I realized that was my cue to speak. Taking a page from Chloe’s playbook, I decided to keep my words as close to the truth as possible. “I didn’t want to take another mate,” I explained. “Then Chloe left and I realized how much she means to me.”
Brian nodded, his expression grave. “That’s understandable, son. It’s a horrible thing to lose a mate.” Then he smiled a little. “But there are few who are so lucky as to be granted another by Fate. I’m glad you didn’t throw away your chance.”
“That’s good advice,” I replied, earning a wider smile from the older wolf.
Brayden shifted on the couch, as though he were having trouble restraining himself. Calder and I had been right to worry about the wolf. It was becoming clearer that he was unstable.
I also didn’t like the way he was looking at Chloe. It was a combination of lust, fury, and jealousy. The wolf inside me took note of it and his hackles raised. No one coveted what belonged to us.
When Darrell’s phone rang, he apologized and went outside, lifting it to his ear as he opened the door.
Somehow, Chloe managed to make small talk with Brian, leaving me able to listen to Darrell’s conversation. Unfortunately, he was speaking too softly for me to hear everything, but I heard enough.
A few moments later, Darrell returned. “Brian, Brayden, I’m very sorry, but we’re going to have to cut our visit short. There’s a problem back in town and they need me.” He looked at Chloe. “Darlin’, you and Lach enjoy the food we brought and we’ll all have lunch together some other time.”
“Of course, Uncle Darrell,” she agreed.
I wanted to lunge forward and rip his arms off when Darrell gave her a quick hug and a peck on the cheek, but I managed to suppress the urge. Brian and Brayden were smarter. They merely nodded at her, though I did see Brayden’s fingers twitch and lift as though he wanted to reach for Chloe.
The most difficult part was enduring handshakes with Darrell, Brian, and Brayden. Darrell and Brian kept their clasp firm but brief. However, Brayden gripped my hand and squeezed as if he intended to grind my bones to dust.
Biting back a growl, I stared into his eyes, openly challenging him, as I bore down hard. I felt the bones in his hand move, giving under the pressure, and felt the snap as one of them cracked.
He made a noise between a snarl and a whimper, jerking his hand from mine. Brayden glared at me, his body vibrating as he dropped his hands to his sides. He wanted to tear my throat out. It was in every line of his body and leaked from his pores.
Brian broke through when he placed his hand on Brayden’s shoulder. “Come on, son. Darrell needs to get back to town.”
Suddenly, the barely leashed animal that had been staring at me became docile, lowering his head and following his father outside.
It wasn’t until they climbed into the SUV and drove away that I realized Brayden hadn’t spoken a single word the entire time they were in the cabin.
The inherent wrongness of the visit crashed over me again. My eyes traveled over the interior of the cabin and what I saw made my instincts twang.
When Chloe turned to me, her mouth open as though she were about to speak, I shook my head and talked over her. “It’s a beautiful day. Why don’t we eat our lunch outside? Have a picnic?” I kept my voice light and as normal as I could manage.
Immediately, she understood that I didn’t want to discuss what just happened inside the house.
“That sounds great,” she agreed, moving to the table to pick up the bags of food that Darrell brought. She also took two bottles of water from the fridge.
Neither of us spoke as we left the cabin. Chloe followed my lead as I walked several hundred feet from the structure, making sure to remain downwind so the sound of our voices wouldn’t carry.
When I stopped, Chloe said, “They bugged the house, didn’t they?”
“I’m almost certain. There were some small things out of place and I know I left the bathroom door open this morning before we left. When we returned it was shut.”
A closed door didn’t necessarily mean anything. Any one of them could have taken a piss and shut the door behind them, but combined with the fact that there were so many other things moved inside the house, it seemed likely.
“They bugged the bathroom?” she asked, a look of disgust on her face.
“Probably,” I answered with a shrug. “I know I would.”
“Ew.”
Though the situation was serious, her adorable reaction made me chuckle.
“I don’t find it very funny, Lach. Every time I use the toilet, I’ll be wondering if they’re listening.” She shuddered. “Or watching.”
“You’re right, it isn’t funny,” I replied, the smile fading from my face at her declaration. It reminded me of something Carter said. Darrell liked to take videos and pictures. It was his fetish. He wanted mementos.
