Nessa made a choked sound in her throat as the rest of the males piled into the room, the front door closing behind them. Tabitha ignored everyone else around them, walking up to Murphy and patting his cheek tenderly. “Your father and I have been worried about you, my dear boy. Are you feeling better?”
“Yes,” Murphy answered immediately, his fingers curling tightly around Nessa’s waist. It would be so easy to lift the edgeof her shirt and touch her bare skin, but he refrained, if only barely. “Nessa’s helped tremendously.”
“Oh, no. I’ve only been keeping him company,” Nessa countered, waving a hand dismissively.
His mom raised a brow. “Don’t sell yourself short, Nessa. I’m sure you’ve been more help than you realize. I can’t thank you enough for taking care of Murphy. He needs someone to look after him, and I’m glad he’s found you.”
“I’m glad I’ve found her, too,” Murphy admitted readily.
Nessa flushed, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of red. Unable to resist, Murphy leaned down, brushing his lips over the crown of her head.
He inhaled her scent into his lungs before releasing a resigned sigh. As much as he wanted to visit with his clan, it was time to shift the conversation to the reason he’d gathered this small group here.
Murphy cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “We need to discuss something that happened last night at my home.”
Soon enough, everyone had filed into the living room. Hunny, Tabitha and Tank sat on the long couch, while Jasper and the remaining males leaned against the wall behind it, leaving Murphy and Nessa to stand together in front of them all. A united front.
Nessa might not have realized the significance of her position beside him as he addressed the members of his bear clan, but everyone else would. Murphy was making it known that she was his equal. His partner. Someone they should treat with the same reverence and respect they gave him.
It was funny how long Murphy had fought this connection between them, how he’d feared for years the very thought of sharing his responsibilities, his authority and power with another person. And yet, here he was after one week with Nessa—ready and willing for everyone to see the high regard he held her in.
“As most of you know, Constantine visited my home just before dawn,” Murphy began when everything had quieted down around them. “He’s come to cash in a favor I owe him. While the task he’s given is rather simple, he doesn’t want me to be the one to fulfill it.” He clenched his jaw, frustrated with what he had to say next.
He hated passing his burden onto someone else.Heowed the vampires this favor, not anyone else. It should be him to pay this debt.
“What’s the favor?” Colter asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “He doesn’t expect us to hunt anyone down and kill them, does he? I’m more of a lover, not a fighter,” he teased, earning a small laugh from the room’s occupants.
“And waste all that blood?” Zeke sneered, unable to hide his animosity about the bloodsuckers. “I doubt it.”
“Zeke’s right,” Murphy confirmed. “It’s nothing dangerous, though there is always the possibility of some kind of altercation where vampires are concerned.”
“So what is it then?” Colter added, perking up from his position against the wall.
“Constantine is requesting an unmated shifter to escort his daughter to an event out of state and keep her safe until her trip is over. As I’m with Nessa, he doesn’t feel I’d be an adequate guard for this excursion,” Murphy all but bit out. “I hate to ask this of you, but I consider you all the strongest shifters within our clan.”
“The thought of babysitting a leech makes my skin crawl,” Zeke answered with a small growl. He glared down at the ground, as if he’d already resigned himself to the task. “Obviously, I’ll do it. I’m the only one among us who isn’tan enforcer, so my responsibilities within the clan won’t be missed.”
That was true. While the other males in the room were either mated, trackers or enforcers, Zeke was only a dominant shifter. He held no technical role within the clan aside from being a valued member.
Marcus stirred from his spot along the wall. “All due respect, Zeke, I don’t think you’re the right choice.”
Zeke bristled, turning to face the male beside him. “Oh? And why is that?” he asked through clenched teeth.
Marcus huffed. “Come on, man. You can’t even talk about the leeches without looking like you want to murder them. I’m assuming whatever event Constantine’s kid is going to will involve being constantly surrounded by their kind. Do you really think you could handle that without ripping someone’s head off?”
Nessa gasped, and Murphy leaned down, murmuring in her ear, “He doesn’t mean literally.”
“Oh.” She laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her head. “Right. I knew that.”
Zeke shot her a quick, amused glance, some of the hostility bleeding from his features before he turned his attention back to Murphy. “I wouldn’t be happy about it, but that doesn’t mean I won’t step in and help my clan. It would be an honor to do this for you, Alpha.”
Murphy inclined his head toward the male. “I appreciate that, Zeke.”
“I’ll do it,” Jasper cut in, effectively drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Including their mom, who popped up from the couch, her face pinched with worry as she whirled around to face her youngest son.
“Absolutely not, Jasper,” Tabitha argued, shaking a finger at him menacingly. “Your father and brothers have already beenaway from this clan for too long. I won’t have another member of my family leaving for God knows how long.”
“It’ll only be for a week,” Murphy added, though he wasn’t sure if she even heard him.
