Free Scorch: A Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (The Tribe Series) by Terra Wolf, Ally Summers Page B

I knew I had him there.
    He hissed. “You’re a Maddox.”
    “You don’t even know what you’re talking about. You haven’t bonded. You don’t know what it’s like.”
    “I know what’s expected of us. I know what it takes to claim territory. Are you telling me one girl gets under your skin and you’re giving up on our dynasty?”
    I shook my head. “Why can’t we have both?”
    “It doesn’t work that way, brother.”
    “Well, maybe it should.”
    His growl surfaced. “You cannot disobey me. I have given you your directive.”
    I balled my fist. “Your highness, I’m going to have to decline.”
    “You can’t decline,” he hissed. “There are consequences. The kind of consequences I can’t protect you from. Take your birthday honeymoon trip and then we’ll talk again. I want to hear I have a niece or nephew on the way before we have another conversation.”
    I was furious. If I hadn’t been in a coffee house, my talons would have protruded and my fangs erupted, but I tried to keep the beast at bay.
    “That’s not how things are going to work with Francesca. We have a future together.”
    “You’ve got that right. Knock your wife up and call me.”
    He was lucky he wasn’t in front of me. I wanted to rip his throat out and throw him across the room. King or not, he was done ruling my life.
    I didn’t want to hear anything else he had to say. His insults. His commands. I hung up before he could utter another word.
    I had maybe a couple months at most before the council would order me to move on. There was time to come up with a plan. There was time to bring Francesca into our biggest threat, but today was the day after my wedding. I should be celebrating, not worrying about this shit. I threw a few bills on the table and walked out of the coffee shop.
    I was supposed to meet Francesca outside of the library in thirty minutes. I headed in that direction as if I was drawn to her. As if somehow she could give me an answer. I needed her.

26

Francesca
    S tudying was pointless . I couldn’t think about anything but the candlelight at the wedding and Drew’s face when he saw me walk down the aisle. It was magical. It was a fairytale. It was perfect.
    What was more perfect was how Drew loved me last night and this morning. We made a world that belonged only to us when we bonded. If it was up to me, we’d never leave that paradise.
    The books were open in front of me, but I hadn’t read a single word. I knew I wouldn’t. I folded the novels and stacked them on the rolling rack outside the room.
    I missed him. I had seen him two hours ago, and yet every fiber in my being longed for him. I was pulled toward him. I hurried and stuffed my backpack with my notebook and pens. I didn’t want to waste another second in the library. I needed him, but I had the strangest feeling he needed me more.
    I ran out the doors and down the steps and smack into my husband.
    “Hey, beautiful.”
    “What are you doing here?” I smiled.
    “Thought I’d show up a few minutes early and surprise you.”
    “Oh. I thought I’d leave a few minutes early and surprise you.” His hands lined my face as he kissed me deeply.
    “So you’re done with the studying?” he asked.
    “I think I’ve crammed as much as I possibly can. I’d rather spend the rest of the afternoon with you.”
    “How about we talk?”
    I looked into his eyes. The bits of playfulness were gone, along with his seductive charm. I felt a rush of panic.
    “What is it?”
    “Not here.” He looked around. “Let’s go back to the house. I think it’s time I told you about the she-panther’s obligation to her mate.”
    I backed up. “Obligation?”
    “At the house,” he urged. “Come on. We’ll talk and you can ask all the questions.”
    “And you’ll actually answer them this time?”
    “Darlin’, I’ll answer everything. We won’t leave your house until you know everything about being a shifter you want to know.”
    I didn’t know