“You leave her out of this,” Alaina blurted. She stepped out from behind Mallory, her hands fisted at her sides. “And leave my family alone too.”
Mallory touched her arm, a warning not to push the bully too far, but Alaina shook her off.
“Or what?” Orsen drawled, looking mildly amused.
“Or we’ll kick you out of your position once and for all. You don’t deserve to be pack leader anyway. You never have.”
Mallory reached out again, this time squeezing Alaina’s arm in warning. “Not the best time to develop a backbone,” she murmured.
Alaina shook her off again. “I don’t need to develop a backbone. I’ve always had one. And you know what? I’m done putting up with such shitty leadership. I’m not going back to the pack. I’m staying here with my grandparents.”
“News flash, little girl. You need my permission to leave pack land,” Orsen said.
“Bad idea, dude,” Remy quipped, pulling Orsen’s focus.
“Huh?” Orsen was clearly confused.
Yeah, so was Mallory. She threw Remy a puzzled look, but he didn’t even glance her way. He stabbed his thumb in Alaina’s direction. “Calling herlittle girl. Bad move.”
Orsen narrowed his eyes once more. “Who the fuck are you again?”
“Told you, it doesn’t matter.”
“You’re right. I don’t give a shit who you are. I’m still gonna kick your ass.” Orsen stalked down the steps, pulling off his shirt and tossing it on the grass.
Remy held his ground as the guy stormed toward him. His face was impassive, his limbs loose, his hands at his sides. His fists weren’t even clenched.
Lip curled into a snarl, Orsen unlatched the button on his jeans, presumably preparing to shift.
“Is it just me, or does he look like he’s about to perform a strip tease?” Remy idly commented.
A laugh burst from between Mallory’s lips. “I’m pretty sure he thinks he’s being intimidating.”
Orsen stuttered to a stop, his thumbs hooked into the waistband on his jeans.
Remy shook his head. “Not particularly intimating. Or sexy, for that matter. The guy’s totally missing the mark.”
Orsen’s eyes were practically shooting sparks while he gnashed his teeth and magic shimmered along his skin, indicating he was about to shift.
“Alaina! Oh my God, you’re here!”
The front door burst open behind Orsen, and a middle-aged man and woman charged out onto the porch, followed by another, older couple who moved at a much slower pace as they made their way down the porch steps.
The first woman, a mirror image of Alaina and presumably her mother, shoved Orsen out of the way as she beelined for her daughter, pulling her into a full body hug and clinging to her like they hadn’t seen each other in years.
Or, more accurately, like her daughter had just gone through a traumatic experience and she’d been worried sick. “Are you okay, baby?” she asked, pulling away just enough to cup Alaina’s face, her gaze darting over the young girl like she was searching for injuries.
Alaina nodded, and her mother pulled her tightly to her body again, while Dad came over and wrapped them both in his arms.
“Get out of the way, Orsen,” the oldest gentleman of the bunch muttered, using his cane and a sharp-looking elbow to help him edge past the pack leader, who stood there, dazed, clearly unsure how to proceed.
“If I were you,” Remy said, leaning in like he was conspiring with Orsen, “I’d resign my position as pack leader. Suggest they vote for a new one. Take a step back. Figure out your life. There’s still time.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Orsen demanded.
“I’m telling you, we’re cutting you a break.”
Orsen bristled. “You think you can take me?”
