Chapter22
As soon as Lucian barged into the house, he bustled past three wolves and went to his room.Although Eden’s scent lingered on the fibers of his clothes, he still reeked of jail and wanted to change.As soon as he stripped down to his underwear, someone pounded on the door.
“Open up,” Tak boomed.
“It’s not locked.”He opened the closet near the foot of the bed and pulled out a pair of dark jeans and stepped into them.
Tak entered and shut the door behind him.Resting his arm on the low bookshelf, he watched Lucian get dressed.“Going somewhere?”
“Out.”
“They released you into my custody.”
Lucian pulled a black T-shirt over his head.“So that makes you my warden?”
“No, that makes me your Packmaster.Whatever you do reflects on me and could hurt this pack.”
“What makes you think I’m going to do anything?”
Tak drummed his fingers on the bookshelf, his silence speaking volumes over his emotional scent.
After pulling out his office chair, Lucian took a seat so he could put on a fresh pair of sneakers and socks.
“I can’t dictate what you do with your free time,” Tak pointed out, “but I want Montana to go with you.I know what it feels like to be wrongly accused of a crime.”
Lucian slowly tied his laces.“You believe me?”
Tak snorted.“If you had it in you to murder anyone, I’m pretty sure you would’ve killed Deacon by now.I know you two are enemies.”
Lucian put his foot down and watched Tak flick something off Lucian’s bookshelf.Probably a cookie crumb.“I know I’m the black sheep of the pack, but?—”
Tak held out his hand.“Wait a minute.Stop right there.This pack doesn’t have any black sheep.We have rank, and that’s all.We’re wolves—family.Some need more guidance than others, but I don’t want that negative language under my roof.That’s not how I see you, brother.”
Lucian was taken aback.He’d always felt like he had to try harder since he was the Chitah in the pack—the one who didn’t belong.He stroked the base of his throat, uncertain how to respond.“I’m only saying I know it would be easy to get rid of me, but I want to stay.That’s why I’m not gonna do anything illegal to get myself kicked out.”
Tak’s brow furrowed.“You think it would be easy for me to get rid of you?Why?Because you’re a Chitah?”
“Because I’m an asshole.”
Tak threw back his head and erupted with laughter.When his emotions filled the room, Lucian’s lips twitched as he fought back a smile.
This wasn’t a funny topic, but Tak’s laugh was infectious.
When Tak’s amusement died down, he wiped his eyes.“White men are funny with their words.I don’t care what you think you are, but you’re my packmate.And all I ask is that you honor my rules and respect your family—that you won’t do anything that could break apart this pack.That’s what I ask of everyone.I gave the Councilwoman my word we would leave all matters of this case to the Council—that we wouldn’t get involved.That includes you.”
Lucian stood and grabbed a bottle of gel.After squirting some in his hand, he scrunched it through his hair in a haphazard attempt to style it.“She has nothing to worry about.”
Tak studied him for a beat.“You know, I haven’t been out in a while myself.I’ll tag along and we can celebrate your release.”
“Fine with me.There’s somewhere I need to stop first.”
Tak reached for the doorknob.“As long as it’s not prison.The only bars I ever want to see again are the ones on my baby’s crib.”
The windshield wipersswished back and forth in slow synchronicity as Tak’s white truck rolled toward a white mansion illuminated with spotlights.
Tak slowed the vehicle and ducked his head to admire the house.“What kind of friends do you have?Is this about a job?”
Lucian unlatched his seat belt.“It’s personal.”
