Kellen stared at me with an unreadable expression, then blinked. “Syn isn’t happy. I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I don’t know how to fix it, and I got too much shit going down to deal with her, and everything else around here. I yelled at her.” He scrubbed both hands down his face.
“You know who the best wolf to protect her is?” I asked, knowing Kellen knew the answer.
The alpha pinched the bridge of his nose, a war waging in the eyes staring back at me. “I’m not ready for that shit, yet.”
“She’s the same age as Lyric,” I informed him, waiting for the explosion.
Bodhi Underwood was more than Rowan had been before his transformation. He was a thirty-three-year-old shifter with speed and cunning in both his human and wolf forms. He dyed his naturally dark hair blond, kept the sides shaved, spiked the top, had more tattoos than most of us, and always, always had more than one woman. I understood why Kellen didn’t want his baby sister hooking up with the wolf, but sometimes Mother Nature had other plans. Not to mention, Bodhi could hear others’ thoughts even when they weren’t pack, making him indispensable, and one of the most valuable members in the coming war. Still, as a brother, you don’t want your only sister mated to a man who has issues with monogamy.
“Bodhi isn’t stupid, man. He wouldn’t fuck with Syn if he weren’t prepared to mate her.”
Kellen blew out a hard breath. “His wolf may be telling him one thing, but man and cock may have other things to say.”
I could hear my best friend grinding his teeth. Lifting the half-full bottle, I poured us each another glass. “Don’t borrow trouble, brother.”
“I’ll kill him, Xan.” Kellen sat back in his leather chair, staring over at the door leading out to the club. “If he hurts my sister, I’ll rip his head off and shit down his throat, then I’ll bury the body so deep, even the damn coyotes won’t find it,” he muttered softly.
I shook my head. “No, you won’t. You know your sis would cut your nuts off. Besides, we may be wrong. I mean, he is like a mother hen to all the ladies.”
“I don’t know a mother who does what he does to them chicks. Do you?” He laughed.
Kellen stared at me for a moment. “Shit, you’re a dirty bastard.”
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. A mama weans her chicks off their milk within a year. He’s getting women hooked on his milk when they’re old enough to be legal.”
Kellen chuckled, then sobered. “My sister is not going to be another one of his notches. Feel me?”
“I get you, but I promise you this...you don’t want to stick your nose in her business. Look, trust your sis. You’ve done a hell of a job raising her to do the right thing. Bodhi is a fine wolf, and a man I would trust my life with, and my mate’s. You don’t want to alienate him by being a dumbass. Just chill and let shit happen. If you are needed to pick up the pieces, or kick some ass, you know I’ve got your back.” And I would, but I didn’t think it would come to that.
“Let’s move on to more pressing matters, like the fact your mate is a target. Rowan’s men just called before you showed up. They didn’t want to say over the phone, but it seems they have some Intel, whatever the hell that means. They’ll be here in about,” I looked at the clock before continuing, “fifteen minutes. I don’t know if you want her to hear what they have to say or wait until after. It’s up to you, but again, since I’m not mated, I’ll let you decide.”
Kellen shuddered, as if being mated was a bad thing. Breezy. My mate was my soul. She tore down my defenses and rebuilt them. Made me a better man, a better wolf. I’d kill for her and know deep in my bones she’d do the same for me.
“Let’s see what they have to say first.” He propped his ankle on one knee.
We didn’t have long to wait. The camera from outside captured the moment the military-style vehicles pulled up, long before they requested entrance. Kayan came in first, his dark hair mussed from too many times he’d run his hands throughit. His expression was darker than the last time I’d seen him. Oz and Coyle followed, but Sully and Tay were nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s the rest of your team?” Kellen looked toward the closed door.
“They’ve got a few things to do and secure before coming in,” Kayan’s deep voice rumbled.
A knock on the door had the three soldiers turning as one, arms lifting with practiced ease. I raised an eyebrow. “At ease, men. It’s just Rowan and Lyric.” I pointed at the live feed above the frame. It took a minute for me to realize I hadn’t seen or heard any of them remove the large weapons they had pointed.
“You planning on killing anything and everyone who walks through that door, boys?” My wolf didn’t like the thought of my mate accidentally being shot.
Oz scoffed. “We ain’t new to this, wolf. Take a chill pill and relax. Besides, we’ve worked with others.” He folded his arms over his chest. The short-cropped red hair glinted in the overhead lights. Why did I get the impression the team Rowan had been part of was indeed more than met the eye? I inhaled, smelling only human men before me.
“Don’t worry your big head, bro. We’re the serve-and-protect ones. Your family has become ours, due to Rowan.”
Rowan chuckled. “That is scary in itself.” He and Lyric took a seat on the sofa. The instinctive need to control and protect my own baby sis was easing now that she had her own mate. Sure, Lyric was full of the Carmichael arrogance that my own mate accused me of, but the man who held my sister so lovingly was up for the task.
“Are we waiting for the rest of the team before you fill us in, or what?” Rowan asked, impatience filling his voice.
“You got somewhere to be, Rowan?” Kayan looked at his former teammate.
I watched, anticipating a fight. Lyric stilled. Her breath came out in a slow rush. “It’s that time for me, and it’s making him antsy.” Her fingers gripping her mate’s thighs looked painful.
Shit! She was in heat, which, if I was right, meant my mate was going into her cycle as well. Which would explain a lot. The constant need to be inside her, mark her. Even now, my mind kept thinking of how she’d look tied to a bed, while I had her on all fours. I pictured my hand leaving her lush ass a nice, rosy hue.
