“I mean you have brought home some veryfinemale specimens as of late, and honestly,” She paused and I knew it was because she was walking away from dad. “I’m not mad about it.Whew, he is probably the best looking so far.”
I set the water bottle down on the counter. There was no way I was going to be able to drink anything while on the phone with her. This time I didn’t even look at the werewolf in my kitchen. I turned on my heel and marched up the stairs. “Mom!”
She laughed and it released some tension in my shoulders. “I mean, you know it’s true.”
“Knox is just my friend.”
She let out a choked sound and I knew this conversation had to be over. “He even has a hot name.”
“I hope you’re enjoying your trip! I really need to take a shower.” But then I realized I said the wrong thing as I listened to my parents grapple with the phone.
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” My mom shouted as my dad grumbled something again.
“Not happening like that! Goodbye!” I practically threw the phone onto my bed as I scrubbed my hands down my face.
“It could though,” Knox’s voice behind me made me jump but instead of away from him, I jumped toward him and all wolf instincts took over. I swung at his face and he ducked it easily. “But you still smell like the rogue. Maybe I’ll join you after his scent is gone.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and slammed the door in his face. “Are all wolves arrogant like this?”
Chapter 48
Rafe Crimson
“Absolutely not,” I growled at my best friend. Knox had returned to the pack lands after he checked the perimeter of Jade’s house when she was tucked in bed. My patrol shift was about to start even though my Guardians didn’t like that at all. They preferred to be the ones on the front line, especially with how many rogues seemed to be prowling around our town. There had never been so many. I didn’t know where they could be coming from.
Mav leaned against the wall and shook his head. “Knox is right, her anxiety and stress are high. I went with her to the store the other day. Jade needs some stress relief.”
I pressed my tongue to the inside of my cheek and looked back at Knox. I knew he would tread carefully but he had the highest body count out of all of us. He would pursue her even if they weren’t mates. “Is your idea of stress relief what I think it is?”
Knox ran his tongue over his teeth as he lifted an eyebrow. “If that’s what you need from me, Alpha.”
It took every ounce of willpower in my body to not launch myself at him and rip the smirk from his face. I took a deep breath and paced across the room instead. “Does anyone else have a better idea?”
Mav’s lips pulled away from his teeth in a timid smile. “Maybe we could take her downtown.”
Between him and Knox, they knew her better than I did. Which was my fault. I could have gotten to know her better, but I apparently had my head stuck in my ass, as Tracey said. “Why would you do that?”
Knox shrugged his massive shoulders. “She liked to party, right? She told me the last thing she wanted to do was party but maybe some karaoke would do her some good.”
It was Tracey’s turn to put forth input. “And who would bring her? Last time the guys went downtown for karaoke, there were several bar fights and none of you can sing to save your life.”
Knox rolled his eyes. “You must be tone-deaf. My voice is magical.”
Tracey snorted. “It’syouthat is tone-deaf.”
“Tracey is right,” I ran my hands through my hair. “If you take her downtown, you aren’t allowed to get rowdy.”
Mav looked disappointed and Knox looked entirely too smug. “We aren’t going downtown without you, Alpha.” That was why Knox looked smug and Mav looked disappointed. My best friend broke away from the wall as he continued to speak. “You want her to swear to our pack before the rogues get her, you’ll have to go with us.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and looked to Tracey for some help. She shook her head. She wasn’t going to get in the middle of this.
“Fine, but I’m not wearing matching outfits with the rest of you.” I knew my words were useless as Mav grinned.
Chapter 49
Jade Rivers
Nalia wanted me to get out of bed but that was the last thing I wanted to do. The semester was almost over and the classes I had for the day weren’t entirely important. I had hardly slept the night before and even though the sun was shining into my bedroom, all I wanted to do was go back to sleep.
