Bristling on the inside, I keep it down. “Because I knew her before, back in Wraith Peak.”
“You have a history, then,” Dominic says, looking faintly amused at the idea.
I sigh. “Not that kind of history, but yes. We were familiar.”
“Of course you were,” Hunter says with a deep exhale as he rubs his temple.
“Familiar or not, do you have any idea what’s going to happen when Hayes finds out?” Caleb questions, expression tighter now.
“Yes, I do.”
“And you did it anyway.”
“It wasn’t optional,” I return, feeling as my inner wolf starts to pace, aggravated by their questioning, especially when it concerns her. “I wasn’t leaving her there for just anyone to buy her like an antique.”
“She’s a Voss, not some random wolf,” Luke murmurs.
“And she was still being sold anyway.”
“You could’ve let Hayes deal with it,” Caleb says.
“No,” I snap before I can stop myself, just barely holding back. The bond is too fresh, and it’s putting me in a volatile place. “I couldn’t.”
The others pause, looking a bit taken aback by my tone as they glance at each other in silent questioning.
“And now she’s in your territory…our territory. She belongs in Wraith Peak,” Caleb continues, not letting himself be intimidated.
“She’s not a threat,” I grind out, earning myself skeptical looks from all of them.
“You don’t know that,” Luke says.
“I do.”
“How?” Caleb asks.
“Because I’ve been with her,” I tell them, struggling to know how much I should tell them, and what parts I should keep to myself. “Because I know her.”
“You knew her,” Sera cuts in as her expression hardens in an unforgiving way. “That’s not the same thing.”
Before I can respond, I catch the sound of a door opening and closing nearby, and I freeze as every instinct in me sharpens immediately. I turn and watch as Naia steps out onto the porch, then moves down the steps.
She must’ve heard us, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The moment she appears, the entire dynamic shifts. The tension spikes and almost becomes thick enough to be tangible. The guys all straighten up like they do when assessing a threat, gazes focusing solely on her. Sera’s expression goes completely frigid.
Naia takes it all in without flinching, and she lifts her chin slightly, defiance already settling into place.
“This feels welcoming,” she murmurs sardonically, well aware that she’s not exactly on the top of everyone’s good list.
No one responds at first, and nobody relaxes like they’re anticipating she’ll make a move against them, as if she has the gall to take on everyone at once.
I step forward to position myself, leaving just enough space between her and the others. It isn’t subtle or accidental, and I don’t care that they notice.
“You weren’t supposed to hear that,” I mutter to her.
Naia hums, unrepentant. “It’s a little late for that.”
Her gaze sweeps over them, taking each of them in. She’s assessing them, not at all bothered by the fact that she’stechnically in hostile territory and sorely outnumbered. It’s oddly admirable.
