Elena's Fury
Her eyes closed as she repeated the word mate softly. My grip loosened on her wrists as I glanced at Annie, who had finally uncovered her face.
“Annie, be a doll, and open the door before Lena breaks it down,” I said as I looked back into my mate’s eyes.
Annie scrambled off the bed just as Elena and Tara started pounding on the door. Annie flung the door open as I lowered my head to kiss the gorgeous woman under me. Her hands wiggled between our bodies to press against my chest as mine slid down the bed, tracing her sides to land beside her hips. Elena, Tara, their mates, and Priscila all came barreling in.
“ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!” Elena roared. “YOU HAVE A DATE IN HERE WITH ANNIE?! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU, GERALD?! OSPREY IS GOING TO MURDER YOU!”
I smiled down at the woman as I pulled back a little. “What’s your name?”
“Giselda,” she murmured.
“OH MY GODDESS, GERALD! YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW HER NAME AND SHE’S IN YOUR BED?! THAT’S IT! YOU’RE NOT EVEN MAKING IT HOME! I’M GOING TO KILL YOU MYSELF!”
“Lena, wait! She’s his mate,” Annie cried as she leapt between my bed and our furious sister.
“Mate?” Lena repeated.
“Yes, Lena.”
“Ugh. Fine!”
She stormed past Annie to yank me off Giselda. As I stumbled back, I saw Lena pull her fist back to hit her. Giselda closed her eyes, preparing for the hit, but Annie launched herself through the air, easily throwing Elena away from Giselda before dropping into a crouch in front of Elena with her fists up. When Elena angrily reached for Annie, I jumped between them. Lena bared her teeth at me.
“I’m your Beta, Gerald,” she sneered. “You can’t protect Annie from a punishment that she earned by attacking me! Now, move!”
“But, Lena, Giselda is family now. I-if you want to hurt her, you have to go through me,” Annie stammered from behind me.
I put my hand behind my back and Annie immediately clung to it as I held Lena’s gaze. “You always fight with Osprey and he is our Alpha!”
“That’s not fair. Osprey-”
“Is our brother like you are our sister as is Annie,” I tell her softly.
“And Giselda is family, too,” Annie repeated, making me almost groan. “You didn’t like seeing Beanie with his girlfriend even before you knew you were mates. Can you try to imagine how it feels to know that your mate is with another woman when you finally find them? If she was you, I’d already be dead. Why is her reaction any more criminal just because it’s her and not you?”
Lena growled at her while narrowing her eyes on me before turning to glare at Giselda who was smart enough to remain as still as she could in the middle of my bed. Lena crossed her arms over her chest.
“You’re right, Gerry! Osprey is Alpha. He won’t take the baby being threatened lightly, mate or not. I will allow him to choose her punishment.” She smiled cruelly at Annie. “Get your things, Annie. You’re moving rooms. Priscila if she doesn’t get to your room in five minutes, link me and I will come drag her to it.”
“Yes, Lena.”
Elena pinned Giselda with another glare. “You better enjoy your night with your mate. It might be your only one. Five minutes, Annie! Everybody else, out!” Lena paused briefly at the door. “From now on Annie, you will not be training with Gerry. He’s teaching you bad habits.”
“Okay, Lena,” Annie said quietly.
I remained in place between our Betas and the two most important females in my life until the door slammed shut, furious that Lena had threatened both my mate and Annie. I let Annie go to spin angrily on her. I grabbed her shoulders, shaking her a little, making her head whip back and forth.
“ANNIE! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? YOU KNOW ELENA IS NOT THE ONE TO MESS WITH!”
Annie blinked rapidly, trying to keep her tears in her eyes. “But Giselda is family, Gerry. You’re my favorite brother. I can’t let anybody take her from you. Not even Lena. You deserve a chance to be happy. Lena has her mate. You should get to have yours, too.”
I pulled her into my arms, hugging her tightly. She always knew exactly what to say to douse my frustration. “You might not have a choice, Banannie, but thank you.”
She pulled back to grin at me. “Neither does Osprey. Scarlett isn’t going to let him hurt her. You know she loves love and Osprey will bow to her. Besides, if I cry, Mom will give Osprey the ‘mom look’ and that will make Scarlett even angrier. He is not winning this.”
I sighed. “You can’t always use Scarlett to win arguments with Osprey, little one.”
“Of course I can. Now, I better get my stuff packed. Elena bites and I already almost peed myself once tonight.”
I chuckled as I helped her quickly gather her things while Giselda watched us curiously. After Annie put her bag over her shoulder, she walked over to her bed, extending her arm out.
“Come along, Fin,” she cooed, and he immediately scampered up her arm to lay on her neck. “Do you want me to take Farley, too, Gerry?”
I turned around to look for Farley as I started to click my tongue, calling for her. My clicking was cut off when I saw Farley in Giselda’s lap, pawing at her. Giselda gently started scratching her chest as she met my eyes.
“She is beautiful.”
My heart swelled and I shook my head. “No, Annie. Thank you though.”
Annie put her hand on my arm, smiling sadly at me. “I’m happy for you, Gerry.”
I frowned as she walked out of the room. Her words immediately slapped the truth in my face. Finding my mate meant one of two things were about to happen. I was either going to be leaving my sleuth, my family, and, last but certainly not least, Annie. I turned to look at Giselda again. Or she would be.