Hazard makes a noise, but we both ignore him.
The door at the other end of the house opens, and we all stare as she comes out, sees the shopping, crosses to pick it up, and takes it into the kitchen. She starts violently putting it away.
She doesn’t even acknowledge us, and I find that grates. I’m not used to being ignored. No one ignores me. Where we come from, my word is valued, and no owner has been able to ignore the deep threat I project at them.
I advance into the kitchen, unable to leave the problem that is our new owner alone. “Riot said-”
“Riot should shut his mouth,” she growls and thrusts a bundle of clothes at me. I blink and look behind me to see how my pack brother reacts. Riot glares at her. Strangely, it doesn’t bother her at all.
“You should do something about-”
“You should mind your business, too. You’ve been here, what, two minutes?” Her voice is sharp and bitter as she folds the bundles and puts them on the island.
“You shouldn’t let them treat you like that-” Riot hisses.
She rounds the bench, and Angel skitters away into the shadows. She steps right into Riot’s space.
“I’m right where I want to be,” she growls up at him.
He growls right on back.
“Keep your nose out of my business, please.” The please softens the command, turning it into a request.
Riot smiles widely. “Your life is my life.”
I look sharply at him. That’s a pack saying; that’s a saying we reserve for our bonded, not for our owner.
“Just remember, boys. Two can play at that game.” And then she swirls away from him and out of the cabin with her deep brown hair swishing angrily, leaving the scent of menthol behind her.
“Hmm. That was interesting,” Hazard purrs. He licks the back of his hand, which has me doing a double take. He picks up a bottle of chocolate sauce, pours another line onto his hand and licks it off again.
“Put that down!” I snap at him.
Riot growls and lunges for Hazard, who dances away laughing.
Wrath is still watching the door, considering. His silver eyes take everything in. He hasn’t said a word, but when we have a moment alone, I want his opinion. He’s the most independent of the five of us and the most perceptive.
My attention is stolen when Angel slinks back into the room, walking up to Riot and pressing into his arms. The alpha’s rage disappears, and he pulls Angel in close, kissing the top of his head.
“You all right, Angel?”
He shudders. “I…I don’t know. How long do you think it will take before she starts to demand-” He cuts himself off.
My humour dies away. “I’ll find a way to free us first.”
He moves towards me, but when the door opens again, he disappears into the shadows, slipping out of sight.
She looks around, and I bristle, realising she’s searching for him. Not happening. Not a chance.
“Looking for something?” My tone is icy as I move to block her path to him.
She glares at the bags in her hands and then hands them to me. “These are for Angel.”
Riot spots her and goes after her, bailing her up in a corner of the kitchen. I almost laugh at their arguing, but the situation is tenuous. She lets out an exasperated noise and flicks him in the forehead. He lunges, seizes her around the middle, and twirls her around. He dips her, and my breath stutters in my lungs. His nose grazes down her chest.
What. The. Fuck.
We all freeze. Wrath stands up, alert. Hazard lets out an excited whine, while I stand there helplessly watching. He pulls her up a bit, his mouth near her throat. I let out a growl of warning, but he’s not paying any attention to us. He whirls her up and yanks on a lock of her hair.
