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"Both," she replied, astounded he’d even asked "What kind of a question is that? You know very well our kinds don’t… we don’t…"
"Yes, I know it doesn’t happen But that certainly doesn’t o dry and her face grow hot How could he even act like there was a discussion to be had about this?
"It can’t happen with us, Jaden It would be… I mean… I would be an outcast if anyone found out! My father would disown me, and I--I…" She started to stammer, paused, and took a deep breath "You’re just supposed to teach o and make this more complicated than it already is?"
He didn’ther like an ani from him, was a lot ht it up," he said "And you didn’t exactly push ht to ask what you find so disgusting about it when it’s obvious you don’t object to low, and it was a ry
"It’s that wolf, right? Simon I saw you with your arone as quickly as it had appeared Jaden slu to a sullen et it You’re better off with the wolf, I suppose It won’t happen again, okay? Let’s just go"
Sole openly hat she’d been wrestling with privately soothed her ragged nerves This wasn’t so just because of her position, which could do hiood He just… wanted her And was stupidly jealous to boot
Lyra could only stare, wonderingly, as he sat brooding and looking like he wanted to kill someone
"You’re serious about this?" she finally asked
He turned his head to give her a beleaguered look
"I don’t humiliatea rational response would ee When one didn’t, she decided she needed a minute to think about it Jaden, for the monition, turned the car on, and pulled out of the parking space without saying a word She’d left the radio on, and The Black Keys ground out a gritty, sexy, bluesy ode to attraction that did nothing to take Lyra’s mind elsewhere
She reached out to turn the volume down but didn’t turn it off, which kept the current situation fros straight For one thing, I’m not interested in Simon," she said "He’s been my best friend since ere kids Not that it’s any of your business, but thinking that is just… gross Don’t"
Jaden’s response was little rowl "Does it matter what I think about it?"
"Maybe," she allowed, and felt his attention return to her full force She had to concentrate hard on what she wanted to say so she could stay on the road He was being honest And considering what they would have done last night if Simon hadn’t shown up, she supposed she owed hi, what if I did want you in ood I don’t want a mate, and you couldn’t be one to me anyway Apart fro me, the bond doesn’t happen if one person isn’t a wolf"
"Bond?"
Oh gods, she didn’t want to explain this Lyra felt another rush of heat to her cheeks, but she pushed through it She et it all out
"Yeah, the mate bond Happens when tolves, ah… you know It’s unbreakable Wolves mate for life Unfortunately, it’s not a perfect system You don’t have to actually like the person you bond with"
She looked quickly at hiured out the whole truth of it His mouth thinned with distaste
"Yes, I know," she said "Welco You don’t have to agree to be mated to any of the wolves ant your hand All it takes is being in the wrong place at the wrong time" He wrinkled his nose and shook his head "Where’s the appeal ina woman who’s been forced to accept you? I don’t understand wolves at all"
"You don’t have to It’s just biology," Lyra said "I don’t like it either It’s one of the things that have kept fe, and a big part of why packs are so insulated One big raid by another pack, and boo to your rivals"