Free Object of My Affection by Tracey H. Kitts Page B

keep a harem when he was still a member of the pack. Of course, not every pack member is allowed such a privilege. Bade was at one time Marco’s second in command, his beta wolf. Normally only the alpha keeps a harem, but it is at his discretion to allow his beta wolf to do so. Marco however, had refused to keep his own harem. He said that natural wolves mate for life and he felt it a shame to be more like animals than they were. I was eager to hear if Sam did the same.
    “No, but he could if he wanted to. It’s a long story, but Sam doesn’t have a mate and he hasn’t had for the past ten years.”
    I looked a question at his hologram and Marco answered, “He dates, but nothing serious.”
    “You mean...?”
    “He nails his pack members.”
    To my surprise, it didn’t bother me to hear that about Sam. I was relieved to find that I was not possessive of every alpha male I encountered.
    Toward the end of my bath and our conversation Marco asked, “So, when does Alfred return?”
    “A week, maybe less,” I sighed.
    The smile he offered me was kind, but there was something else in his eyes, something I couldn’t make out through the hologram.
    “Keep in touch,” he said.
    I nodded.
    “Goodnight, Red.”
    “Goodnight.”
    I felt better after talking to him. Once I’d dried off and slid between my red silk sheets, I thought that sleep would surely have no problem finding its way to me. However, I decided to meditate just in case. I didn’t want to end up having nightmares about Marco’s attack.
    Once I had entered the place in my mind where I could release my worries, I began to do so. Gradually, the key appeared in the lock of the elaborately carved door like it had every time before.
    When I was safely inside ‘my room’, as I called it, I heard Mathias’ voice.
    “You must have been a moth in a past life,” he said sarcastically.
    I didn’t need to ask what he was referring to. Yes, I tended to play with fire when I shouldn’t. Marco was hot and, like a moth to the flame, I was drawn to him.
    “I’m not going to stop talking to him, Mathias.”
    “And I am not saying that you should, only that you should make up your mind.”
    “This from the man who was rumored to have had how many lovers?”
    “That is beside the point,” he said indignantly.
    “No darling, that’s exactly the point. Your blood flows through my veins. I am after all, the power of The Seducer in living form, am I not?”
    “What is your point?”
    “My point is that I’m too much like you to ever make up my mind so easily. So don’t go lecturing me about what choices to make.”
    “Hit a nerve did I?”
    “Yes.”
    “You should know by now, child, that I would never deliberately hurt you. I am only suggesting that you might find it less painful if you saw less of him. But, if that is not what you want.... “
    “I don’t know what I want. But seeing Marco less is not on the top of my list.”
    “You have little choice, my dear. You know what he wants.”
    I also knew that Mathias wasn’t referring to sex. Marco wanted things from me that I was not willing to give.
    Truthfully, I didn’t know if I would ever be. I wasn’t exactly in a position to be the full time lover of an alpha werewolf, not to mention help lead his pack.
    “Didn’t you know? I have a special gift for doomed relationships.”
    “Something else that you must have inherited from me.”
    His voice was kind and it made me smile.
    “It will get better right?”
    “Yes. I promise.”
    “I suppose there’s no point in just asking you what will happen, is there?”
    “No. Besides, it would not help. If I told you what would lead up to certain events, there are things that you would change, for the worse. However, there are other things, that might nearly kill you, but you would not want to miss what will lead to those events.”
    “Damn, I hate wizards. Never a straight answer.”
    “You could not handle a straight answer.”
    “Are you