Free Fanged Fury (The Adventures of Sydney Sedrick Book 3) by Mandi Casey Page B

aware he was willing to participate in any carnal pleasures I may have in mind, but my brain screamed how much of a bad idea that would be.
    “Nothing’s wrong with me, Blake. I’ve been thinking we need to cool it on being all touchy feely, that’s all.” Before he could argue, I put my hands up. “Listen, we both have a lot going on right now. I think we both need to focus on getting rid of the Mobile pack members as quickly as political correctness will allow. When everything’s back to being hunky-dory, well, then we can work on having a relationship, but not until then.”
    Blake’s fist slammed on the glass countertop. The sound from the glass splitting pierced the room. My anger spiked, tamping down the desire. No one was allowed to damage anything in my grandmother’s store, least of all a temperamental werewolf.
    “You need to leave before you break anything else,” I said through clenched teeth as I strode past him to stand in the middle of the store.
    “Sydney, I’m sorry, I’ll replace the glass.” Blake took a few long strides to stand close to me, too close.
    I refused to budge from my position as I pointed to the front door. “Now.”
    Taking a deep breath, Blake focused on letting it out in a slow, even exhale. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to calm his wolf. I’d seen him do it often enough while arguing with his father. It took conscious effort to tuck the wolf back inside him so he didn’t do something he’d regret, so I stood patiently while he got a grip on himself.
    Opening his eyes, I could see they were back to their warm brown hue. I let out a sigh of relief, not realizing how tense it made me that he was on the verge of losing control.
    I was grateful for his strength, hoping he was over the threat of breaking something else.
    In a slow motion, as not to frighten me, Blake leaned toward me, putting a warm hand on each side of my face. After placing a feather-light kiss on my lips, he said, “Sydney, again, I’m sorry I lose control sometimes. I know you haven’t accepted it yet, but you are my true life-mate. That’s why controlling my emotions around you isn’t easy. I love you that whole-heartedly.”
    “Maybe that’s reason enough for us not to be around each other, at least not for a while.” I didn’t want to say it, but maybe that would be best for both of us. My heart sank as a tortured expression contorted Blake’s face while his anger began to rise again.
    “Sydney, no. The answer to that is no . It wouldn’t be better for either one of us. I can’t allow that to happen. What are you doing after work?”
    I knew he wouldn’t hurt me on purpose, but it did cross my mind that I wasn’t really sure how far he was willing to go to make me agree to be his life-mate. I knew without any doubt he believed I was the one.
    “Okay, maybe that came out wrong. I don’t want to not be friends with you, Blake. I just don’t know how to handle all this sometimes. I didn’t mean to hurt you by saying that. Tonight I have plans with the princess, so I’ll be at the palace for some good ol’-fashioned girl time.” I waited for Blake to erupt with more anger about me hanging out with the vamps. He didn’t.
    “Just be careful. The royals drink human blood just like the rest of the vampires do.” Blake’s tone remained neutral.
    I was relieved we didn’t have yet another shouting match. For someone I wasn’t technically dating, we sure fought often enough.
    I took his hand in mine, giving him a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I appreciate that you didn’t go all ape on me when I told you my plans. What are you going to be doing?”
    Blake took my other palm in his to turn me so we faced each other, hand-in-hand. “I’m going hunting tonight. My father needs the rogues flushed out. That’s what I intend to do. I don’t want those Mobile wolves coming here getting even a whiff that my father doesn’t have everything under