Karl, meanwhile, had taken up a stance that screamedreluctantly tolerant. His gray Henley was tight enough to show the curve of muscle and to emphasize the breadth of his shoulders. He had a quiet, capable strength Leon’s instincts immediately wanted to challenge—like a space markedoff limits, which of course only made it more appealing.
Karl didn’t turn his head when Leon approached. He just said, “Tofu’s on the top rack. Should be done in five.”
Leon arched a brow at his back. “You say that like you expect me to eat it.”
Karl glanced over his shoulder, eyes unreadable. “You’re the one who wanted food.”
Leon shrugged. “Food’s just the excuse. I wanted distance.”
That earned him a flicker of something—almost amusement? Karl didn’t smile, exactly, but the corner of his mouth shifted afraction. And why the hell was Leon studying his lips so closely? Thinking about how they might feel, how Karl might taste…
“I know the feeling,” Karl said, yanking Leon back to reality.Wolf.He returned his gaze to the flames.
The resulting silence left Leon space to think about Bryce. About how he’d breezed in all superficial charm and annoyance, distracting Leon with his persistence and crappy sense of humor. Now that he thought about it, that had probably been on purpose. Bryce probably put people off guard with appalling jokes so that he could read them better. He had to be more effective than he seemed for Matt to have him as his beta.
Matt caught his gaze and evidently read his frustration with the entire situation. “We’ll sort out the arrangements after lunch.”
“Good,” he said, with the suggestion of a hiss. “Because right now, I’m guarding my queen in a strange environment without the freedom to do what I need to.” All while surrounded by wolves—though he bit that part back just in time. “Just fantastic.”
Matt nodded, letting that land with a quiet sort of acknowledgement. He wasn’t like any wolf alpha Leon had met before, any of whom would have puffed up, full of self-important pomposity at being criticized.
“We’ll make it work,” Matt said.
Leon’s gaze slid to Karl. No doubt it would be left to the two of them to make it work. “That’s what everyone keeps saying.”
Karl still hadn’t looked back at him. “You have a better idea?”
“Yeah. Luna stays in a nice, secure hotel with room service, locked doors and sealed windows. Safer for everyone.”
Karl turned, brows lifting a millimeter, challenge in his eyes. “You think I don’t know there’s always risk?”
Leon met his gaze without flinching. “I think you hate not being able to control it.”
He didn’t know why he said it. But something in him recognized something in Karl, the way his shoulders had stiffened, almost imperceptibly, when Matt saidwe’ll make it work. That reluctance to cede any control to strangers—yeah, if he were feeling charitable, which he wasn’t becausewolf, he might admit that he’d struggle if he had to allow wolves free access to his territory.
He knew what it was to stay on guard even when things seemed safe. He’d learned youngneverto stop assessing threat, no matter how safe he felt. The safer he felt, the more dangerous it was—that was when he’d been blindsided. He’d never seen the betrayal coming.
The silence that followed wasn’t long, but it was weighted. The tightness in Karl’s jaw looked like something weary. Like someone running the same mental calculations for the thousandth time, and still not liking the answer.
Matt was evidently keenly aware of the tension between them and just as clearly letting them settle it themselves. Leon’s estimation of him rose another notch.
Karl finally breathed out. “Unfamiliar means unpredictable. Yeah. I know that one.” He looked at Leon squarely. “We’re both looking at unpredictable variables with combat training. And in the case of your cats? A superiority complex.”
Leon felt the corner of his mouth twitch before he could stop it. Not quite a smile. Not quite not.Touché, wolf.
Karl Griffin wasn’t what he’d expected. And Leon hated being surprised. He hated it almost as much as he wanted to test how far that composure really went.
Chapter Four
KARL
Matt didn’t say anything when Karl walked away from the grill, just gave him a sideways glance that saidplay nice. Leon followed him without needing to be told. Of course he did. Damn cat wouldn’t let this lie until he’d gotten what he wanted.
Karl led him up the track that cut behind the barn and rose steadily up the low ridge overlooking the ranch house. The fall sun slanted through the trees, the light wind sending golden leaves swirling on their way to the ground. Somewhere below, Tristan’s voice carried faintly, bright and curious. Once he’d gotten the goats corralled, he’d been busy talking to the cats, evidently fascinated by them.
Yet another thing for Karl to keep his eye on, make sure Tristan didn’t end up deceived and hurt. Tristan would only see what they wanted him to see, not what they really were. He couldn’t say that outright without sounding paranoid or giving away that he’donce been as naïve as Tristan. He’d trusted a cat, and others had paid the price.
He clenched his jaw. Another reason he hated having these cats here—they stirred up things better left buried. Though he supposed the cats weren’t the only ones to blame. Jax, that damn head of Council security had started it all. But whoever had started it, Karl was ending it now, shoving all memories away, back where they belonged.
