Forever Is Not Enough [Council Enforcers 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)

in between laughter.
    “I remember running into a few of the rogues the night we blew up your father’s mansion. At the time, I remember wondering why they were acting so strange. Now, it all makes sense.” Ben squeezed her hand again. “You have one devious little mind.”
    Jacqueline wondered if he would think that or find it so funny when he found out the secret she was keeping. Unless she found a way to finish the antidote, Ben was going to die. The rogue serum she created was engineered to self-destruct. It was a failsafe she had designed just in case her father decided she wasn’t useful anymore and turned to someone else to perfect her serum. If that happened, she couldn’t let her creation be unleashed into the world. Without the antidote, the shifters who took the rogue serum would die within six months of taking it. Ben had three months left and he would hate her when he found out.
    Looking around the table at everyone and seeing the love they all had for each other, Jacqueline knew they would all hate her once they found out. Knowing she was taking Ben away from his family devastated her. She looked at Ben just as the first sob escaped. “I’m so sorry.” That was all she could get out before Ben pulled her into his arms, and then the sobs took over.

Chapter 6
     
    Ben sat his little mate in his lap and held her as she cried. The sound of her sobs and the smell of her despair were killing him, but he was powerless to do anything about them. He had no idea why she was crying. From what she had just told them, Jacqi’s life had been hell, but he had a feeling that wasn’t what had upset her. His mate was strong to go through all of that and not come out just as crazy and devious as the man she called her father. Whatever was upsetting her now was something huge, but he decided not to push it. He just hoped his mate would eventually tell them what it was.
    Maybe I should lick her face.
    Ben kept his laugh to himself not wanting to hurt his wolf’s feelings. I don’t think many people like being slobbered on, pup. Sorry.
    But she’s our mate. She should like anything we do to her.
    Ben hoped his wolf was right. Holding Jacqi in his arms and breathing in her sweet scent, he shared his wolf’s urge to lick her from head to toe as well. Instead, he held her until her breathing evened out and she drifted off to sleep. His little mate was obviously worn out if she was able to fall asleep in a room full of strangers. But, based on the responsibilities she had taken on from her father and the huge amount of guilt she was carrying around, he was surprised she hadn’t collapsed sooner.
    Ben leaned down and kissed her forehead. When he looked up, he froze when he saw everyone at the table was staring at him. “What?”
    “I never thought I would see the day when Benjamin Sullivan became a whipped man.” Ryan leaned back against his overly large mate’s chest and smirked as he said it.
    Ben scoffed and hoped his friends didn’t smell his lie. “I’m not whipped. I just didn’t know having a mate would feel like this.” He looked down at his mate. For someone who had vowed never to mate, he couldn’t imagine going back to his life without her, even considering the short amount of time they’d been together.
    “You’re stuck with her now, buddy, so get used to it.” Mitch grumbled when Tessa jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow. “They come in and eat all of your food, they wake you up from your naps at all hours of the day, and then they steal your spot in the sunshine.”
    Ben laughed at Mitch. The lion was always in a bad mood. He preferred to be alone rather than in a pride, but Ben knew he wouldn’t give up his mate or cub for anything in the world. “For someone who ran away from home to get away from being in a pride, you sure are adding to yours awfully fast. When were you going to tell me Tessa was pregnant?”
    That got a huge grin out of Mitch. “It was my glorious mane. She couldn’t resist it.”
    Tessa snorted, but Ben noticed her rubbing her fingers through Mitch’s hair at the nape of his neck. “Congrats to you guys. I’m truly happy for you.”
    Ben looked down at his mate cradled in his arms. What would it be like if she was carrying my pups?
    His wolf agreed. Yeah, let’s do that. Then I could have lots of little wolves to play with.
    The thought didn’t send Ben running and screaming from commitment like he’d thought it would. His mate was beautiful, and he