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“Kammie and I will leave in a few days.”
“Be sure to call before you come over next time,” Adam said.
Row growled in annoyance but said nothing. Dani stood quickly and came to them, hugging Row and then Kammie, enveloping them in the same peppermint smell Kammie had noticed in the woods. She found it odd, and kind of hilarious, that reindeer shifters smelled like peppermint. “Let me know when you’re heading home. I want to say goodbye.”
Row kissed Dani on the cheek and gathered Kammie close, ushering her out the door and into his truck. Within minutes, they were parked in front of the alphas’ home. A male stood on the front porch, and Kammie knew that there were other guards patrolling the home as well.
Row turned off the engine and leaned forward to look past Kammie. “Why are there males around your alphas’ home?”
“They’re protectors. They’re led by Sam, the theto of the pack. They patrol town, like a wolf police force, and also the alphas’ home.”
“Let’s get this over with,” Row said. He was agitated, but she didn’t know why. Once more she found herself tensing when he was upset, but she reminded herself that Row wouldn’t hurt her. He wasn’t like her uncle.
“Can I ask you about us going back to your home?”
He grinned sheepishly. “I guess I should’ve mentioned that before I blurted it out to my sister, huh?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m sorry. My bear wants to claim you, and that’s done in the sacred cave in my sleuth’s territory. We don’t have to go tomorrow, but I would like to take you home so you can meet my mom, too.” He brushed her hair behind her ear and it made her shiver. “I know your home is here, Kammie, and where you are is where I want to be.”
“The claiming is done in the cave, and it’s important to your beast. I understand. It’s okay with me as long as we can wait a few days?”
“Of course. There’s no rush.” He kissed her cheek. Then he got out and opened her door, giving her his hand so she didn’t slip on the icy sidewalk. When they got to the porch steps, Kammie looked up at Zander and said, “Zander, this is Row. We’d like to speak to Acksel and Brynn.”
Zander looked down at them, and Kammie could practically see the wheels turning in his mind as his gaze pinged between her and the huge male next to her. Row growled softly and edged closer to Kammie, wrapping his arms around her.
With a shrug Zander seemed to dismiss them, and turned to knock on the front door. Row seemed confused, but Kammie knew the truth of Zander’s dismissal. She wasn’t important enough in the pack for Zander to care about a strange male who had his hands on her. If she were one of the sought-after females, like Brynn’s best friend, Mia, he’d probably be tripping all over himself making sure that she was okay. Embarrassment flashed through her. It was easy for her to forget her place in the pack when it was just her and Row, but the truth was that she was very, very low-ranked and that meant that she only mattered in a roundabout way to the higher-ranked males. Unless ordered by the alphas, no one would check on her.
Row looked at her and bared his teeth in fury, his canines elongated as a light dusting of dark fur emerged from his skin. The door swung open just as Row leaped up the steps, grabbed Zander by the collar, and threw him off the porch. He hit the ground with a loud thud, the snow fluffing up around him.
“Don’t ever dismiss my mate,” Row bellowed. His fingers were tipped with thick, dark claws, and he wrapped his hands around the porch railing and leaped over it. Grabbing Kammie, he pulled her behind his back and glared at Acksel and Brynn, who stood shocked in the open doorway.
Zander stumbled to his feet as the other protectors raced around the house, claws extended and growls rumbling in their chests.
“What the ever-loving fuck is going on here?” Acksel demanded, shoving Brynn behind him.
Brynn slapped his shoulder and cradled her large belly with her other hand. “Don’t curse around the baby!”
Row’s chest heaved as he breathed, his rage making Kammie’s wolf anxious. She didn’t want anyone to be hurt, but she didn’t know how to defuse the situation. “Row, please.” She pressed her cheek against his back, feeling the heat of his skin through his shirt and jacket.
“No one acts as if you don’t matter,” he snarled, his body shaking with barely controlled anger. “You’re mine. Mine!”
Kammie peered around him at Acksel. Brynn, unlike her mate, was grinning broadly. “You found your mate? That’s so freaking awesome! Move, dang it,” she said as she pushed at Acksel.
“Woman,” Acksel ground out. “He’s a stranger.”
“Hell-o, he’s Kammie’s mate. And P.S., Zander is an asshole for baiting her mate anyway. I want him suspended from duty here.”
Zander cursed under his breath, and Kammie winced. She hadn’t meant to cause trouble. “Alphas, I’m sorry.”
Row growled, but she ignored him. “This is Row, and we came by to let you know he was here in town.”
Acksel finally let Brynn push him aside. “This is the brother of Adam’s mate, correct?” he asked as he grabbed Brynn and stopped her from leaving the house.
Kammie nodded.
Acksel looked around the yard and said, “Go back to your duties. Zander, check in with Sam for reassignment. You can beg forgiveness from the alpha female in a few days. I’d recommend chocolate.”
