Page 13 of The Enforcers: KANE

“Fine,” he said. “If it will keep you from telling me any more about your sex life, I’ll come and judge your stupid contest. But I can tell you right now, you’re not winning.”

He stomped inside and grabbed a t-shirt, and then followed Rafe down to the fire pit. On the folding tables they used for cookouts were four sculptures—yup, made entirely from empty beer cans. Shit. Didn’t these people have anything better to do with their time?

Kane strolled by each table, drinking his coffee. Mick, a gruff wolf in his forties, stood behind one shaped like a spaceship. Other pack members were drifting over, whispering among themselves, or talking to the guys who’d made the other two sculptures. What the fuck was Rafe up to?

The one next to Mick’s was a fairy-tale castle. Kind of impressive, actually—sort of like grown-up alcoholic Legos. There was also an airplane, and a—

He paused at the last table, where there was a strange arrangement of black beer cans alternating with silver. Some of them had been shredded. “What the hell is this supposed to be?” he asked.

“It’s a zebra,” Rafe said. “See the stripes? Only I couldn’t make it stand up right, so it’s a zebra lying down on the ground.” He paused. “A tired zebra.”

Facepalm. Kane couldn’t believe he’d been talked into wasting his time with this. “This is the worst sculpture I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Your mate is an artist, and you couldn’t come up with anything better?”

Rafe shrugged. “Terin was disqualified because she’s a professional. I was on my own.”

Kane looked from the pathetic zebra to Rafe’s wide-eyed gaze.

Rafe added, “See how I made the hooves solid by crushing the black beer cans with my bare hands?” He flexed his arms. “Terin thought it was very manly. And it was not easy feathering the aluminum for the mane. I deserve extra points for that.” He looked at his fingernails. “My wolf claws are gonna need a manicure.”

Despite his annoyance, Kane felt his lips start twitching, and a tiny snort escaped from him. The whole thing was too fucking ridiculous. Rafe was watching him, a hopeful expression on his face.

“You laughed,” he said.

“I did not,” Kane said. “I was trying not to puke, looking at this unbelievably poor excuse for an art project.”

“You did, you laughed,” Rafe crowed. “I win.”

“What? I didn’t even judge yet.”

“I know, but I won the bet. I bet I could make you laugh.”

“I didn’t laugh.”

“It was a laugh-snort. That counts.” He turned to Mick. “Pay up.”

Kane felt his blood pressure rising. They’d dragged him out of bed just to make fun of him and bet on the results? They were all assholes. If this was being “part of the gang,” they could keep it.

Mick shook his head. “It doesn’t count as a laugh unless he makes a laugh sound.”

Kane snarled, “What does it count as, if I shift and rip your head off?”

Rafe shook his head. “Don’t do that, man. If you go into a murderous rage instead of laughing, I’m pretty sure Mick wins the bet.”

Kane turned on him, his snarl twisting his lips. Fucking Rafe. His emotions were raw after last night, and he was in no mood. Wolf rose to the surface, clawing at him.

“Fuck off,” he said. “Why can’t you ever just leave me alone?”

He expected Rafe to get into it with him, like they always did, but he shrugged and put up his hands, taking a step back. “Fine, man. Shit. I didn’t mean anything.”

That wasn’t what Kane wanted. Wolf wanted to claw and bleed someone. And if he couldn’t do that, Kane wanted to beat the crap out of someone. Or get the crap beaten out of him. Anything so he could get rid of all these feelings. But Rafe was acting alpha while Jace was away, so challenging him was challenging the whole pack leadership.

“You never do,” he snapped. “You just keep saying stupid stuff. If Jace weren’t out of town and you weren’t acting alpha, I’d fucking bleed you.” He slammed the coffee down on the table and stalked away.

He was halfway back to his cabin when he felt a gentle touch on his arm. He flinched, then swung around to see Terin holding the travel mug. Her long, silvery-blond hair floated in the breeze. She was small and fine-boned for a wolf, but Kane knew she was tough, and fierce.

“Don’t mind Rafe,” she said in her soft voice. “He’s just trying to be friends.”

He looked down at her. Kane admired Terin. She’d been through a lot, like him, and she’d managed not to lose her goodness or her sense of humor. Which made her a better person than he was. She also put up with Rafe, and fuck only knew how she managed that. Or why she wanted to.