Convincing Emily [Wolff Pack 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) by Alicia White Page A

shrugged nonchalantly.
    “Looks like they claimed you.” His eyes focused on her throat, and Emily moved her shoulders, trying to cover their marks without revealing her new toy.
    “Well, I’m gonna head out.” Emily palmed her toy, trying to hide it before walking past him.
    When she got closer, she pushed it into her pocket for safe-keeping. She needed him to leave the store before she could make her purchase. There was no way in hell she was going to let Thomas in on her little secret. That would be too damn embarrassing. When they reached the checkout counter, she looked at the magazines and grabbed one, thumbing through it.
    “Do you want me to take you back to your mates? My car is right outside.”
    “Nope. I’d prefer to walk. You can head on out.”
    “Naw…I think I’ll hang out a bit.” Thomas’s voice sounded distant and Emily looked up from her magazine.
    Emily followed his line of vision and noticed that he was checking out the woman behind the cash register. She seemed to be watching them just as intently as Thomas was. Looking back at her brother, Emily wondered what thoughts were running through his mind. She’d never seen her brother act this way before. His body was tight and he looked ready to pounce. Huh? That’s interesting. Is it pent-up sexual frustration or did Thomas just find his mate? She wanted to laugh, but resisted.
    A tap on her shoulder got her attention and Emily spun around and came face to face with an older gentleman. She sniffed and knew right away that he was a wolf. Instinctually, she took a step back, needing some space, but the man followed her, putting her on edge.
    “What can I do for you?” Emily asked, stepping back once more. What the hell? Had this man never heard of personal space?
    “You’re a thief. Do you know what we do to bears who steal from our pack?” He spit, crowding her, and Emily could barely think.
    She was in shock. Who the hell was this guy accusing her of stealing? She hadn’t done a damn thing. She would’ve pushed him back, would’ve defended herself, but before she could utter a single word, Thomas stepped in.
    “You better watch how you talk to my sister. We’re both welcome here. She didn’t steal anything.” Thomas growled and Emily stepped back further, only stopping when the magazine rack was against her back.
    All of her fears came rushing back in that moment. She had almost forgotten that she was a bear mated to two wolves. She’d almost been happy to start over in North Ridge. That was before this horrid man got in her face and accused her of a crime. Before he sneered the word bear , she’d been just a woman. Now, she just wanted to get the hell out of this place and back to where she felt safe and secure. Fuck, I shouldn’t have let my guard down.
    “I saw her put something in her pocket! She’s a thief! All you damn bears have sticky paws.” He growled at her, pushing against Thomas and trying to get to her.
    In that moment it dawned on her. She had slipped the small personal massager in her pocket. Not to steal it, but to hide it from her brother. She didn’t want him to see what she was purchasing. Closing her eyes, she wished that a giant hole would open up now. Crap, this is bad. She just knew that this whole situation was going to become a whole lot worse.
    “Don’t accuse my sister of anything.” Thomas pushed the man back, using only a small portion of the force he held within himself. “I don’t particularly like the way you say bears either. It’s wolves like you that give shifters a bad name. Cole and Charlie Ward are her mates . We’re welcome here.”
    “Let me search her. I’ll prove it!” The wolf tried to move around Thomas.
    “You won’t touch her!” Cole yelled as he charged into the store, Charlie closely following. “What the hell is wrong with you, Ben? I can’t believe you’re treating my mate with such obvious disrespect.”
    “She stole from our pack. I saw her put something