“Don’t touch me,” she said.
“I’m sorry.I thought I was doing a good thing by helping you.Next time, I’ll let you face-plant.”
“I don’t like you.”
Seth didn’t know this woman at all.“I don’t like you, either,” he said anyway.It was the truth.Considering how she was talking to him, hereallydidn’t like her.
“You’re ruining our pack.”
Seth rolled his eyes.“Sure I am.Look, if you have something against me, you should talk to my brother-in-law.You know, the alpha.”
Seth grinned at the expression on the woman’s face.He didn’t think she was going to talk to Chance.
He stepped to the side and started to walk away.He wasn’t in the mood to fight with anyone.He couldn’t be bothered, especially when Ryan was waiting for him.
Something whizzed by his ear and exploded against a tree.He jumped and turned, thinking the woman had somehow attacked him.It wasn’t her, though.She’d fallen and was on her ass, scrambling away from the two figures coming toward her.One of the men—one of themages—raised his hand, and purple light started glowing from his palm.
No, it wasn’t the woman who’d attacked Seth.It was two mages who had somehow managed to get into pack territory.
* * * *
RYAN TAPPED HIS FOOTand glanced out the window.He was getting impatient, but he told himself not to be an asshole.It was the first time Seth was late.He’d apologize when he got there, and they’d drive to town like they’d planned.
“You’re annoying me with that foot,” Madeleine said.
She turned away from the sink and crossed her arms over her chest.Her hands were still damp from rinsing the dishes.They really needed a new dishwasher.
“I’m not doing anything,” Ryan answered, glancing out the window again.
“He’s not going to come in through the back door.If you want to stare out the window, you should go to the living room.”
Ryan grimaced.“Mom’s there with Alyssa.”
“Well, you should annoy them instead of me.”
“It’s just weird because he’s never been late.”
“Ryan, it happens to everyone.Hell, I can’t remember the last time Iwasn’tlate for something.”
“That’s because you have Alyssa.Seth doesn’t have a child.”
“No, but he has a family and friends.He lives with one of them, doesn’t he?”
“Thomas.”
“Well, maybe something happened with Thomas.”
“Seth would’ve called me.”
“Maybe Seth hasn’t had the opportunity to call you yet, or maybe he’s on his way here already.”
Ryan couldn’t help it—he glanced out the window again.Madeleine sighed and turned back to the sink, clearly done with him.Ryan was worried, though.
He didn’t have the same trust issues as Seth, but this wasn’t like Seth.Even if he was running late, why hadn’t he called, or at least texted?At the same time, Ryan didn’t want to start freaking out too badly.They were in pack territory.They were safe.
Madeleine was probably right.Seth loved his family, so if something had popped up with Thomas or any of the others, it would’ve been easy for him to focus on them and forget that he was supposed to meet Ryan.Ryan didn’t like it, but he’d do the same if Madeleine or Alyssa needed him.
He would just text Seth to warn him first.
