Page 42 of New Blood

Yeah, that’s how bad he had it. After their encounter in the woods the previous night, it was all he’d been able to think of. He’d barely been able to get through the finance meeting with Violet, and when his brother and Francisco had returned from Montana, he’d only had eyes for Danielle. And Danielle had barely looked at him, evidently too engrossed in cooing over Wendell and his cat. He made a mental note to tell Wendell that Danielle was off-limits. He couldn’t have anybody encroach on his territory.

Fuck!

He ran a hand through his damp hair, letting out a frustrated groan. Why had Danielle not spoken to him today? From what he could tell, she’d tidied up his bathroom and made his bed sometime during the day. Had she maybe tried to catch him alone, and she’d just been too busy with her duties to seek him out? Maybe she was waiting for him right now. He knew where her room was. Parker had made a floor plan of the house that indicated who occupied each room just like he’d ordered. So what was he waiting for? For her to make the first move?

He shook his head. No, she wouldn’t do that. He was the alpha. Maybe she was intimidated by his position, and that’s why she’d said that they shouldn’t do this again. Surely, she’d said it to give him an easy way out in case he didn’t want to continue their… well, whatever this was. And like an idiot, he’d agreed by remaining silent on the subject. Why hadn’t he protested right there and then? He should have made it clear to her that after making love to her in the woods, the thought of touching Eve—or any other woman for that matter—was revolting.

Was Danielle in her bed right now, hoping that he would come to her? Was she waiting for him?

“Fuck it,” he ground out and marched toward the door when he realized that he was still wearing only the damp towel.

He went back into his bathroom and tossed the towel over the shower rail. In the bedroom, he snatched his pajama pants from the bed and slipped them on, when there was a knock at the door. Before he could reply, the door was ripped open.

Austin barged in, dragging Danielle and a rather large backpack with him. He closed the door behind him and tossed the backpack on the floor, but didn’t remove his hand from Danielle’s upper arm.

Jude stared at both of them, confused. Why the hell was his brother bringing Danielle to his bedroom in the middle of the night, and why did she look so utterly pissed off?

“What the—”

“Guess who tried to sneak out in the middle of the night?” Austin pointed to the backpack. “With a bunch of money in her luggage. Lots of cash, maybe fifteen to twenty-five thousand. Looks like theft to me.”

“That’s my money. I didn’t steal anything!” Danielle growled and kicked Austin in the shin so hard that he finally dropped his hold on her arm. “And you had no right to stop me from leaving!”

He’d never seen her so angry.

When Austin opened his mouth, evidently to let an insult roll over his lips, Jude stopped him by lifting a hand.

“Leave this with me. I’ll handle it.”

“You sure? I can stay. Who knows what else she’s got up her sleeve.”

“Better not, Austin. I can see that you’re only riling her up even more. Good night, bro.”

Austin shrugged and headed for the door. When he finally left and closed the door behind him, Jude turned back to Danielle.

“Care to explain to me why you’re leaving in the middle of the night?” He tapped his foot against the backpack. “Going camping?”

She looked at him with a defiant glare. “That’s nobody’s business.”

She might as well have slapped him in the face, because that’s what her words felt like.

“I disagree. It is my business. You’re part of my pack; you swore an oath to me last night.”

And she’d done considerably more when they’d made love, but he wasn’t going to throw that in her face right now. Not unless he had to.

“So, why are you leaving?”

“This pack is just not the right fit for me.”

She sounded like she was quitting a job she hated. “Bullshit. The pack is still the same; only the leadership has changed. So what you’re saying is that you’re leaving because of me.”

“You should be happy about it.”

“Happy?” That emotion was the furthest from what he felt right now. “Why the fuck would I be happy if you left?”

She clamped her jaw shut, anger rolling off her entire body.

“Damn it, Danielle, out with it!” He took another step closer. “Or I’m gonna fuck it out of you.”