one mate at their back.”
My focus hones in on his last statement. “At least one mate? You mean Lycans can have more than one?”
Hunter sighs and picks up his cup. “Yes. It’s not uncommon for a female to have two male mates. Or a male and another female.” He studies me as he sips. “But I sincerely doubt Conall would be willing to share you with another male.”
The concept of having two men sends a thrill through me, but I wave a hand at him. “I don’t even want one mate, much less two! How do I get out of this, Hunter?”
“It’s a tricky situation, Little Red. If you were Lycan, it’s likely you would have recognized him as your mate by now and bitten him. But because you’re human, you don’t feel the same pull he feels. Females have rejected fated mates before in the Lycan packs, but it’s not an easy process for her or the male. Whatever you do, don’t run from him, especially after promising to stay. His instincts rule him in your presence. I’m not sure he would have enough control not to chase you down and bite you even as you tried to fight him off. The only way you can get rid of him immediately is by killing him.”
My thoughts spin as I try to make sense of all the information he spouts. “What do you mean, he’ll bite me?” I ask, my voice cracking.
He sighs again. “I wish I had a book I could lend you,” he murmurs, more to himself than me, I think. Then, he asks, “What exactly do you know of Lycans?”
I shrug. “Only that they can change into a large wolf and they have mates.”
“Well, Lycans claim their mates with a bite. Their saliva contains traces of their magic, and by biting their mate, they transfer a small amount of it. It works to connect them mentally and magically.”
“But won’t it hurt their mate?”
To my utter surprise, Hunter’s face turns a dull red. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him blush. “Uh, well, yes and no.”
I stare at him in annoyance when he doesn’t continue. “What does that even mean?”
He clears his throat, tugging at the neck of his shirt. “Is it hot in here? Maybe we should go outside.”
“Hunter!”
His shoulders slump. “Biting is… intimate among Lycans. I’ve never experienced a mating bite, but from what I understand, the pain is minimal and the bite itself is… um, extremely pleasurable.”
“Pleasurable? In what way?”
Somehow, his face becomes redder until it resembles a tomato. “In the sexual way?”
