Moonlight Kin 2: Aidan's Mate (Mid-Length Novel) by Jordan Summers

protest.
    Before Aidan could examine his wolf’s odd response, Robert LaBeouf popped his head into the garage.
    “Sir, you have a phone call,” he said.
    Aidan sighed. The work of an Alpha never ended. He rubbed the back of his neck. Aidan wasn’t ready to leave yet. He hadn’t gotten his fill of Jenna’s lilac scent.
    “I’ll be there in a moment,” he said.
    Robert hesitated like he was about to say more, but caught Aidan’s censorious glare. “I’ll let them know.”
    “You do that.”
    “Your garage is incredible.” Jenna’s comment drew his mind away from the unwanted distractions. “Better than...” She stopped short. “I should get back to work. It was nice seeing you again.”
    Aidan nodded, feeling oddly disappointed as he left the garage. She’d dismissed him. Dismissed him like he was some kind of annoying pup, nipping at her heels. Aidan had never been dismissed before. Not by a woman. He had no experience with this type of rejection and wasn’t altogether certain how he should act.
    Bernie followed him out. “Alpha, can I have a word?”
    “Can it wait?” Aidan needed to get away from the garage. Away from her .
    Bernie glanced toward the open door, then lowered his voice. “No, it’s about Jenna.”
    Aidan halted immediately. “What about her?”
    Bernie’s nervous gaze darted to the garage once more.
    “She’s human,” Aidan said. “She’s not going to be able to hear us.”
    His shoulders slumped in relief. “I think she’s been living in her car,” Bernie said.
    Shocked by the statement, Aidan moved them away from the entrance. “Why would you think that?” His chest clenched at the thought of Jenna being in such a vulnerable position.
    “I don’t have proof,” Bernie said. “But her scent is unusually strong in the Bug’s backseat. And I found a tremendous amount of food packaging material scattered throughout the car.”
    “Are you sure she’s not a slob?” Aidan asked. It wasn’t unusual for humans to use their cars for trash heaps.
    Bernie shook his head. “Don’t think so. I also found a blanket rolled up and tucked into a side panel. Taken individually, I wouldn’t think much of it, but when you add in her scent...” Bernie tapped his nose. “I just thought you should know.”
    Aidan nodded his thanks, then walked over to the Rover and opened the back door. He leaned in and inhaled deeply.
    Jenna’s scent filled his lungs. Aidan breathed in again and frowned. “You’re right. Her scent is all over the backseat. There’s only one reason for that. She must’ve slept in here last night. But why?”
    Bernie shrugged. “The stuff I found in the Bug was old—at least a couple of weeks. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of it is even older.”
    Had she been living in her car for months?
    Aidan stared at the backseat. It didn’t make sense. Why was Jenna living out of her car? She obviously had skills. Without them, she wouldn’t have a job at the paper or be able to repair her car.
    Bernie stepped toward the garage and stopped. “I’ve got an extra room in town--”
    “No!” The vehemence in Aidan’s response shocked them both. “I mean that’s not necessary.”
    “She can’t stay in the SUV,” he said.
    “She won’t be,” Aidan said.
    Bernie’s brow furrowed. “I’ve only known her for a couple of hours, but I can tell you right now that the girl is proud. No way is she going to let us help her, if she thinks we’re trying to give her a handout.”
    “Leave it me.” Aidan’s mind raced, but kept coming back to only one option. It was sheer insanity on his part, but what choice did he have? He couldn’t let Jenna sleep in the vehicle. It wasn’t safe. For some reason Aidan needed her to be safe.
    He glanced at the sky. The moon peeked out from behind the tops of the trees. Not quite full yet, but it would be soon. When that happened, the estate would transform. He would transform.
    It will only be for a couple of days. She’ll