Chapter 22: Twenty-two.

Sammy closed the door to the parlour behind her two hours later. She had just returned from buying some new bedding, unconvinced that magical wolf hair would ever be unembedded from her current ones.

Then walking up to the counter she rang the bell to alert a member of staff to her presence.

In a second or two a young woman appeared,"Hi, can I help you?" She asked politely.

"Yeah, hi, I'm here to pick up Omie. I'm Sammy Gray." She responded.

"Oh, of course. I'll just get him." She replied, heading through the building.

When she returned, Sammy was desperately trying not to laugh. Daniel was puffed up beyond her wildest imagination, looking almost as though he had put the end of his tail directly into an electrical outlet. But that wasn't the best part, Sammy's favourite part was Daniel's doggy outdit. Fixed on tip of his head was the cutest little antler set with jingling bells, but on his back there was a jacket of red velvet strapped, with a white fur trim, and on top of that sat a santa claus figure, holding a rope which stretched around his neck like reins. With each step Daniel took, the stuffed Santa would wobble as if he were an actual mini person riding on his back.

Daniel looked completely and utterly ridiculous. Festive yes, but ridiculous none the less.

"We used the spiced apple and cinnamon shampoo, since it is the season," the girl stated excitedly. "And you bring him back any time, you hear. Omie, is such a sweetheart, and a total sucker for belly rubs."

Sammy stiffened, suddenly this didn't feel like such a good idea. These women had their hands all over Daniel, and the thought was forcing her to grind her teeth mercilessly. What had possessed her to bring him into a den of harlots? Wait no, that's unfair, she decided, but couldn't lose the animosity she felt brewing towards the girl. Oh, this was a stupid idea, even if Daniel did look hilarious.

"Do you accept card?" She asked through gritted teeth.

"Of course, I'll take you over here," the girl said handing over the lead and trying not to react when Sammy snatched it out of her hand.

Daniel watched delighted by Sammy's reaction, it was written all over her face as she dragged him beside her and then out the door.

Jealousy.

He could almost get high off the thought, especially as he knew something she didn't. Jess, the assistant in question was mated to a member of his pack. A member who Daniel mind linked, to ask a very specific favour of; to make sure she gave Sammy the impression he had really enjoyed himself, even if the reality was the complete opposite.

One white lie later and his mate was realising he may actually mean something to her after all.

Sammy on the other hand was raging internally. All while questioning her every motive, and feelings. She thought she was past this. Past her feelings for Daniel. But, the thought of him lying there and rolling over to be petted by other women was making her rage; she was practically dragging Daniel along behind her as she headed for her apartment.

By the time they got home, even Daniel wasn't amused anymore. He could smell Sammy's anger, yet she refused to voice it, and when she closed the door she simply tugged the lead off his neck, and went to the bathroom. Slamming the door behind her, and leaving him in that ridiculous Christmas dog outfit.

Daniel stood studying the door while he deliberated on what to do. Sammy clearly had feelings for him, but even now she refused to give in to them. Or to even discuss things with him like a grown up.

At this point Daniel's own logic was being suffocated by his rising anger, and now he craved her anger in return.

Unfortunately for Sammy, he knew the perfect way to bring it out.

Sammy came out of the bathroom twenty minutes later, she had been pacing back and forth, trying not only to understand her feelings but to calm them. She was determined not to be ruled by her emotions. Why was that damn man-wolf-man so so, *hers*? She craved simplicity, simplicity was safe, familiar.

Daniel was, well he was confusing, complicated and totally all consuming.

She didn't know how to cope with that.

She sighed, thinking over this mate bond Shane mentioned. Maybe that's what she needed to understand more of. Could she ask Daniel? Should she just ask Shane? No, she should ask Daniel, he was the one claiming this link to her, he should be the one to explain it too.

Exiting the bathroom, she entered an empty space, Daniel wasn't in the main room of her apartment, but she could hear noises, from her bedroom.

"Daniel?" She began approaching the door.

But, Sammy froze as soon as she saw the carnage inside her bedroom.

Her closet had been opened, and pulled out from there were at least three pairs, of what once were her shoes, the fourth pair still within Daniel's mouth, as his jaw tore mercilessly into the material.

He was still dressed in his ridiculous suit, and his green eyes met Sammy's.

The challenge was written all over them.

Sammy had never in her life backed down from a challenge, and looking at her decimated boots, she sure as hell wasn't about to start now.

*Author's Note: You too can purchase Daniel's outfit on Amazon. I will post a picture tomorrow, on my Facebook page, @BethanyRiverWrites for those who are curious. 😜 We have a cowboy version for our collie, they are hilarious when they run.*