This made me laugh, and Jai smacked his forehead. “Watch out, Gori Girl trying to Bollywood dance.”

“Hey!” I shouted at him, chucking a couch pillow his way and joining him and Trent on the couch. “What’s a Gori Girl?” I asked Jai.

He nudged me with his elbow. “White girl.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. I had another question. “What does Meri Pyari mean?”

Jai grinned and looked towards Kai in the kitchen. “Did he call you that?”

I nodded.

“It means, My Beloved.”

My heart picked up and I glanced at Kai. As if he sensed me watching, he looked up from chopping veggies and held my gaze. I blew him an air kiss and he smiled then motioned his head to my room. I rolled my eyes. Such a guy!

Dinner was amazing; the food had so much flavor. I think I impressed his family by eating the Indian food with my hands and talking about my time in Delhi.

“I miss India, mostly for its shopping.”

Diya smiled nodding with approval. “Ahhh… so you like to shop? My kind of girl.”

Jai put his hand out stopping Diya from talking further.

“Can we please just take one second to talk about how amazing it was when Aurora ripped that vamps head off to save mom?” Jai stated.

I froze. Kai’s mom kicked Jai under the table. Jai looked at me. “What? Was that her first kill?”

I sat there frozen. Flashes of my father lying on the kitchen floor, blood dripping out of his stomach.

“My first kill as a werewolf, yes.”

Kai met my eyes and seemed sad.

“Oh,” Jai said.

Kai spoke gruffly. “She has been a werewolf for a week. You think she’s racked up a bunch of kills?”

“Sorry, bro.” Jai looked at his plate. I felt bad for him. He was just trying to be nice.

“I was kind of a badass, wasn’t I?” I asked the table.

Jai smiled and Diya nodded. “You were.”  Jai exclaimed.

“What are you going to do about the Portland Alpha sending three vampires to capture your mate?” his mother asked casually. There was no hint of submissiveness in her voice. This woman could be deadly if she wanted to be.

Kai lightly dabbed his mouth with a cloth. “I’m going to kill him.” Kai stared right at me as I involuntarily spat water out of my mouth.

Kill or Be Killed

“What!” I shouted and stood.

Kai stood and his nostrils flared. We locked eyes. Challenge.

“No! You almost died when you fought him last.” I held his gaze.

“No?” He shouted, staring back. I could feel the hair rising on my arms. Sweat broke out on my upper lip.

“How long do you think she can hold his gaze?” Jai asked as his mother swatted his head and shushed him.

“Aurora, you are MINE. If someone thinks they can take you from me, there is only one response they deserve. Death.”

My breath was ragged now and even Kai looked strained. What was I doing?

I broke his gaze and stared at my feet. “I don’t want you hurt like that. Not ever again.” I sounded defeated, like a little girl.      

Everyone at the table was deadly silent. I collapsed back into my chair dreading the thought of ever seeing him hurt like that again. Kai walked over and picked me up, carrying me to my room. He struggled to open the door as I laid my head on his chest. Tears fell down my cheek. When we got inside, he dropped me on the bed. He curled up next me and kissed my forehead.

“Believe it or not, I am a good fighter. I have been around so long because I have survived many, many fights. Fights of dominance, fights for territory, fights for Alpha status and whatever else. I can and will fight for my mate. If he sent vampires once, he will do it again. He is known for running a dirty pack. I have heard recent rumors that his unmated women are treated like sex toys and his men fight to the death over dominance. They all live in poverty and steal from humans. I would be doing the world a favor.”

I sighed. He was right.

“So you’re just going to barge in there and kill him? Won’t they smell you coming?” I ask.

“They will smell me coming. If I were to barge in there in a rage, I would be torn apart by his pack. I’m going to request a meeting and then I’m going to challenge him for Alpha status of his pack. It’s the only way to insure a clean fight. It’s a fight to the death and no one can intervene.”

“So, if you are tearing their Alpha apart, no one can jump in?” I queried.

“Correct. Pack law will make sure. My pack would report it and a werewolf from the council would come dispose of the person who intervened.”

Dispose of? Geez.

“What if he is about to kill you? You expect me to stand there and watch you die?”

I twirled my hair around my finger in a nervous gesture. He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. “I’m not going to die. I have too much to live for now.”

I left the room and said goodnight to his family. They all acted like we hadn’t just gotten in a big dominance fight. Maybe it was common in werewolf culture. I went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I was coming out of the bathroom when I noticed Kai in my bed.

“What are you doing in here?” I whispered.

He pouted. “Come on, we’re mates. My mother doesn’t care.”

I put my hand out. “We are mates but we are not yet mated. So no. You need to leave. I don’t want them thinking bad of me.”