After last night, I wasn’t exactly sure where I stood with her. And I was too afraid to think about what that meant for our future. The one I was selfishly determined to have. But ifI’d been honest with her, if I’d given her the time and space she deserved, maybe she would’ve chosen me.
Jerome was right: If Joanna wasn’t concerned whether we lived or died, she would not have come to the compound. But here she was. She cared about us—about me. And if I were to drop dead this instant, I’d die happy… If not for the fact that Joanna was now in danger. Because of me.
I opened my eyes and darted toward Joanna while she was slinging the quiver onto her back by its new silver strap.
“Do you want to be with me, Joanna?” I asked quickly.
She averted her gaze. “I don’t want the Bite, Marcus —”
“Do you love me?”
She paused. “I… don’t know.”
Fuck.
Well, that wasn’t a no. And at least Joanna didn’thateme. She didn’t want to be a werewolf, but she had stood in front of her comrades and declared herself my mate; thathadto mean something.
Was it a ploy to save their lives? Perhaps.
But it sounded so fucking good coming from her lips.
“Let me fix this, Joanna, please,” I begged.
Malik appeared by our side, causing Joanna’s eyes to go as wide as mine.
He stayed… again. Like he did at the warehouse.
He held out Joanna’s bow and waited until she grabbed it, earning him a nod of thanks. “I hope you two know what you’re doing,” he grumbled.
“Ah, damn,” Lamar exclaimed as the rogues rounded the corner. “I knew we shouldn’t have settled for nosebleed seats, Silas.” His eyes scanned the area. “Where’dbrunchrun off to?”
The three werewolves at his side laughed, but Latoya stayed silent, observing her sister’s every breath with a steadygaze. She remained still, her lips pressed and her eyebrows pulled close together.
My gamma and her two favorite warriors prowled forward until they surrounded me. A few more of my wolves crouched low behind us. The humans were safe inside the main building, and we currently outnumbered the rogues. The Goddess had finally given me a break.
Silas walked up to Greg’s body, turning it over with his foot. “That was a decent shot.”
“It was,” I agreed with a confident grin, although we were one alpha to three.
“I hate hunters.” Silas tilted his head, amused. “Except for our youngest Sullivan sister, of course.”
My smirk morphed into a scowl before I realized it.
Silas’s gaze dropped to Joanna. “And I thought I’d have to hunt you down. You’re welcome for saving your life, by the way.”
Joanna’s eyes finally flicked from Latoya. “Fuck. You.”
Silas chuckled. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask your mate for permission first, babe.”
Behind Silas, the alpha female’s hand flew to her mouth to catch the cry that escaped her lips. Dark circles framed her puffy eyes.
“Brody’sfatedmate,” Silas declared, noticing my stare. “But I’m not sure she would’ve thanked the Goddess for that gift had she known the bastard he was beforehand. Maybe tonight, you’ll give her a reason to forget her late, adulterous husband.”
I scoffed, unamused, yet my veins strained against my skin at the thought of the dead alpha.
When Latoya explained in detail what Brody did, I’d demanded to see his body. I hadn’t initially cared who he was when I dumped his corpse in the shower; but the second I wasable to pay attention to his stench… I would’ve pissed on him had Silas not stopped me.
Because it revealed Brody was the alpha I’d thrown into the wall at Club Luna—the fucker who’d put his hands on Joanna.
