“Yes.” She clapped her hands. “Oh, this makes me so happy.”
If Seth had his way, he’d keep the kids close forever to ensure their safety, but that wasn’t what was best for them. “There has to be some sort of rule about them returning to the pack after they are educated, though,” he murmured. “Even if they share time somewhere else.”
“Oh, I agree,” Jenny said, tossing the manuals into the garbage bin. “I mean, I want my grandkids to be here, right?”
Seth laughed. “Good point.” It was so strange that he was going to have a kid and then maybe grandkids. For so long, he’d figured he wouldn’t live past the age of thirty, yet here he was, planning a future for not only himself but also the pack.
He caught a scent on the wind as Jenny happily went through another pile of what looked like legal papers. “Stay here.” He stood and strode through the house and out the front door. The rain had finally stopped, leaving the world beautiful and lush.
Before him stood Clyde Barnby, Rolie Barnby, and Lewis Treverton, who was Greg’s cousin. They were dressed as humans, so they obviously hadn’t shifted, yet Seth didn’t see a vehicle anywhere. He set his stance and kept his hands loose at his sides. “You gentlemen have something to say?”
Clyde nodded. Like all the Barnby men, he was wide with a decent belly and a hell of a fighter. His thick, brown hair had been cut short as if he’d had a bowl placed on his head. “Don’t appreciate you killing my cousins, Seth.”
Seth nodded. “I think that’s a fair discussion to have. They tried to kill me, and they attempted to kill Mia, which meant they died. But I understand you’re upset with me, and it’s good to clear the air.” He was getting pretty good at this whole diplomacy thing.
Clyde’s brother, Rolie, shook his head. He was three inches shorter and probably fifty pounds lighter than Clyde, but his arms were muscled and his fists large. “It’s not enough. You can’t just go killing pack members for an irrelevant human.”
Heat flowed through Seth’s veins. “That human is my mate.” If her body would just accept the mating, then she wouldn’t be completely human any longer, anyway. He eyed Lewis. He was the best fighter out of the three, and if they rushed him, Seth would take him out first. Lewis was about six foot eight with bright green eyes and a beard that never seemed to stop. He was a good worker in the mine, though he had been known to take naps at inopportune times.
“I don’t like my cousin working for you, and it’s embarrassing to Greg. Jenny has better things to do than organize your pantry,” Lewis said.
Soft footsteps sounded behind Seth, and Jenny walked up. “What in the world are you doing here?” she snapped. “Get out of here. I like my job.”
“No, your job is at home with your kids,” Lewis snarled.
Jenny stepped to Seth’s side and put her hands on her hips. “My job is whatever I say it is, and my kids are in school. Even if they weren’t, you’re not anybody to tell me what to do, jackass.”
Seth fought back a grin. Even so, he edged her slightly behind him. Jenny getting hurt was the last thing he would let happen.
“I’m sorry if you feel that way,” her cousin said. “Because the pack is going in the wrong direction, and you’re doing nothing to help it.”
Clyde nodded. “Seth, you have to be reasonable. When your father was alive, it would’ve been your job to take Mia out. She has a feral babe in her, and you would’ve already done it if it was anybody else.”
“No kidding. How did you reach that conclusion?” Seth stared the man down.
Lewis sneered. “I have talents you don’t understand. One of them is a sense of smell better than you could even imagine, and I could smell it on her the day before.”
Great. Seth let his eyes morph into wolf mode. “You’re using the baby as a weak excuse to challenge me, and it’s stupid. Try and be smart for the first time in your life.” There was no way he would ever harm a pregnant female, feral baby or not. It wasn’t in his nature, and apparently, his people didn’t know him as well as they thought they did. He’d also never use an excuse to take out an enemy. He’d be honest about it and then cut their throats. “You’re wrong, and if you make another threat against Mia, I’ll have to take action.”
“It’s too late,” Rolie murmured. “You’ve given us no choice. We can’t get to her without going through you.”
“I’m the one you want,” Seth said quietly. He didn’t know if they wanted Erik to be the Alpha or if they had another plan, but they’d arrived voluntarily, and they weren’t leaving intact. “Which one of you wants to die first?”
In unison, the three men pulled out weapons and started to fire. The first silver bullet hit Seth’s thigh, and pain exploded through his whole leg.
Chapter30
Mia pored over the printed-out background check on Nurse Bobbi Trienze from the passenger-side seat as Kurt drove his rented SUV. They’d tried to ditch Todd for the day, but he’d insisted upon accompanying them. Since he actually seemed to be trying to learn how to be a deputy, Mia was grateful for the company. Plus, he was a wolf shifter, and if any others attacked, they would need Todd. Kurt didn’t seem to be pleased with the situation, but he hadn’t argued for once.
“I’m thinking you might need to take a leave of absence.” Kurt wouldn’t look at her.
Mia glared at him. “Because of the red bow?”
“Yeah,” Todd said from the back seat. “For once, I agree with the FBI guy. The call to your mom and the red bow is freaking creepy. You haven’t told Seth, have you?”
Kurt’s jaw tightened. “It’s none of his business. It’s an FBI matter. Mia, you should have protection.”
“She does,” Todd drawled.
