“What are you saying?” Jessie demanded, glaring at him. No damned way she’d tolerate them doing—what? Kade had suggested the solutions were sometimes nasty.
“I’m not saying anything, yet,” he continued. “But if we have to stop her, we will.”
The words made ice travel down Jessie’s spine, but Neil’s expression revealed his conflict.
“It’s too soon for that.” Cara smoothed her hands over her thighs. “I’ll try talking to her later. Right now, can you run through the change again for Jessie?”
Neil nodded and started with his hands.
Jessie understood the Were’s concern. Laura going through her shift in the middle of an unknowing human population couldn’t be allowed to happen. But the woman wasn’t here of her own free will. Braden was to blame, not Laura. That she might end up paying the ultimate price wasn’t fair.
Jessie swallowed and watched closely as Neil began the change. She was determined to be one of the lucky ones. If it took anger to get her through to the other side, she’d use it.
There was no shortage of things to be angry about.
25
Out here, riding through the bushes along the back of his property, Zach could almost believe the last few weeks hadn’t happened. But the conversation he’d had with Wanda this morning proved that even after this was over, his life would never be the same.
He was officially jobless. Zach doubted that would be his only negative takeaway from all this. If his help got Jessie safely through this nightmare, it would all be worth it.
Spike trotted along ahead of Tucker, nose to the ground. Tracking. Zach had no doubt the Weres had been down this trail many times while out on patrol.
Tucker believed it. He was nervous as hell. Snorting and flinching at the breeze moving the leaves, or the birds flitting through the bushes. Still, being on the horse felt great. Or at least it did until Tucker did a massive spook that came close to dumping Zach clear off his back. Especially when the horse followed it up by standing straight up on his hind legs.
Zach managed to sit that too, as well as the attempted bolt back down the trail. He hauled hard on the reins, sat deep in the saddle, swallowed his frustration, and projected calming thoughts at Tucker.
Eventually the horse subsided to merely dancing on the spot.
Spike stood off to the side, snarling at the bushes.
“If you are going to show yourself, at least say something first,” Zach snapped.
“Um. I’m here.” A deep voice rumbled, and Kade rose from the bushes. In human form, thankfully. Although Tucker found that only marginally less alarming.
“Effinghell, Kade. Are you trying to get me killed?” Zach complained, reining the gelding in a tight circle. It was brutally hard to keep projecting calming thoughts when he was mightily pissed off. But his anger seemed to be helping the horse. He guessed anything was more reassuring than abject terror.
When Kade didn’t immediately reply, Zach glared at him. “Youweretrying to get me killed.”
“No, I wasn’t. Your horse is being stupid.”
“Lurking in bushes is typical wolf behavior. I don’t blame him for being nervous.”
“Well, it was well ridden,” Kade grudgingly admitted, for once ignoring the wolf comment. “Including the Lone Ranger move.”
“When the choice is hitting the dirt hard, you tend to cling like a barnacle,” Zach pointed out. He reached to pat Tucker’s sweaty neck. Why are you out here lurking in the bushes?”
The big Were glared at him. “I’m not lurking. I’m on patrol.”
“Well, you can stop patrolling around me. And if you’re naked, I’d rather you remained standing in that bush.” He glanced at the underbrush then back at Kade. “Do Werewolves get poison ivy?”
Kade’s brows lowered until he glowered at Zach. “No. Why?”
“You’re standing crotch deep in it.”
When the Were continued to glare, Zach sighed. “Why are you out here?”
Kade’s lips had peeled back from his teeth as he looked down at the foliage. “When I saw you heading out, I figured this was the best way to have a private conversation.”
