Moonlight Kin 2: Aidan's Mate (Mid-Length Novel) by Jordan Summers

power.”
    Aidan bristled. “The Alpha is who gave them the order to stay away.”
    Robert looked down at the stone floor. “Did they scare the human?”
    He sounded hopeful.
    Aidan watched him closely. “Their appearance intrigued her. She wanted to get closer, to know more. Maybe even become part of the pack.” The idea wasn’t as appalling as it should be, but he’d said it to see how Robert reacted.
    “We can’t let in strays! She wasn’t born Lycan. She’s not one of us.” Robert’s eyes glowed with barely contained fury. “What did you tell her?”
    Interesting...
    “I didn’t tell her anything,” Aidan said. “She came up with her own conclusions.”
    Robert searched his face. “And what conclusions would those be?” he asked.
    “She believes the estate is a wildlife refuge.” Aidan kept his expression bland and crossed his arms over his chest. “I saw no need to correct her assumption.”
    Robert sighed and deflated under scrutiny. “I suppose there are worse things for her to believe,” he said. “It isn’t safe for her to be here. For her or for the pack.”
    Aidan strode down the stairs into the backyard, leaving Robert scrambling to catch up. “I will handle Jenna Dane. There’s no need for concern.”
    “I’m only looking out for the pack, Alpha.”
    “As am I!” He growled low in his throat. “The only reason I allow you to question my judgment is because of your loyalty to the pack. Do not make me regret my decision.”
    Aidan was under no illusion, when it came to Robert’s loyalty to him. Because of his lack of strength, Robert would suck up to any Alpha—or potential Alpha in order to maintain his current position. Without his job, Robert would drop to the bottom of the pack.
    “Yes, Alpha.” Robert’s gaze burned holes in the grass, but he never looked up.
    Aidan stripped his clothes off. “I’m going to go for a run.” He walked to the edge of the woods and glanced at Jenna’s darkened room. Aidan saw the curtains part, then he felt her heated gaze upon his bare skin.
    She might not trust him, but she did want him. That was a start.
    Aidan stood in plain view for longer than he normally would have. He wanted Jenna to see him. Wanted her to want him as much as his wolf wanted her.
    It shouldn’t want her at all, something inside him snapped.
    Aidan waited a few seconds more, then stepped behind a tree. Black fur rippled over his skin and claws sprang from his fingertips as he shifted, freeing his Other form. Aidan threw his head back and howled, then took off in search of the rest of the pack.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Jenna was convinced that she’d swallowed her tongue. That was the only reason for the strangled gasp that had come from her throat, when she watched Aidan strip off his clothes and walk toward the woods.
    She couldn’t hear what he was saying. There’d been no reason that she could see for him to stop walking, but he had. And for that, Jenna would be eternally grateful.
    Never in all her years of existence had she ever seen anything more shocking or more spectacular. The man was gorgeous from his head to his...oh my.
    Her body clenched.
    That particular part of his anatomy had to be a trick of the light. Jenna gulped and tried not to drool.
    Too bad he was crazy as a loon. Because only a crazy person would walk into woods, teaming with wild wolves. Naked as the day he was born.
    Jenna watched until he’d disappeared, then slipped into bed. She closed her eyes, doing her very best to erase Aidan’s naked body from her mind. But no matter how long she laid there, Jenna couldn’t forget.
    The more she thought about him, the more she ached. She turned over and punched the pillow.
    His perfect male form haunted her, turning her thoughts carnal, before she drifted to sleep.
     
    * * * * *
     

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Long, strawberry blond curls brushed Aidan’s abdomen, causing gooseflesh to rise over his skin. His stomach muscles contracted as moist lips