Mercy Thompson 01-05 - THE MERCY THOMPSON COLLECTION

feeling.”
    So he could command my obedience whenever he wanted to. Only because he chose not to do so was I left with my free will.
    â€œBefore you act on that fear I can smell,” he said more confidently, “I’d like to point out that you had no trouble turning Samuel down when you were sixteen—and he’s more dominant than I am.”
    â€œHe’s not an Alpha and I didn’t turn him down to his face. I left without talking to him.”
    â€œI’ve seen you go toe-to-toe with Bran and not back down.”
    â€œNo, you haven’t.” I wasn’t stupid. No one faced off with Bran.
    He laughed. “I’ve heard you. Remember when Bran told you to be a good little girl and let the wolves deal with the scary stuff and so ensured that you would go out and find the bastard who’d taken Jesse?”
    â€œI didn’t argue with him,” I pointed out.
    â€œBecause you didn’t care if you had his permission or not. The only reason you submit to me is because some part of you wants to. I’m willing to admit that my being an Alpha brings that part of you to the forefront, but it is you who relaxes your guard around me.”
    I didn’t talk to him all the rest of the way home. I was fair enough to admit to myself that I was angry because I was pretty sure he was right, but not fair enough to tell him so.
    Being a master strategist, he let me stew. He didn’t even get out of the car to open my door—which he usually did. I hopped out and stood with the door open for a minute.
    â€œThere’s supposed to be a good movie coming out,” I muttered. “Would you like to come with me Saturday afternoon?” I hadn’t intended to ask. The invitation just popped out.
    He smiled, that slow smile that started in his eyes and never quite made it to his mouth. I shifted my weight uneasily because that smile had an unsettling effect on me.
    â€œWhich theater?”
    I swallowed. This was not a good idea. Not at all. “The one behind the mall, I think. I’ll check.”
    â€œFine. Call me later with the time.”
    â€œI’ll drive.”
    â€œOkay.” His lips were curling up now.
    Dumb, I thought, dumb sheep waltzing right into the slaughterhouse. I shut the door without saying anything more and went into the house.
    Out of the frying pan and into the fire, I thought, meeting Samuel’s gaze.
    â€œGoing to the movies?” he asked, having obviously overheard what I’d said to Adam.
    â€œYes.” I jerked my chin up and refused to give in to the tight feeling in my stomach. Samuel wouldn’t hurt me. The problem was, I didn’t want to hurt him either.
    His eyes were half-shut and he breathed in. “You smell like him again.”
    â€œHe picked me up when I was running in coyote form, so he brought me clothes.”
    Samuel moved with the speed of a born predator and put his hand behind my neck. I stood very still when he put his nose under my ear. I couldn’t help but smell him also. How could his scent have as powerful an effect on me as Adam’s smile? It was wrong.
    â€œWhen you go with him,” he growled, his body trembling with readiness or pain—I couldn’t tell which because I could smell both, “I want you to remember this.”
    He kissed me. It was utterly serious, beautiful—and, given the rage in his eyes when he started, surprisingly gentle.
    He backed away and gave me a small, pleased smile. “Don’t look so worried, Mercy love.”
    â€œI’m not a broodmare,” I told him, trying not to hyperventilate.
    â€œNo,” he agreed. “I won’t lie to you about how I feel. The thought of having children who won’t die before they are born is powerful. But you should know that the wolf in me doesn’t care about such things. He only wants you.”
    He left while I was still trying to come up with a reply. Not to his room, but all the way out of the house. I heard his car start up and purr away.
    I sat down on the couch and hugged one of the pillows. I was trying so hard not to think about Samuel or Adam, that I had to think about something else. Something like hunting down Andre.
    Marsilia told me that the reason vampires feared walkers was that we were resistant to vampire magics and could talk to ghosts.
    But as Darryl had reminded me, ghosts avoid evil—like vampires. I might not be susceptible to some