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“I’m not doing it, Ash, and I’m not letting you do it, either, so deal with it.”
It took her a moment to realize whatitwas, and she was surprised to hear him admit he wouldn’t be forcing a claim on her or vice versa. Perhaps he hadn’t even told Ashley about his suspicions regarding her claim on Rey.
“You don’t get to decide that!”
“He’s the boss, he gets to decide everything.”
A new voice, low in timbre and volume, made that statement in a roughened growl full of rusted iron.
“He’s not the boss of me,” Ashley snarled.
“While you’re in my territory and under my protection you are. Or did you want to go take your chances out there?” Max was calm, matter of fact. For an Alpha, he seemed to have a good deal of control over his anger.
In another life, in another time, Devin could have seen the appeal. He wasn’t hideous, with a fit, athletic body that showed hours of hard labor in the thick muscles lining his arms and chest, heavy legs capable of endurance and power both. The russet-brown of his hair was a little too long and stuck up at odd angles when he woke, and it tended to be redder in the light, the hazel of his eyes a burst of green with a halo of deep amber around the pupil. He was beautiful in a rough and ragged sort of way.
Not the smooth exquisiteness of Beau, and not the refined rawness of Rey, but not at all bad.
Dragging herself from insipid thoughts, sure it was nothing more than primal instincts thinking anything of the sort, she leaned closer to the door.
“I’m family, Max—”
“Which is the only reason I haven’t tossed you out on your ass. You didn’t want to get your pretty hands dirty, so you made me out to be the devil here. Now that she hasn’t chosen you, you want me to make her do it. It’s not happening.”
“Max, she needs an Alpha—”
“And that won’t be you.”
Devin swallowed her shriek as the door opened so fast it sent her stumbling backwards, tripping over the long line of the blankets trailing behind her to send her plummeting to the ground. There was flash of Ashley’s furious, pale face and a bearded, craggy rock of a man before Max shut the door with authority.
He looked down at Devin, his controlled breaths giving way to something faster, rough as he watched her scramble up to her feet. The dishes on the tray clattered as if a shiver ran down his arm, the wide-eyed predatory gaze watching her with intent interest as Devin backed away to the couch.
Suddenly her sandwich and soup did not sit well at all.
“I’m still hungry,” Devin spat into the tense silence as Max continued to stare. She wasn’t anymore, not as the strain continued to build through the room to suffocate her, but she would die before admitting that.
Snapping out of whatever held him, Max came and sat at the far end of the couch. Tray set down with a too loud bang, he seemed to grimace at his loss of control.
Too late to take back the lie, Devin perched on the edge of the cushion further away from him and slid the tray closer. Another grilled cheese, chicken broth replacing the tomato soup from before. A turkey sandwich, a swirl of pasta and sauce. Vegetables stacked high on another plate with crusty rolls and a pat of smooth butter. There was a little of everything and more than enough for her to sate her earlier hunger, but Devin’s fork wavered over the offering.
“Could you… um…” Devin stumbled over the words, wondering if that had been the reason all along.
Max nodded once, signifying he knew what she asked for. In the next breath, he began to purr once more.
Appetite returning the longer he made the sound, Devin dug in. She ignored him from feet away, putting away the food with methodical precision. Before she realized it, everything on the tray was gone.
“Still hungry? I think we might have a kitchen sink,” Max said with a quiet chuckle. Sprawled against the side of the couch, he kept his hands to himself this time.
“Maybe later.” Devin snorted a laugh, her cheeks warming as she curled back up under the blankets she’d shrugged away while so involved in the food.
“Look at me.”
The words were quiet but demanded obedience. All the amusement drained from Devin as he remained silent, waiting for her to comply. It was in her mind to deny him, but she gave in before the thought fully formed. Turning her gaze to meet his curious eyes, she swallowed hard.
Everything about him remained neutral. No hint of his earlier emotions, none of the heat from his insistent touch from before. Not even the gentle purr was present as he watched her for a long moment.
“Give me three days. Three days to convince you that I could make you happy and if you don’t agree at the end of it, I’ll send you on your way.” Reasonable, confident but not the arrogant Alpha cockiness she was used to.
“I know I won’t change my mind.”
