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“I told Peter I would look into things. Your siblings—”
“Stop.” The harsh rasp of his voice makes my mouth snap closed, my teeth clashing painfully from the force. “Don’t look into my family. I didn’t ask you to do that, and Peter has no business asking you for anything.”
“He didn’t ask. I offered.”
“That’s even worse.” He rubs a hand over his face. He still hasn’t managed to find a shirt despite having found pants, so his abs flex as he groans. Not that I notice.
“Look, I happen to think family is important. Sometimes it’s the only thing we have. If you don’t care about your siblings that’s fine, but there are other people in your family that want to be united. It really has nothing to do with you unless you want to get involved.” It’s a weak argument, even to my own ears, but I hate that he’s getting worked up about this.
“Of course it has to do with me. It’s my family.” He works his jaw back and forth, clearly trying to keep his temper reined in.
“It’s not just your family, Paxton. It’s also Peter’s and Poppy’s, and both of them want to know what happened when your parents abandoned the Wild Bend Pack. They want to know what happened to your youngest siblings, and I think they deserve that. So it’s my job as Luna Sovereign to give that to them—whether you like it or not.”
His expression softens slightly, his lips parting. I can tell he wants to say something, but he can’t seem to spit it out.
“What, Paxton?” It comes out a little sharper than I intended.
“Did Peter talk to you about Poppy? You didn’t see her, did you?” There’s a sad hopefulness to the squint of his eyes. Maybe he can pretend he enjoys being hands-off with his family, but the interest in Poppy tells me otherwise. He might not stay close to them, but he cares about them. It’s a start, and it makes me think there’s something bigger here that I can work on fixing.
“No, I didn’t,” I answer after a pause, wishing I had more information now that I know he’s interested. “I’m sorry. Peter only mentioned she’s been trying to track the little ones and not having a lot of luck. I felt like I owed him something yesterday, but he wouldn’t agree to stay with Dominic and Tess. He seemed pretty fond of Poppy, so I offered to help.”
He strolls further into the office, invading my space in a way I’m starting to realize is quintessentially him. He stands so close to the desk chair I’m sitting in that my elbow brushes his leg. When he speaks this time, he lowers his voice as if that will keep him from giving away how invested he really is.
“Poppy was so fragile and emotional as a pup that when all of us started splitting off, Peter left with her to try to keep an eye on her. She’s the only one we really worried about holding her own. I’m not surprised she’s been looking for other siblings. If they do exist, she’ll want to protect them.”
“You’re not convinced they’re real?” Knowing that Poppy and I share a protective instinct only makes me more desperate to help her. I’m surprised Paxton seems so skeptical about their existence, though. Don’t rumors always tend to start from some sliver of truth?
He shrugs his shoulders, the back of his hand brushing my arm and making goosebumps break out from the unintentional graze. I try not to think about how easily I react to his touch. “There’s only ever been rumors. I’m not sure where my parents would have been able to hide more kids when every shifter in the country was looking for them.”
“Hmm.” It’s an oddly specific rumor.
His thumb runs across my shoulder, and this time it’s obvious he’s touching me on purpose. The realization makes my heart leap into my throat. “What are you doing?” I whisper. Why am I whispering? I clear my throat. “Did you say you cooked dinner?”
“That’s what I said.” His lips twitch like he’s fighting a smile. He looks awfully proud of himself.
I hadn’t even realized it was dinner time already. “I could have cooked.”
Paxton wraps his fingers around my chin and tugs my head up so that I have no choice but to look at him instead of staring down at the closed book in front of me. His full attention is on me, dark eyes locked on mine. I give him mine as well.
“I’m perfectly capable of cooking, sweetheart. You were busy.” His full lips tilt up into a teasing smile. He looks handsome like this, the big brutish tattooed man offering an easy smile.
Don’t swoon, Tasha.
Don’t give in to Stockholm Syndrome just because the guy did something unexpectedly thoughtful.
Jimmy never cooked.It’s such a petty thought that I fully block my wolf out for the first time maybe ever. I don’t want to hear anything else she has to say after that comment. I jerk my chin out of Paxton’s grip and shove out of the chair abruptly. His eyes widen as I try to push past him. He catches me easily around the waist, pulling me against his hard chest when all I want is to be far, far away from him.
“Woah. What just happened?”
“Nothing. Let go of me.” My voice is hoarse as I struggle to not release the sob that’s building in my throat. “Let go, Paxton.”
He releases a frustrated growl that fills the room. I answer with a surprised squeak as he picks me up like I’m nothing and throws me over his shoulder. I slap at his back to no avail. I want him to put me down and stop touching me and stop…confusing me.
“Where are we going?” I stop hitting him and lay my hands flat against his back to steady myself as he lurches forward, carrying me out of the room.
“I told you.” He strides with long steps down the hall and turns into the kitchen. “I fixed dinner. Now you’re going to eat it, and then hopefully you’ll tell me what the hell just happened to upset you.” His tone brooks no argument, but I search for one anyway. My wolf’s comment has put me on the defensive.
He deposits me easily into a chair at the kitchen table, the smell of rosemary teasing the air. I would appreciate the scent more if my stomach wasn’t turning uneasily. I’m desperate to start a fight with Paxton, anything to keep my distance. I’m not ready to let go of my grief, and I hate that my wolf is trying to push me.
