Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“Is that a serious question? Look, let’s not talk about it. We tried that already. It never helped.”
He was quiet for a moment. “I didn’t tell Mom.”
“I’d say I appreciate it, but I’m guessing you only refrained from doing it because Shaya told you not to.” When the wolf behind her let out a knowing chuckle, she knew she was right.
Nick’s gaze shifted to Marcus, though he spoke to Roni. “So your wolf was fine with his presence.”
Marcus shrugged. “I told you she would be.” Done brushing her hair, he placed the brush beside him, and loosely circled her with his arms. “I have to get home and change. Come with me.”
“Don’t forget the game, Roni,” said Nick.
“Game?” repeated Marcus.
“The Arizona Grizzlies are playing against the San Francisco Cougars today.” Both were all-shifter football teams. “The pack watches the game together.”
Marcus could respect that—traditions were important to packs, and as a newly formed one, it was beneficial for the Mercury wolves to start their own. “Fair enough.” That got him suspicious looks from both siblings, who had obliviously expected him to bristle at Nick’s interference. Setting Roni on her feet, he stood and kissed the corner of her mouth, not wanting to aggravate the scratch on her bottom lip. “Get some rest, and we’ll talk later, okay.”
It wasn’t a question, but Roni still nodded. Unable to shake off her suspiciousness—Marcus hadn’t made a single protest to Nick’s smugly delivered announcement, which wasn’t like him—she watched with a frown as he skirted around her and smiled at a scowling Nick.
When the front door closed behind him, Nick folded his arms. “Derren told me you marked Fuller.”
“Derren’s got a big mouth.”
“Are you sure he’s what you want, Roni? ’Cause I gotta tell ya, a wolf like that isn’t going to let you walk all over him. He isn’t going to let you shake him off if you get bored or restless. He won’t put up with you bolting whenever you feel like it. And he’s going to be incredibly possessive.”
She cocked her head. “So when I told you to stop interfering in my life, what part of that statement did you find confusing? Should I use smaller words? Simpler vocabulary? Or maybe you need me to emphasize it with a blow to the jaw? That would be fun.”
He sighed. “I’m just making the point that he won’t be someone you can manage. You need to be prepared for that, because I’ve come to realize that that guy will push and push until he gets what he wants.”
She was quite aware of that, which was why she found it so odd that he’d left without even a scowl at Nick. Of course, her confusion completely disappeared when a knock to the door of Nick’s game room later that day preceded the entrance of Marcus, Trey, Dante, Tao, and the other enforcers. They all piled into the room wearing wide smiles and carrying beers and snacks.
Nick gawked. “What are you all doing here?”
“You invited us,” replied Marcus.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did. Just before I left, you said, ‘Marcus, why don’t you and the guys come by later to watch the game with us.’”
“I said no such thing.”
“No? Really? That’s what I heard. But then, I have been told I have selective hearing. Mmm, pizza.” Ignoring Nick’s grumbles, Marcus grabbed a slice from the box on the table and made a beeline for Roni, who was lounging in one of the La-Z-Boys, eating a chicken wing.
Shaking her head, she said, “I should have known you’d do this.”
He smiled, leaning down to kiss her soundly. “I did say we’d talk later.” Scooping her out of the chair, Marcus sank into it and perched her comfortably on his lap.
“Ah, see, I didn’t know that translated to ‘I’ll crash your pack’s get-together.’ Silly me.” She was amused rather than annoyed.
Oblivious to—or uncaring of—Nick’s displeasure, the other Phoenix wolves made themselves comfortable, opening beers and joking with the Mercury wolves . . . as if they hadn’t just gate-crashed their gathering. Wearing a petulant scowl, Nick returned to his La-Z-Boy. Since Dominic was on it, he shoved him off—but the enforcer just laughed, which only seemed to aggravate Nick more.
“What happened with Eliza?” Marcus asked Roni.
“She actually apologized. Of course, it was totally forced, but I pretended to buy it.”
“Was she badly wounded?” The self-satisfaction glinting in Roni’s eyes told him the answer. “Will she have any scars?”
“One or two.”
“How did Shaya take it?” He knew the Alpha female adored Roni. As such, although this was the ways of shifters, Shaya wouldn’t appreciate Roni being targeted whether it was expected or not.
“She performed her knife trick to make a point that no one tested her wolves.” Just as shifters taught their children how to hunt and defend themselves with teeth and claws, Shaya’s human father had taught her to defend herself. As a recently retired Navy SEAL, Stone had taught her some interesting things. Roni had walked into the kitchen many times to find Nick plastered against the wall with knives framing his body while an irate Shaya yelled at him.