I recognized the anger brewing in my older brother’s features. “Cheyenne, it was great of you to walk with me. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“Sure thing. Maybe we can go out again. If your man is there, he will let you. Heck, he can come along. We can do shots off of him next time.” She slid into her car, unaware of the wolf who was barely keeping hold of himself.
I held Shaw’s arm while Xan looked on in amusement. We watched the little silver sports car speed down the narrow parking garage.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Shaw?” I stared after my friend, then looked at my brother.
My brother cracked his neck. “I don’t know. There’s something about her.”
“Get your head on straight. If you want to pursue her, then do it, but don’t get all growly on her, or you’ll screw it up. She’s human, Shaw.” I walked to the bike Xan drove.
“I know she’s fucking human.”
Xan growled. “Don’t talk to my mate like that. I don’t give two fucks that she’s your sister. She’s my mate, and you will respect her. Got me?”
“It’s okay, Xan.” I touched my mate’s chest.
“No, he’s right. I’m sorry, sis. Give me your keys and go ride with Xan. I’ll get your baby home safely. I’ll even keep it under a hundred.” He grinned at me, reminding me of the brother I loved.
A black Lexus drove past. Its dark windows hid the driver, but I knew it was the doctor. I shivered.
“Who’s that?” Xan asked.
I explained about the doctor. All of a sudden, I had two pissed-off wolves growling, making me roll my eyes. “All right, boys, enough. Let’s roll.”
In Xan’s bags, I found the things I needed and had them on in minutes. We followed behind Shaw as we exited, the red Cobra’s engine purring at the light as Xan pulled beside him. I saw the gleam in my brother’s gaze and prepared for what was to come. When the light turned green, my car shot forward, and I watched as he did indeed try to reach the hundred-mile-an-hour mark once we reached the highway.
“Your brother is a crazy wolf. You do realize that, don’t you?” Xan asked through the mic in our helmets.
“Parker is the sane one,” I agreed.
I slammed my fist into the heavy bag. The tape wrapped around my knuckles was dripping crimson, and still I pummeled away. Spinning, I kicked with all my might, sending it soaring across the room.
“What the hell did that thing ever do to you?” Laikyn O’Neil asked.
My balls tightened at the sound of her husky voice, drawing up at the mere slip of a thing. “What’s brought you here, Lake?” I asked.
The brutal punch of awareness I received any time she came within a mile made me angry. I walked over to the black bag lying across the room, picked it up with ease, and set it against the wall. Her breath catching made me glance over my shoulder.
“What?” I growled.
“You’re hurt.” She closed the distance between us, grabbing my hands in hers. The difference in our sizes was startling as I looked down at her pale fingers running over my dark, callused palms. It didn’t make sense why she should care. I was a prick of the first order. Especially to her.
I tried to jerk my hands away, but she held firm. In order to truly break free, I’d have to hurt her, and I refused to cause any true harm to her. Hell, I didn’t understand the why of it, only that it was imperative to get her out of my vicinity, without any true damage to her person. Her heart didn’t count. In the end, I knew I’d destroy that if she allowed me.
She glanced up at me. “Come on, let me tend these before I leave.”
My gut clenched. She was leaving, just as I wanted. Not wanted—needed. It was all the same to me. In my mind, I couldn’t have her near me without having her under me, without breaking her. She deserved better, and I wasn’t better. She was all things good, while I was all things bad. If I hadn’t learned that two years ago, then she should have.
“I don’t need you, Laikyn. These will heal on their own. A shift and I’ll be as good as new.”
“What about the other?” She stared down at the visible hard-on straining against my sweats.
“There are a dozen women who know the score inside the club. All I gotta do is snap my finger,” I snapped my bruised fingers before continuing, “and there will be chicks lining up to ease me. Do you want to sign up for one of the positions?”
A light dimmed in her too-gorgeous eyes. “I’m sure you’re right, Kellen. You have a good life, now, you hear.”
Why did that sound so final? My arm shot out to demand answers, but she jumped away from my touch.
