It means nothing in this house. Food is just sustenance.
“Look, I don’t know how other people have handled having you five, but I’m not going to be your prison warden. I’d like to consider us temporary allies in a war against the bigger evil,” I point to the cuff. “So, you can come and go as you please. Eat what you want, when you want. I’d appreciate you not leaving me a mess; I have enough work to do. There’s beer in the fridge. A whole mountain to play on. Go wild.”
The room is thick with I-don’t-believe-you energy. Angel seems the most enraged by my statements. I think if I’d locked them all up in chains, he would be less mad at me. I shake my head, dismissing him from my thoughts.
“And what do you get out of this?” Khaos asks coldly.
Oh, the icy suspicion of the pack leader. We lock eyes, glaring at each other.
“Well, I was hoping for freedom when I came up here, and yet, here I am, back drawn into the world of people. Five suspicious, home-destroying alphas invading my space and acting like assholes was not what I wanted for my happy ending,” I snap at him.
“Shifters, not people,” Hazard butts in.
“I just want to be alone,” I say calmly, regaining control. “That’s why I live out here alone. Because I like it that way. You five are ruining my happy ending. So, let’s work together at getting you gone.”
Angel is drifting closer. Of the five, he’s the most reticent but the one I’m the most nervous about. Angry alphas are dangerous. His ice-blue eyes are otherworldly. I keep mygaze off him as he eyes the bowl of cereal. Hazard senses him and pauses, looking at the bowl. I sigh and fill it again. He hands it to Angel, who takes it and disappears.
I stare speculatively at the spot he vanished from.
“Do you need anything from town…” I trail off at the rage dripping off the four remaining wolves. “What?”
“Why were you looking at my brother like that?” Hazard asks, and the licking jokester wolf from this morning is gone. This is all deadly alpha, and he’s ready to tear my cabin apart with his bare hands. It would be better not to take him for anything less than a predator. I won’t forget.
“His jeans are torn. He has no shoes. He’s not wearing a top. Furthermore, he’s too skinny for a shifter.” I list off the reasons on my fingers. “Oh, and he wants to kill me, and I have no idea why.”
Khaos blinks.
I stand up, ignoring the hostility in the room, and put a pen and pad down in front of Khaos. “Write me a list of what you need in town. I’m going to cut more wood.”
I walk out of the room before they can call me on the fact that when their wolves rose in defense of Angel, terror had risen in me. My sour fear scent is probably washing the walls. I don’t have the advanced scenting abilities of shifters. Which has been a blessing and a curse.
Today is already on my top fifty worst days ever.
I return an hour later and look down at the list and add several more items. I tuck it in my pocket and, keeping my eyes lowered, skirt the hulking mountains of alpha flesh.
“Right. I’ll be back, um, in a few hours.” I walk out to my truck and start it, only to stiffen when Khaos opens the door, and Angel climbs in. He looks pale, well, paler, and like he’s going to throw up.
“Angel’s going with you.”
“I am thrilled and relieved,” I say dryly. “And also, no.”
Angel growls and sinks down in the seat. Yeah, this is not happening.
“Why are you coming with me?”
Angel flicks his eyes up. “I don’t want you to get me clothes I will hate. I’m not wearing leather,” He barks out, his eyes wild, nostrils flared.
I glance at him sideways and feel a bit sick at the thought of trying not to say the wrong thing and ending up dead.
“Listen, I understand-”
“Oh, no, we are a whole new level. You don’t know who we are. You don’t understand anything,” Angel spits.
He’s vibrating in the seat, claws come out and puncture my dash.
I turn the truck off and turn sideways. We haven’t even made it out of the drive. I wind the window down.
“Khaos, tag in Riot. Angel can’t people today. I’m not having a fight with him in Main Street over my honest-to-god good intentions.”
