Page 133 of Big Bad Wolf

Rafe cursed low and fierce. “Sinclair.”

“Who’s that?”

“The Alpha to the Highland pack. A mean son of a bitch.”

“Wyatt said they need my talents. But I still think he was talking about Lena.”

“They’re not the smartest bunch.”

Ruby blew out a quiet laugh until she remembered what else Wyatt had said.

“I think Knox is involved somehow.” Her voice was small against the wind roaring outside. Tree branches scraped along the sides of the little hunting cabin.

Rafe rolled over, coming up onto his elbow to look at her. He looked ready to run off and strangle his brother at the mere mention of him. “Why do you say that?”

“Wyatt said the County pack was trying to make a deal. Knox wants to merge the packs and buy the land you all live on. But the Highlanders don’t trust him. It’s why they want a seer.”

He frowned. “That’s an insane plan.”

“Why is it insane? Wouldn’t it be a good thing to own the land? Then you can’t be kicked off of it. No one would be able to develop it.”

Rafe’s frown deepened. “We’ve despised each other for years, for centuries. And Knox thinks we can all just hold hands and live in harmony? That’s insane. But…”

“But?”

Rafe shook his head. “If he pulls it off, it might save us.”

He was quiet for a minute, considering. “I went to see Knox. He didn’t say anything about it.”

“He’s not telling you everything.”

“Clearly. And I don’t know where the hell he’s getting the money to buy land.”

“Me neither,” she said, tugging him closer. “But we’ll figure it out, okay?” Neither of them mentioned how Rafe killing several Highlanders might have destroyed Knox’s plan all together. If the Highlanders didn’t trust the County before, this sure as hell couldn’t have helped the relationship.

But that was a conversation for another day.

Rafe did what he had to do to protect her.

She wouldn’t fault him for it.

He grumbled and leaned down to kiss her, her lips, her neck, working his way down under the collar of the shirt she’d borrowed.

“I like you in my clothes,” he said, nuzzling against her skin. “You did up too many buttons, though,” he said, undoing several more.

“Hey!” she laughed, smacking his hand away. He grinned.

“You hungry?” he asked.

“I could eat.”

Rafe slipped his arms under her body as though he was trying to lift her again. Ruby squirmed from his grasp. “I can walk!”

Rafe kissed a line down her neck, murmuring against her skin. “If you insist.”

“I do. I do insist.” She swung her legs out of bed and followed Rafe to the kitchen, wearing his flannel shirt and nothing else. She sat at the small table, running her fingers over the smooth wood.

“Did you make this?” she asked as he pulled bread, bacon and veggies out of the refrigerator.