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“Absolutely. And the part about you coming to Bodhi first and him refusing is genius. That’s what’ll seal the deal. Leon will love nothing more than getting his hands dirty where his goodie two shoes son wouldn’t. Just like he couldn’t resist coming to me to boast after he set the guest house on fire.”
It’s a sorry state of affairs when a father is more interested in getting one over on his kids than being in their lives. For wolves, family comes before all else. Marcus speaks about his own relationship with his father with an odd air of detachment. It’s like their connection died the moment his father lit the match. When Marcus speaks about how Leon treats Bodhi, however, there’s something else there: a deep sense of rage on behalf of his younger brother.
“He’s a clever son of a bitch. Mean as hell, but he’s smart. Whatever you’re thinking, he already thought it. Don’t try to out manoeuvre him or be too clever. Just find out what you can, and the second you get a chance, run for the hills. Beau will pick you up.”
Beau’s number is already programmed into my phone, and I’ve memorised the extraction coordinates I’ll need if everything turns to shit.
“I can’t stay more than three weeks. After that, I’ll have given it my best shot and we will work with what we know. If you haven’t heard from me…”
Marcus nods. He knows what I’m saying: if I haven’t been in touch and I’m not at the meeting point on time, I’m in big trouble.
“We won’t leave you in there.”
I’ve heard stories about wolves after being rejected. With Ethan not accepting mine, his well-being is at risk. Rex is an unusual case. Most wolves can’t last as long as he did with a partial bond still pulling them in all directions: their animals turn feral. I need to give Ethan another opportunity to reject me so he can start to heal. I’m not willing to wait if there’s any chance it’ll damage him long term.
Marcus strokes his beard and his bear rumbles, like he doesn’t want to say what he’s about to but feels he has no choice.
“You’ve met your mate, Belle, so don’t forget you could go into heat. Even if you take all the herbs there are, there’s no hiding that from a bear. Just ask Leila. She tried and failed. If you feel it coming, you run.”
Swallowing hard, I nod, the enormity of what I’m doing starting to sink in. Praying to the goddess not to put me in that particular position, I just have to put it to the back of my mind. It’s not something I can control.
“I have a good feeling about you, Belle. You’ll be home in no time,” Marcus assures me as he pulls off the long winding road at a sign marking the county line. You wouldn’t leave a human here to walk home, but a shifter will make it to the next town easily enough. “Dad’ll like you, that's for sure,” Marcus adds. “He loves a woman with some attitude.”
Not sure that’s a good thing, I wait patiently while Marcus strides around the vehicle and opens my door, yanking me out, unceremoniously, with one giant hand. Dropping me to my feet on the tarmac like I weigh nothing, he makes a show of looking inconvenienced and grumpy. It’s not a stretch.
“You’re lucky Steel pulled some strings for you,” he warns sternly. “Don’t come to Grey Ridge again. Leave Ethan alone. He moved on. We’ll be having a far less pleasant conversation next time.”
Ducking my head, I act contrite but pissed-off. With a weary sigh, Marcus turns me away from him and opens my cuffs. As he releases them, and his big body shields me from the view of anyone who could be watching, I whisper.
“Make sure Ethan’s okay for me. Please.”
Marcus pauses for a second before he slips the cuffs into the holder on his belt. “Why wouldn’t he be okay? You’re going to be back with him in no time, trespassing on my land, drinking my beer, and asking nosy questions.”
I doubt that. My silence is damning. When he spins me back to face him, his eyes narrow and he looms over me, intimidating despite our friendly chat just a few minutes ago. “What did you do?”
“What had to be done,” I answer simply and Marcus whistles low with a disbelieving shake of his head.
“Jesus, that’s cold.” With one last look, he turns and climbs back into his car. “I’ll check on him. Good luck.”
I keep up the cowed pretence until he’s driven around the corner, and then I act like a child throwing a tantrum, shouting at nothing in particular as I begin my long march to the next town. I’m just ending my hissy fit, when a motorbike starts up close by, then a second. I watch as a black bike, then a sleek red one, pull out of a layby hidden up ahead.
Marcus was right, you never know who’s watching.
“Something the matter, little lady? You look upset. And lonely.” Flipping up his visor, the driver of the first bike lets his gaze wander over me: my leggings, tank top, and boots. They’re not exactly sexy but still showing off everything the goddess gave me. I can’t be too obvious about trying to attract their attention.
“Nope, all good,” I snap. Looking at the man who looks freakishly like a fifteen-years-younger Marcus, I glare like I’m trying to set him on fire with my eyes. Struggling with what I’ve done to Ethan, I don’t have to work very hard to pretend I’m in a bad mood.
“That’s funny, because a little birdie told me you’ve got an issue with an ex, which is why you’re in hot water with our beloved Sheriff.” Scowling at him, I keep my mouth shut defiantly as he continues. “I also heard that maybe you’d like to cause this ex a bit of pain, like he caused you. Which is interesting, because that’s exactly the kind of business we’re in.”
“Shocking.” I cast my eyes over his biker gear, tattoos, and a scar running down his neck; he smirks. This guy doesn’t exactly look like he’s working as a kindergarten teacher. Looking up and down the deserted road, I know this is it.
“How did you know I’d be here?” Going for suspicious but intrigued, I unfold my arms and ease up on the defensive body language just enough to be convincing. The second guy stares at my boobs, now they’re no longer hidden, and I have to fight back the urge to smack him in the face. Using my body to distract them is just another tactic; I want them to underestimate me, to assume I’m just a dumb broad out for revenge.
At least until I can get in front of Leon.
“Someone told me my brother might be moving trouble out of town – the kind of trouble we love. Guess they were right.”
I assume this is Billy and the sources are supposed to be his brothers. My hand moves to my bag and the stacks of notes Marie handed me before I left. She kindly didn’t mention my red, puffy eyes, or the fact that Ethan was nowhere to be seen but still unconscious in bed.
