When I shake my head, it registers that she referred to him by name. She knows him.
Jay roars. “All of you shift back! Now!”
The rogues listen to her immediately and without hesitation. Once they’ve shifted, Tyler looks to me, waiting for further instruction.
Jay pleads with me with her eyes, and my wolf melts.
“Shift,”I tell Tyler.
Simultaneously, our fur is absorbed back into our skin, and our bones reassemble into our human forms.
Jay beams at me, mouthing a silent thank you for putting trust in her.
I nod at acknowledgment of my leap of faith.
Her gaze lingers on me longer than I think she intends.
Like what you see, baby girl?
Part of me wants to let her roam my body with those fuck-me eyes. But with our company, she’s better off focused on mediating.
Not wanting to negotiate in the nude, Tyler hands me my clothes. At the interruption, Jay shakes off whatever dirty thoughts lingered and refocuses, while Tyler and I hurry to dress.
“What are you doing here?” she asks Jeff.
“We came to find you.”
I don’t believe that for a second. For starters, it’s a little late, don’t you think? She’s been with me for over a month now. If he had come with an army, thenmaybeI’d buy his story, but only three men? We may not yet be the most skilled of fighters, but the odds are clearly stacked against them. Especially with Crescent pack currently at Bloodhound to aid us like last time when we beat them. No way they’d be this stupid.
So what’s their angle?
“She’s coming back with us,” Jeff says.
“No, she’s not.”
With his index finger, Jeff pokes his temple aggressively, suggesting that I should think long and hard about what I say next. But the only thing I’m thinking about is how I’d like to drive this guy through a tree and visit periodically as nature claims his corpse.
Marching toward me, he grits his teeth as he says, “You’re not getting it. I’m telling you what’s going to happen, and you’re not listening. You’reoutnumbered.”
He reaches for Jay, but before he can touch a single hair on her arm, I halt him in his tracks. “Touch her, and I’ll rip your arm clean out of its socket.” I grab her arm and sweep her behind me.
“Oh yeah?” Jeff steps to me, inches from my face. “I’d like to see you try.”
Jay snakes out from behind me and squeezes in between us. She first looks to Jeff for his attention, but his glare remains locked on me. Jay then pleads with me. Her voice softens and there’s a desperation I’m not strong enough to ignore.
Damn this mate bond.
If any of them touch her again or try to cross me in any way, I have all of their scents recorded in my memory. I’ll devote however long it takes to track them and make them into a human scarecrow for the garden.
A reluctant grunt escapes me. One step back, a quick sniff and a swipe under my nose help patch my ego. My tongue presses to the inside of my cheek as my hands fall to my hips in resignation. In the end, I let Jay take the reins.
“Such a good boy,” a rogue says.
I scoff, nodding my head with a shit-eating grin, understanding what he’s all about. Words have never bothered me—especially when it comes to someone who doesn’t know me. I’ve known plenty of guys like him. His need to antagonize me after somewhat of a ceasefire is telling. This guy is full of insecurity and ultimately, not worth it.
Tyler, however, doesn’t take well to the disrespect of his leader, appearing at my side, waiting for this guy to make a move.
“Jeff . . .”
