glanced at Jessie and Kane, saw that they were still completely focused on the female in the room above them, and returned his attention to Dante. Unlike the others, he wasn't Cajun. He was originally French Canadian, and he'd done a good bit of traveling before he'd settled in the low country. None of them, he realized, had ever run across a psychic female. Otherwise they would've known all bets were off. “The laws don't pertain to psychics,” he responded finally. “They're a breed apart."
Dante frowned, lifting his head to glance up the stairs. Noting the hunger in his gaze, Maurice considered stopping at that. Unfortunately, he was the beta male and he already knew he couldn't take Dante. If he was to have a taste—and he wanted one—he would have to wait his turn. If Dante was convinced she was off limits, then none of them would have a chance at her.
"They're far stronger than the average human,” he continued after a moment. “They can be infected—mostly—but not all, and even those who are infected can handle it. And that one,” he added, nudging his chin in the direction of the upstairs bedroom, “is the most powerful one I've ever been anywhere around."
Dante frowned. Ordinarily, he trusted his second implicitly. In this case, he didn't. He'd been wrestling with his wayward libido ever since he'd first caught her scent and he knew damned well he had a hell of a lot more self-control than the others. “I brought her here for her protection,” he responded tightly.
The information Maurice had supplied him with at least explained why he was having so much difficultly, he thought wryly, unable to question that much of Maurice's explanation. It also explained why Shilo had a ‘problem’ attracting lycans. Apparently, she was as ignorant of that particular fact as he had been.
The wonder was that she'd been able to elude the unwanted attentions of male lycans as long as she had—and as youthful as her face was, and her firm little body, he knew she was no girl. She was all woman, he reflected, remembering how easily she'd slipped into the role of seducer—and without any coyness or uncertainty.
Several emotions flickered across Maurice's features in quick succession. Disappointment was uppermost. “Why ... if you don't mind my asking?” he added as Dante's eyes narrowed.
"The rogue alpha wants her ... and I want to know why."
That comment finally pierced Kane's and Jessie's abstraction. They looked at him for the first time, and he had no trouble interpreting the possessive look in their eyes. “You found her on pack territory,” Jessie growled. “That means she's ours."
"To protect,” Dante reminded him.
Kane and Jessie exchanged a speaking glance. “You don't mean to keep her?” Kane demanded. “How are we going to protect her if she isn't under our protection?"
Dante sent him a look of annoyance and finally turned, striding into the living room. The others followed, dropping onto the couch and chairs scattered about the room.
"She doesn't live on pact territory,” Dante said finally. “I got that much from her anyway. She's only visiting."
"That doesn't mean she can't be persuaded to stay,” Maurice put in.
"Unlikely,” Dante said flatly. “This wasn't her first encounter with lycans and to say she isn't thrilled would be an understatement."
Maurice mulled that over. “She hasn't been claimed, though."
Dante eyed him with a mixture of impatience and interest. “And you arrived at this how?"
"If you'd claimed her, would you let her go?"
"Not willingly,” Dante admitted, albeit reluctantly. “But then again, I haven't been around the woman long enough to actually know what living with her would be like,” he added dryly.
Maurice smiled grimly. “She could be a royal bitch outside the bedroom, and it wouldn't change a damned thing."
"It doesn't matter one way or the other. Even if what you say is true of lycan law, and as little interest as I have in man's laws
John Galsworthy#The Forsyte Saga