He pauses his approach, picking up on the fury I do nothing to suppress.
“Cory came for the girl,” he says instead. Like that explanation will validate the exchange I came upon.
Cory rolls to his knees where I tossed him, opens his mouth as if to speak, then wheezes and coughs up blood. Funny, I didn’t even throw him as hard as I could have. Although, from the looks of the guy, he was suffering some major blood loss before I even arrived.
“You bitch! What did you do to him?” a female wolf hisses, climbing from her bike and rushing to Cory’s side.
“Kicked him in the face,” Juliet spits back at the blonde, making my chest swell in pride. “And I’ll do it again if I get the chance!”
The wolf growls at my woman before trying to wrap her arms around Cory. But he doesn’t seem interested in her comfort, wheezing in a deep breath, spitting out another mouthful of blood, then shoving to his feet. His would-be defender struggles with a hurt frown before turning to glare with a deadly hatred at my librarian.
She’s one to watch.
“Get away from my mate.” Cory takes an unsteady step toward us.
LIAR, my wolf roars in silent rage at his possessive tone, scraping at the inside of my skin to be let loose.
This is the man who made our Juliet fear wolves. And now he tries to claim her?
He’ll be lucky if he survives this encounter.
“Everyone here can tell that Juliet is not mated to you or anyone.” My voice is deep, steady, and reveals none of my murderous urges. “She is her own woman.”
Pine Falls wolves begin to arrive, parking just outside the circle of Bear Valley bikers. From the way Mick’s wolves fidget and glance over their shoulders, it’s clear they’re not happy, having a threat at their back.
But if the Bear Valley alpha is wary, he doesn’t show it. As a pack leader, I understand that.
The guy hooks his thumbs in his pockets and gives me a look like he’s pitying me.
“I’m sorry to be the one to reveal this to you, Jameson, but you have a liar living in your town. You said she calls herself Juliet?” The leader shakes his head with a rueful smile. “Her real name is Abby Green. She’s from Bear Valley, and she made certain promises to my beta here.”
Abby Green.The name trails over my mind, but doesn’t solidify.
If she wants me to call her Abby from now on, I will. But I’ll always think of her as Juliet.
“Doesn’t matter what her past is.” As I speak, I hold Juliet’s sharp green gaze. These words are for her more than anyone else. “She’s in Pine Falls now.”
Then I shift my body to shield hers, making it clear my position in all of this.
“See now, there’s the problem.” Mick waves his hand around us. “We’re not in your territory. You crossed that line a good half a mile back. This is no-man’s land. My second has a claim. A longer-standing one than you do.”
Juliet leans around me, glaring at the alpha. “I’m not an item someone can call dibs on!”
He shrugs. “Close enough to it.”
It seems Mick’s observation enrages Juliet to the point of being unable to speak. She gapes at him, hatred in her eyes.
Both my wolf and I want to destroy the man for her.
Still, I try to remind myself that I am, in fact, a pack leader, who needs to maintain some control of this situation to avoid putting everyone I’m responsible for at risk. Even though I’d much rather go feral and rip out some jugulars. Lay waste to all these Bear Valley fuckers.
Yes. Do that.
Instead, I maintain a modicum of self-control. If a fight breaks out, I might be able to kill my targets, but there’s no guarantee Juliet would make it out of the mayhem unscathed, and her safety is my priority.
“Humans have as much right to their choices as wolves do. She will not be owned. By anyone.” My hope is Juliet realizes I’m not trying to do anything more than protect her freedom.
With his pack leader drawing my attention, Cory dodges around me, managing to wrap his hand around Juliet’s biceps.
