For fuck’s sake, she had five mates!
She shouldn’t be panting after another man.
In front of them.
What the hell was wrong with her?!
She was just lucky that they hadn’t tried to rip out his throat. She felt queasy even at the thought and vowed to avoid Caedmon at all costs.
With that plan firmly in mind, she smiled at the rest of the guys, allowing her blades to melt back down to benign jewelry once again. “Oh, it went about as well as we expected.”
“Trap?” Kincade sauntered farther into the room, his eyes sweeping over her as he checked her for injuries.
Morgan just nodded. “Trap.”
Draven scowled at them both and crossed his arms. “Why the hell would you go if you were expecting a trap? Do you know how dangerous?—”
“They had no choice,” Atlas interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he gazed between her and Caedmon, and her heart squeezed inpanic. “If they didn’t go, the wolves would’ve had cause and could demand she be placed under their control.”
Growls echoed around the room from a number of places, and she shivered at the thought of being forced back to the Assembly.
“They already tried to assert their claim.” Ryder spoke through his fangs, his words emerging jumbled. He shuffled closer, his breath brushing the back of her neck. “But they seemed more interested in theloup garouthan her.”
“They flat out told us that they will take what they want from us…dead or alive.” Morgan ignored the guys when they stomped around and swore, something about the meeting nagging at her, and she frowned. “They’re desperate. I think something has gone wrong with the packs.”
She twisted and glanced up at Ryder, hating that she had to ask. “Is there someone you know who you could ask? Someone that you trust? The last thing I wanted to do is put you in any danger, but I very much doubt this is over. I don’t want to be ambushed again.”
“Maybe.” Ryder pursed his lips, his rich whisky eyes warm as he gazed down at her. “The Assembly doesn’t pay much attention to lone wolves. They’re beneath notice, just a step above feral.”
When he made to step toward the desk, she placed a hand on his chest, halting him. “Be careful. If anything seems off, hang up.”
He covered her hand with his, pressing it against his chest. Then he dipped down and gave her a quick, bruising kiss. She wobbled a little when he released her. As he swaggered away, she touched her lips, gazing after him in confusion.
He had to have seen what happened between her and Caedmon.
Right?
As the silence stretched in the room, the hair on the back of her neck lifted, and she hunched her shoulders. Holding back a wince, she slowly spun to face the others.
And completely avoided the subject like a champ. “What happened here while we were gone?”
There was a heartbeat of silence as the guys glanced at each other, silently communicating, and damned if it didn’t look like they included Caedmon in their super-secret chat, the wankers.
A scrambling of paws echoed through the foyer seconds before Loki careened around the corner. He plowed into the doorjamb, rebounded off of it and shot into the room like a bullet.
He somehow managed to knock into everyone as he barreled toward her. Draven barely managed to grab ahold of the beast’s tail until he was being pulled behind him like he was riding a pair of water skis.
The shocked expression on his face was priceless, and she could’ve kissed the big lug for the distraction. When Loki reached her, he promptly sat…sending Draven backpedaling until he landed on his ass. Loki stared up at her, completely oblivious, his hiney wiggling for attention, and she gave into temptation by leaning over to kiss his snout.
As a distraction, it was excellent, and the guys completely forgot the tension in the room…she hoped.
Kincade ran a hand over his jaw, smothering his laughter as he answered her question. “We’ve managed to strip and clear out the neighboring house. MacGregor and Mistress McKay have claimed it for their own. Along with a few of the wolves.”
Draven muttered a few inventive curses as he shoved to his feet, dusting off his ass as he scowled down at the mutt. Not the least bit intimidated, the beast melted at her feet with a groan, and Morgan couldn’t resist crouching down to scratch his stomach, his hind legs wheeling with each stroke.
Kincade coughed into his fist, which did nothing to disguise his chuckle. When Draven cast him a look that promised retribution, he got back to business. “MacGregor is already whipping the pack into shape, while McKay has begun organizing who gets what houses and the order they need othersto be built. The construction crew has already been hired and will show up tomorrow.”
Morgan chuckled and raised her eyebrows as she rose back to her feet. “Why am I not surprised?”
