My lungs feel tight, apprehension and gratitude a confusing cocktail in my gut. But I stand tall and proud, front and center next to Neveah as we march down the porch steps and line up in front of the house. Alphas and betas spread out on either side of us.
Steve steps out of the driver’s side, not looking quite as cocky as I expected, but Josh more than makes up for it. He leaps from the passenger door, not bothering to close it as he stomps around the truck toward us.
“Where is she?” he growls, and my lips twist in disgust. I cannot believe he ever had his filthy paws on our precious girl.
“You’re trespassing,” Neveah says, her voice loud and strong as she stands poised next to me.
“Nobody’s talking to you, bitch,” Josh spits, and I tense, my muscles bulging as I take a step forward, rage icing down my spine.
But then a warm, firm hand on my forearm stops me. I look down to see long, graceful fingers, then look up to make eye contact with Vee.
“Don’t,” she says. “I can handle their venom.”
I hate it, but she’s right. With a deep inhale I step back, slightly behind her in a show of solidarity and trust. That Neveah is in charge here, no matter what they think of her, and I’ve got her back.
“Pathetic,” Josh sneers. “What is this? All the hill-folk coming out to defend one measly omega?”
“Yes, actually. And you’re violating a restraining order,” Neveah replies, calm as can be.
I have no idea how she’s pulling off this ‘cool as a cucumber’ facade. My heart pounds in my chest as my muscles flex involuntarily. I’m afraid all that will emerge if I open my mouth is a roar before I leap at them and tear their arms from their bodies. Best if I stay right here, mouth firmly closed.
I take another slow breath, letting Vee’s confidence-infused eucalyptus wash over me.
“Maybe we should go. Forget about her,” Steve says to Josh, eyeing the line of us between them and the house. He grabs Josh’s arm, attempting to drag him back to the truck.
“Nah, man. Fuck that. Fuck all of you cowards!” He twists, throwing off Steve’s grip, then he’s charging straight at us.
This man must be out of his mind.
Before he gets more than a couple yards, a beta from down the line steps forward. They move gracefully, almost like adance, as they glide toward Josh on a collision course. My muscles coil as I prepare to jump in, to protect this brave, foolish beta?—
And then they’re spinning away, arms out to their sides, and Josh is falling flat on his face into the rocky dirt. The rest of us have our mouths dropped open as we stare at the scene in bafflement.
Even Steve is blinking in confusion.
Did they just… saunter right up to him andtriphim? Bydancing? Or maybe that was some sort of martial art?
Josh yells in fury, but Dave acts quickly, leaping forward and placing a knee in the middle of Josh’s back to hold him in place.
Neveah has her arms crossed as she takes one deliberate step after another until she’s only feet from Josh’s face where it’s smashed into the ground.
“The sheriff is on his way. I suspect you’ll both be spending the night in jail.”
Josh is still spilling pointless vitriol from his lips, so I tune him out. Steve turns to run, but the others have already circled, blocking him in. He looks around in panic, then starts pleading like the pathetic piece of human trash he is.
Neveah turns her disgusted gaze from Josh to Steve.
“Keep talking, I dare you,” she growls. Then she waves toward me. “My pack mate here—Sage’s scent-match, by the way—is about to snap, and I don’t know if you’d survive his rage.”
The blood drains from Steve’s face as he stares between us, and I silently beg him to make a move. Give me one excuse to deck him.
“I didn’t know,” he says, holding both hands up in surrender. “I had no idea, but she’s all yours, man. I won’t bother you again. It was all him, anyway. He’s the one who wanted her so bad. I never even cared abouther?—”
“I suggest,” Neveah interrupts, finally having lost her cool as she forces the words out through clenched teeth. “That you stop. Talking.”
“But—”
“NOW.” Vee barks.
