It’d been a year since he and Stephan had had it confirmed Angelica was their mate. At first they’d fought over who should claim her. Then when they figured they could share, they fought about what they should do and if they were going to do anything and if they did where they would live, and what Joel would say and do. They had bought a place at the base of the mountain and spent the last year doing it up. He and Stephan had moved in a couple of months ago and knew they were now ready to claim Angelica. They’d figure out everything else eventually, they hoped.

“I don’t think we can keep scaring off all Angelica’s boyfriends, or potentials.”

Owen gave Stephan a death glare. “My panther says differently. I say differently. She’s our mate. Angelica should be with us.”

Stephan raked his fingers through his sleek back hair. “I know, but she has no idea what we are, let alone that she’s our mate. The council didn’t want her to know as Joel moved them from the mountain.”

“I love Angelica. I want her with us, at our house, in our bed. I’m sick of sleeping alone.”

Stephan moaned. “I know how you feel. I feel the same. But what do you think our reception will be when she finds out we followed her here? This is a better club than the biker bar she was in the other week.”

Owen shrugged. “I’d like to say she’d be happy, but lately she’s been getting snappy with us. She bit my head off the other night when I answered her phone and told the guy on the other end that she was taken and to not call again.”

Stephan grinned. “I say we mate Angelica tonight and tell her what we are. She can bite me anytime then. I can’t hold myself or my panther back any longer. I need Angelica to stay sane.”

“I’m glad you said it first because I’ve been trying to not act like a prick and throw her over my shoulder and claim her without you.”

Jenika, one of Angelica’s friends, pulled Angelica away to whisper something in her ear. Angelica laughed, and her lips turned up in a wicked grin. He and Stephan weren’t fans of Jenika. She was the wild one in the bunch, the one who just the other week had dragged their mate to a biker bar.

Not liking the nod Angelica gave Jenika, Owen stood and walked from his hiding place to his mate.

“Angelica, your cock blockers are here.”

Stephan snarled, showing his sharp teeth to Jenika, who stared daggers at him and Stephan.

Owen’s breath caught in his throat at the sight of his mate up close. She was gorgeous. Angelica wore a little black dress that fit every one of her curves on her very shapely body. Angelica had light olive skin, with freckles scattered over it, long flowing strawberry blonde hair that had a slight wave to it, a plump bottom lip, and a thin top one. Angelica was large were every man wanted her, breasts, thighs and arse. She had a small tummy and wide hips. Her head came just to his shoulder, and as Angelica looked up at him she narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.

“You do know that when my brother asked you two to look out for me, he didn’t mean for you two to follow me out on my girls’ night out? I’m not at the biker bar. I can look after myself,” Angelica yelled over the music. Jenika shook her head and strolled off.

“What the hell are you wearing?” Owen couldn’t help the snarl in his voice.

Angelica tapped her red stiletto heels, and if looks could kill he’d be dead.

Stephan groaned. “Angelica, you just sealed your fate.”

Angelica rolled her eyes. “Well hello to you, too. Why on earth are you two here? Don’t you have jobs? And what are you talking about?”

Owen didn’t think. He grabbed Angelica by the waist, lifted her, and almost sprinted out of the club.

“Put me down this instant, Owen. What the fuck do you think you are doing?” Angelica wiggled around in his arms and banged on his chest.

Owen’s body came alive, burning with the need to claim her. They walked out of the club, and not one person tried to stop them. He didn’t know if Stephan’s fierce stare had anything to do with it, but he didn’t care.

When the night air hit him and Angelica’s yells for help could be heard more clearly, he did the only thing he could think of. Owen took Angelica’s lips to his, stopping her tirade. Her fists stopped whacking him, and her legs stopped kicking him. She seemed stunned at first and didn’t respond. Then he moved his hands down and patted her arse. She gasped, and his tongue slipped in and sought hers. Slowly her hands slipped up his chest and came around his neck holding him closer to her.

“That’s hot.” Stephan groaned. “I can smell our mate. She likes what you’re doing to her. Let’s get her home. I want a taste so bad.” Stephan’s words seeped through Owen’s lust-filled fog, and he reluctantly pulled away.

“Come on, sweetheart. We’ll finish this at home.” He kept a hold of Angelica and walked to his car.

Angelica stared up at him with passion filled eyes and a dazed look. “Um … why did you do that?”

Owen winked down at her. “Why do you think I did that?”