Free Werewolves and Chocolate by Shauna Aura Knight

Ellie’s eyes teared up at the sight of the two of them.
    Matthew cleared his throat.
    “Yes, of course,” Cassia said. “Gareth, are
you well enough?”
    “I told you, I am fine.”
    Visibly gritting his teeth, Matthew turned
from them both. “I think we can finish up rather quickly so the two of you can
get…reacquainted.”  Matthew turned to Jake and Kyle. “You two defied pack law.
It was for a good reason, but you still defied our laws.”
    Jake and Kyle both nodded slowly.
    “I’m beginning to think your earlier
assessment is correct,” Matthew said.
    “And that would be?” Jake asked.
    “You should go back to your human lives.”
    Kyle sucked in a breath. “Are you exiling
us?”
    “You’ve been exiled before as a punishment
for breaking pack law before. You slept with a Hagalaz without permission from
their Alpha, and your recklessness almost got you and Jake killed. And your
mate. You are too impulsive, Kyle.” Matthew let out a growl, clearly
frustrated. Ellie saw a vein in his forehead still pulsing. “I’m not going to
formally exile you. With what is going on with the Hagalaz—that would be
imprudent. But I do not want you living here. Not among us. I will speak to the
other Uruz Alphas at the other clanholdings on this to seek their counsel and
agreement on this as well. You can still call on us if needed, but you cannot
live among us until you can show that you respect pack law.”
    Kyle was trembling but stood his ground.
    “We will still render aid, of course.” Jake
said.
    Matthew nodded. “Taggert, though he has been
a rude lout about it, probably owes you his life. And we owe you for bringing
us this important information. But I don’t think you and your human mate will
find it comfortable living among us.”
    “Maybe later. When we have kids. If that
happens.” Ellie said this at a whisper, but Matthew’s tense posture relaxed
just a bit. He gave her a soft smile and nodded.
    “If you are so blessed, and you need the
protection of the pack, that would be a time we would reconsider this
judgment.”
    Ellie kind of bristled at the royal “we” but
she held her tongue. She’d already spoken her mind on the matter.
    “You’re welcome to stay for the remainder of
the meeting, if you’d like. Or go, it’s your decision. And Kyle,” Matthew
placed a hand on Kyle’s shoulder. “I’ve been hard on you in the past. You lack
control. But you’re one of the strongest wolves in the pack. Don’t forget it.”
He turned and left them.
     

 
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Finally it was just the three of them in the
clearing.
    Kyle gritted his teeth and shifted again.
Jake followed him and they reformed with their clothing. “You know, someday I
want to understand the physics of how your transformation works.”
    “I’m know, babe.” Jake held her tightly in
his arms.
    “Did you guys get hurt? Are you ok?”
    “Just scratches. We’re fine.”
    “Kyle, what about you?”
    He shook his head. “I definitely was not
expecting…all of this.”
    “I’m sorry if I got you in trouble.”
    “No, sweet. You did the right thing. We did
the right thing.” Kyle stretched out. “This really went sideways.”
    “You were both worried about me being exposed
to the pack because of this.”
    “Sort of.” Jake released her from his
embrace. “We knew there would be teasing and some disgruntlement from some of
them. Teasing because you’re human, because there are three of us.
Disgruntlement because we don’t live amongst the pack and we aren’t immediately
trying to pop out babies. We didn’t want to subject you to all of it.”
    “Are you sure you aren’t part wolf?” Kyle
asked, moving closer to slide his arm around her waist. “I’ve seen wolves who
wouldn’t hold their ground like you did.”
    Ellie finally realized she was shaking in the
aftermath of all the adrenaline. “I was worried I was going to piss you off.
But I just couldn’t take how they were being assholes