Page 103 of Big Bad Wolf

Rafe ran a hand down his face, the rasp of his stubble filling the cramped space. Ruby longed for a simpler time when all she had wanted was the feel of that stubble between her thighs. A time before werewolf politics were a concern to her.

“What I don’t get is why they would risk attacking a human,” Knox said, gesturing at Ruby with his beer bottle. “What’s so special about her?”

The air in the tiny house changed and whatever tentative peace the men had shared evaporated in an instant.

“Everything,” Rafe growled.

Knox rolled his eyes. “Fuck, Rafe. When will you learn?”

“Ruby, go wait outside.” Rafe didn’t even glance at her as he gave the command.

“But … no. What about Lena? We didn’t get to ask⁠—”

“Go,” Rafe snapped.

Ruby bit down on the spike of pain his words sent through her. She swallowed her hurt and her tears and got up from the table.

“Fine.” She stomped out of the stale trailer air and perched on the top step outside the door. Fucking werewolves. One minute he says she’s perfect and the next he’s barking orders. Rafe had more mood swings than a premenstrual teenager during a chocolate shortage.

He was clearly an asshole.

But she still hoped his brother didn’t kill him.

Chapter Forty-Two

“What the hell is going on with the human?”

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, loosening it from its tie. “It doesn’t matter.” He needed to get out of here. He needed to get back to Ruby.

“It clearly does matter if helping her brought you all the way back here,” Knox pointed out, still leaning against the counter. So still. So calm. But Rafe knew his brother. Once provoked, Knox was vicious and could shift in seconds.

But Rafe didn’t come here for a fight.

Even though his fists were curled at his side and his blood was screaming through his veins, begging him to let the beast out.

“She was in danger, so I wanted to help. That’s it.”

“Oh Rafe, always the hero.”

“Fuck you.”

“Well, fuck you too, little brother.” Knox threw back the rest of his beer and pushed away from the counter. The space was too small for two oversized men. The smell of sweat and beer filled Rafe’s nose. “You left me here to pick up the pieces.”

His brother’s words were more shocking than a punch to the face would have been. “And what should I have done?”

Knox shrugged, but his tone was anything but casual. “You could have stayed. You could have … helped.” Was that a flicker of uncertainty in his brother’s eyes? What the hell was that about?

“Devon would have never allowed it.”

Knox scoffed. “The old bastard had one foot in the grave. We never should have let him manipulate us for as long as he did. I’ll always be ashamed of that.”

Knox’s words hung between them. The truth of it. The shame of what they did to each other. Of what they’d allowed their father to do.

“I’m sure you’re doing a better job than he ever did.” Rafe cleared his throat. “Or than I could have done.”

Knox held his gaze a moment longer, his silver eyes seeing more than Rafe wanted him to. Rafe had the same eyes, the eyes they’d inherited from their father. But maybe those eyes could be where their father’s legacy ended. Maybe they could finally put the man to rest.

Knox glanced toward the door. “Tell me honestly, what’s the deal with the girl?”