“That’s the reason you want people to stay out of your business,” Goldie says, some understanding entering her voice.
“Among other things,” I say through gritted teeth. Eli has the decency to look away, but JJ just smiles in that way he thinks charms the pants off any woman.
“Oh my gods, you were the bear I ran into outside your cabin,” she exclaims at me. “You scared the crap out of me.” She smacks me, her palm connecting with my naked chest.
Before I can respond, someone calls out, “Yoohoo, we’re here to help clean this place up.”
A slim woman with fire engine colored hair strolls into the house, along with a silver haired man with scars along his sharp face.
The stench of wolf assaults my senses, an overpowering tide of predatory encroachment. It's not just a smell; it's a violation, a trespassing of territory.
My animal instincts surge to the forefront, a primal force that commandeers my body and thrusts Goldie behind me, safeguarding her from the threat.
Despite my continued attempts to push my feelings for Goldie away, my subconscious plows through all my weak protests and moves straight to protective mode. She’s drilled through my defenses, no, more like used a wrecking ball of sugar, smiles, and mischief to blast through my walls. Now I would destroy anyone who eventhinksof causing her harm.
Every muscle in my body tenses, coils, preparing to unleash a torrent of violence upon the intruder.
A chorus of growls kicks up as my brothers join me as we ready ourselves to tear the wolf apart.
Chapter23
Sound The Siren
GOLDIE
Every single tiny hair on my arms and the back of my neck rise as the four weres growl at each other. My primitive senses kick on with a scream, warning me bloodshed is imminent in a matter of minutes, maybe seconds.
“Whoa," I call out, before sneaking under Ted's arms to jump in the middle with hands raised. “Hey, no one is going to spill a drop of blood in this house. I've cleaned too long and too hard to have my shit ruined. So help me if any of you makes a move to fight in my house, I will murder all of you.” I put every bit of steel into my voice. Getting in the middle of a bunch of fanged fae is probably not the smartest move, but I meant what I said.
The growls die off, but the tension is so thick in the room it practically chokes me.
Red joins in the middle of the room, acting as another bodily barrier. “Uh, we came by to help with the house like we promised. I didn’t know you’d have company.”
“This is my neighbor Ted and his two brothers.” I throw out introductions and everyone’s names like I’m not in the middle of a territorial pissing match.
Note to self. Buy litter boxes.
Red narrows her eyes at Ted, a hateful gleam sparking in her eye. “Oh, sothisis the NFH.”
That seems to pull Ted out of his defensive stance. “What?”
Red doesn’t drop her attitude as she informs Ted, “It stands for Neighbor From Hell.”
I shrug at Ted with a ‘what did you expect’ expression when he blinks at me in surprise.
“Do you need me to get rid of the werebears?” Brexley asks me, eyes flashing gold. I could swear his teeth have elongated to look more like fangs.
“Whoa, no one is getting rid of anyone, Brex,” I announce. “We are all friends here.”
“Friends?” Red scoffs, crossing her arms, clearly not ready to join Ted’s fan club.
Not that I know where I stand with the half-naked bear shifter who bum rushed me out of his house after giving me the best sex of my life, then saved me from a gangster.
Is this the kind of problem one works out through journaling? Or will it take a months' worth of therapy to work through the whiplash I get from my every interaction with Ted?
I notice Brexley’s gaze still trained on Ted, and an unspoken understanding seems to form between them.You don’t mess with me, I don’t mess with you.
All four weres slowly but surely begin to relax from their pre-attack poses.
