"I saw you in the garden today," Zane said, his mind drenched in the memory of watching the woman he loved fall into the arms of another man.

Tiffany froze, her hand still outstretched to reach for a glass in the cabinet beside the refrigerator. He couldn't help but notice the sudden shiver that chased along the curve of her spine, settling in her shoulders.

Zane's body trembled with the vibrations of anger. What had once lingered in his gut had sprung out to every nerve in his body. Grinding his teeth together, he sat in the shadows of the kitchen at the corner of the bar. He'd been there for hours wondering why Tiffany had allowed another man to touch her, and why she sought comfort from a man who wasn't him.

Then he flipped the switch, turning the kitchen light on, revealing himself. "I saw you kiss Ryder," he blurted out, not carrying if anyone else in the house heard.

She locked eyes with him. "Zane," she breathed. "I don't know what happened." She leaned against the counter at her back, looking defeated. "I'm so confused."

He frowned. At least she hadn't tried to insult him by denying it. "Confusion doesn't make your mouth kiss someone else's. Desire does that, and you clearly feel something for Ryder." He was so angry, he wanted to hit something. He wanted to kick the shit out of Ryder for crossing the line. Ryder had no right to touch Tiffany. She belonged to him and him alone.

Tiffany's eyes rounded. "It's not like that," she argued, stepping toward him, the counter separating them. "I was practicing my magic, and he saw me."

Zane arched a brow, the corner of his mouth tugging upward in a lopsided grin. "So you bribed him into silence with a good tongue fucking?"

Tiffany's mouth formed a giant O. "No, I swear. That was not what I intended to happen."

Zane studied her for a long moment, heat blazing from his eyes. He dropped his head into his hands. "Maybe it's because you're not a wolf," he muttered softly.

"What are you talking about?"

Zane rose from the barstool, rounded the counter, and stalked toward her as if she were prey. His nostrils flared as he took in her scent. "I'm talking about you being my mate and still finding compulsions to be with another man."

"What?" she gasped, her eyes opening wide. "How could I be your mate? I'm not even a wolf."

He crowded up against her, forcing her to stare up at him. "No, you might not be a wolf, but all the instincts are there, and had you been a lycan, I would've marked you the first night we were together. I would've marked you so damn hard everyone would know you belonged to me." His tone was cold and rough.

She shook as he closed in on her. His arms formed a cage around her. "Why didn't you tell me?"

He slammed his fists on the counter beside her, and she jumped, closing her eyes. "I didn't want to frighten you."

A thundering growl emerged from deep within him. The emotions surging through his body were so unlike him. He felt out of control like the wild beast of his wolf was scratching at the gates and he couldn't stop it from getting out.

Jealousy's a bitch.

She opened her eyes. Her bottom lip quivered as tears filled her gaze. "But you let me think less of what this means to you. You let me think we were just sleeping together."

Rage flooded him. "I let you think?" He released a guttural laugh. "Damn it, what a joke." He took hold of her face, his hands diving into the lose strands of her soft, blonde hair. "I've been in love with you for as far back as I can remember. You are so much more to me than sex."

"Zane," she said his name on a gasp. Tears began to stain her cheeks. "I don't know what to say."

His gaze lingered on her face. His heart hammered like a freight train. She didn't know what to say, he repeated in his mind a dozen times. If she didn't immediately profess her love for him in return, then she didn't love him at all.

"You don't have to say anything, Tiffany." He released her, lowering his gaze and stepping away from her. His claws lengthened, and his wolf screamed. His mate had rejected him. The worst form of punishment any lycan could face.

"Tiffany, it's best that you go to your room and lock the door." He exhaled hard. "Call for the others."

"Why?" she asked, fear looming in her eyes.

His gaze shot to hers, his fangs biting into his lips. His voice was distorted as he explained, "If you don't, my wolf is going to claim you, fucking and marking you in such a way you will never be the same."

She sucked in a breath. "Zane, your eyes...they're silver."

Zane grasped the counter top at his side, arching his back as a deep, primal cry sprung from his lips. "Go, Tiffany!" he growled. "Go now before it's too late!"