Page 94 of Wolf's Endgame

Her lower lip trembled, and then she was crying, which made her sister cry, and I had no idea why or what to do, so I looked helplessly at Hannah, who was also fighting back tears.

Luna’s grace, this was not a situation I should be in front of. I had no people skills at all.

“Hey, who’s crying?” Nikan scooped the youngster into his arms and bounced her into his arms. “Why are you crying, little wolf?” The tears stopped almost immediately as she beamed at him. “Where’s Cannon?” Nikan asked me quickly as he dried the tears from the girl’s face.

“Being thorough.”

“Huh?” Nikan looked between the two of us. “Am I missing something?”

Yes, your idiothead brother. “Nope. Cannon’s busy being all alpha-ey.”

“Alpha-ey?”

“Oh my Luna, why is everything you say to me this morning a question?” I snapped, causing the girl to cry again. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I blew out a breath. “I can’t do this. I need to go.”

Without another word, I left them in the street. Both girls were crying again, and I fought the urge to run from them. “I swear, Luna, you make me a mother too soon, and we’ll have words. I can’t deal with all that, yet.”

I swear the breeze that swirled around me was the sound of her laughter.

“Kezia!”

Nope. No. Not now.

Instead, I turned and greeted Leo. “What’s up?” Sliding my hands in my back pockets, I hoped it hid the fact my hands were shaking. “Why aren’t you out dropping packs?”

Leo looked at me blankly, my question catching him by surprise. “Err…I was running ops?”

Running ops? Sounded contagious. “Oh, right. Of course, you all done?” I searched the streets for my mate as Leo spoke.

“Yeah, everything is set up, and I think we have most of the terrain covered. There’s a few blind spots?—”

“Aren’t there always?” I murmured.

“Well, yeah, but if you know where they are, then it’s not so bad, right?”

What? “Yeah.” I hesitated. “But if you know where they are, why can’t you cover them?”

Leo flushed. “You’re right, of course. I’ll go run them again.”

He hurried off and I wasn’t sure what I’d said to make him redden with embarrassment. I started walking again, and someone else stopped me. When I’d answered their questions, which usually started with where’s the alpha? I listened to the reason they wanted him in the first place.

It went like that for the next few hours, and in the end, I was crouched low, hiding behind a wall that ran around a pack member’s house. I was exhausted. All the questions and constant reassurances drained me. I still hadn’t found my mate, but I was no longer angry at him. I was looking for him because now I knew why he was sometimes short-tempered and blunt.

All the questions. How did he get through the day with all of this pack looking to him for answers? I felt a flutter in the bond, and when I stood up, I saw Cannon striding towards me, a storm brewing in his eyes.

Shit. What had I done this time?

“Where have you been?” I asked him, ready to defend whatever bad advice I had given. With my hands on my hips, I was giving him attitude just from the way I was standing. I wasn’t expecting him to grab me and kiss me. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t complaining either; I would never complain about this.

Cannon didn’t give a damn that we were in the middle of the street, albeit a secluded corner. His hands cupped my ass, lifting me slightly to meet him, and I happily went, my arms looping around his neck as he kissed me deeply.

When he pulled back, I looked up at him, worry replacing my former agitation. “What is it?”

“Your friend Barbara has some explaining to do.”

“Barbara?” Sinking back onto my feet, I didn’t let go of him. “What did you do to her? Is it like what you did to Cass?” My temper was back.

“Cass? She needed to hear the truth. You and Kris shelter her for no reason.”

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