Kieran POV
I insist on driving Tish to work, promising that I won't leave her stranded at the end of the night. Much to my surprise, she doesn't put up much of a fight. She sits quietly in the passenger seat, glaring out of the window.
I know I need to talk to her about moving into the pack house, but I don't know how to bring up the conversation. She already hates me, and I am sure she will hate me even more when she finds out that Mae is in danger simply because she is mated to me.
I pull into the seedy-looking bar and park around the back. It is now or never.
"You said we were going to talk on the way here, but you didn't say a word," Tish fills the silence grumpily. "You aren't just trying to have sex with me again, are you?"
I can't tell if she is joking or not. I chuckle nervously and shake my head. "I wanted to talk to you about Mae."
Tish's face immediately hardens. "What about her?"
I scratch the back of my head awkwardly. "There are people after me. They shot me with a silver bullet right after you and I met. They will stop at nothing until I am dead."
"What does this have to do with Mae?" Tish's voice is shaking.
"It shouldn't have anything to do with her," I answer out of anger. "But unfortunately, they will do anything to harm me, and that includes coming after Mae once they find out who she is."
Tish's face turns white with fear. "How would they know who she is to you?"
"Rumors spread fast in the werewolf world," I shrug my shoulders. "There are a few people that know she is my mate. I am assuming word will get around sooner or later."
"I thought you could trust those in your pack," Tish exclaims.
"I wish that was the case," I sigh. "There are still those who don't believe my sister is the rightful ruler of the werewolf world. They will stop at nothing to remove her from power."
Tish looks nervously out of the window of my car. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth and sucks in a sharp breath. "What do you need from me?"
"I need you to convince Mae that the safest place for her is in North Pack territory," I reply.
"She won't come," Tish responds. "Her whole life is here. Her family. Her job…"
"And you," I fill in the blank for Tish. "I know she won't come without you."
"What exactly are you proposing?" Tish looks at me skeptically.
"I am asking you to come with her," I finally say. "I am having two rooms set up in the pack house. Neither one of you will have to work ever again. I will take care of you both."
Tish begins to laugh hysterically. "I see what this is. You are trying to set up your own personal harem of women. Mae won't stand for it. She doesn't share."
I run my hand down my face. I should have known that Tish was going to be difficult. "That is not what I am doing. I am trying to keep my mate safe, and if that means you have to come too, then so be it."
"You would really support me for the rest of my life just because you want Mae," Tish replies.
"If it keeps Mae out of harm's way… Yes, I would," I groan.
I am not pleased with this arrangement. I know Tish and Mae are sleeping together, and I would prefer to keep them as far apart from one another as possible. But Mae has already said that Tish is her person, and she refuses to go anywhere without her. If they are a package deal, I am going to have to find a way to get along with Tish.
"How can you feel so strongly for someone you just met?" Tish asks me.
"It is the mate bond," I say with a shrug. "I don't pretend to know how these things work."
"She cares for you, too," Tish says quietly.
"What?" I ask, not sure that I heard her correctly.
"She and I had a fight before I left for work. We have never fought over a guy before. She clearly wants to be a part of your life. Even if that means leaving me behind." Tish blinks quickly, and I know she is fighting back tears.
"I don't want to take her from you," I lie. "Just want you both to be safe."
"This is an odd situation," Tish laughs.
"You have no idea," I mutter.
Tish is quiet for a moment. I know she is thinking things over. I don't dare open my mouth for fear of ruining the progress that the two of us have made. For a moment, it felt like Tish and I were on the same team. I just hope she felt that way too.
"Okay," Tish says. "I will convince her to come with you."
"Are you coming too?" I ask Tish.
Tish looks from the bar and back to me. "Do I have a choice?"
"You always have a choice," I retort. "I would never force anyone to do something they didn't want."
"Maybe it is time for me to let Mae go," Tish sighs. "It's just that we have been protecting each other for so long. I am not sure I know how to let her go."
I get the feeling that Tish needs Mae more than Mae needs Tish, and I suddenly feel guilty for trying to separate them.
"I am not asking you to let her go," I finally reply. "Maybe just stop sleeping with Mae."
A sly smile spreads across Tish's face. "I don't know if I can make that promise. You haven't seen her naked. She is gorgeous."
I feel aroused and jealous all at the same time. The thought of two women together is every man's dream, but not when one of those women is your mate. I clench my jaw tightly, trying not to respond.
Tish slaps me on the shoulder and begins to laugh loudly. "I am just joking."
I relax a little and put the car back in drive, pulling away from the bar.
"Wait!" Tish yells. "I need to tell Rick that I quit."
"It has already been taken care of," I grumble, still trying not to picture Tish naked with my mate.