“Explain what?” I snarl. “That you triggered her fucking heat, while drugging my beta at the same goddamntime?” My knee throbs sharply, and I focus on it, letting the pain fuel my rage. “You fucked with my pack!”
“It was just a small dose,” Pace stammers, and I picture him sweating. “I was thinking about your health. You needed to bond with her to?—”
“You listen to me, you piece of shit.” My rage is a living thing, clawing at my ribs. “My mates’ bodies are not your fucking laboratory. You don’t get to experiment on my fucking pack!” I squeeze my phone hard enough that the casing creaks in protest. “If you ever come near my home again, I’ll rip your fucking throat out. Do you understand me?”
Pace is breathing hard, a panicked, rasping sound. “Yes. Yes, I understand.”
“Good.” I hang up before he can say another word, throwing the phone onto my desk. It skitters across the polished wood and stops at the edge. I stand there, shaking with the effort of reining my rage back in.
I hate how fucking useless I feel.
That I can’t go after the man who hurt Tansy.
I can only hope Warren will make every second of his death hurt.
Tansy’s Nest
Tansy
I’m curledup in my nest with Beck, warmth tucked around me on all sides. The house is quiet in that late-afternoon way that makes my eyelids heavy. The blankets smell incredible, layered with the familiar scents of Cass, Beck, and Warren. I’ve quietly stolen their shirts from the laundry, but I still need to get something of Grason’s. Maybe a hoodie.
Beck’s arm is draped loosely around my waist, more present than possessive.
I’m right on the edge of sleep.
Beck, apparently, is not.
He shifts for the third time in a minute, leg bouncing faintly, fingers tapping against my hip like he’s trying not to move and failing miserably. I crack one eye open and look at him.
“You’re vibrating,” I mumble.
He grins unapologetically. “I’ve got too much energy for a nap. I tried. I really did.”
“You didn’t,” I say, closing my eyes again. “You lasted thirty seconds.”
“That’s generous,” he snorts, then carefully slides his arm out from around me. He moves slowly so he doesn’t jostle me and sits up on the edge of my nest. The movement lets in a little cool air, and I instinctively curl tighter into the blankets, suddenly reminded that I’m only wearing a thin T-shirt and underwear, the fabric barely a barrier against the chill.
Right then, the door opens.
Grason steps in, quiet as always, filling the doorway with his broad frame. He pauses when he sees us, eyes flicking from Beck to me, his expression softening immediately when he realizes I’m half asleep.
“Oh,” he says quietly. “Sorry.”
Beck shakes his head as he stands. “You’re good. I was just leaving.”
Grason’s brows lift. “You were?”
“Yeah,” Beck says easily. “I’ve got way too much energy to nap. I’m going to try and be productive, assuming my ADHD will let me.”
“Have fun,” Grason says.
“Always.” Beck looks down at me. “You comfy?”
I nod, nestling deeper. “Very.”
“Good.” He leans over and kisses my cheek. “I’ll be back later.”
Then the beta heads for the door, pulling out his phone as he slips past Grason. The door clicks shut behind him, leaving the room quiet again.
