Page 33 of Haunted By the Shadow of Death

“Staying there was a mistake, but that doesn’t mean you should run from here. Can’t you see the difference?” He was nearly pleading, as if he saw his friend about to make a huge mistake.

“Difference? Yes. Other than Groza and Duncan, the rest of the pack liked me there. Here I’m a pariah.” He didn’t get it either. My being here wasn’t good for anyone.

“Fine. They aren’t exactly embracing you, but Kicks has your back, and leaving him is a mistake.”

None of them saw it. Or they didn’t want to. There was something wrong with me. Maybe a human never should’ve been made into a guide for a reason. There was something wrong in me, and I could sense it. I’d felt it ever since Zetti died. Something dark and twisted had planted a seed within me, and it wasn’t going away.

“What if staying here is a death sentence for him?” It was the most honest thing I could say to Rastin.

“It won’t,” he said, refusing to acknowledge the threat I was becoming.

“Rastin, I’m not the girl you first met that you took out of New York.” I didn’t want to own it myself, but at some point, we’d all have to accept it.

“Stop that. Of course you are. Hey, it’s not as if you kill the people you like,” he said.

I didn’t laugh. He mustered up only a smile, not even laughing at his own joke.

“Sorry. Too soon?”

“Yes. Now if you don’t mind, I’m already in a bad mood.” I waved toward the door.

“Does this mean you’re done with the conversation?” Rastin asked.

“Wow, you’re quick today.”

Kicks walked into the cabin and nodded at Rastin, who was heading for the door. “Stay. I need to talk to you.”

Guy was going to get a crick in his neck with my telling him to go and Kicks making him stay.

“What’s up?” Rastin asked, already sounding guilty.

Shit. What had he done now? I couldn’t leave him hanging out there alone if it was bad. He’d had my back against Groza and protected me after I appeared to kill some little old lady. Bottom line was, after someone did things like that, it didn’t matter much what else they did.

“You need to slow it down or limit the numbers. It’s causing me grief,” Kicks said, crossing his arms and leaning his hip against the couch.

Huh? What the hell was he talking about?

“With all due respect, you’re my alpha, not my nursemaid. I’m a full-grown shifter with needs,” Rastin said. His words might’ve sounded tough, but his tone was toeing the line.

I should’ve guessed this was the issue. Rastin did like to get around, even if it could become problematic.

“I don’t care if you bang a new female every night, but I’ve got fights breaking out. You couldn’t at least give it a day in between?” Kicks’ tone was harsh. He might’ve asked a question, but it didn’t seem like he wanted an answer.

“That situation wasn’t my fault. I was messing around with one, and the other joined in. If they didn’t like the situation, they shouldn’t have started it,” Rastin said, shrugging but looking sheepish. “Who has a threesome if you’re the jealous type? I say that’s on them.”

I backed farther toward the kitchen, afraid of drawing attention to myself if I started to laugh.

“However it’s happening, you need to slow it down or smooth it out. I don’t want to have to clean up the messes you’re making. Do you understand?” Kicks’ eyes bored into Rastin. “I don’t need more problems right now.”

Yeah, he had his hands full with the ones I was causing. I wasn’t sure if Rastin picked up on that, but Kicks’ gaze shot toward me, as if he knew he’d slipped up.

Rastin shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I can’t help it if I need more sex than—”

“Don’t finish that sentence.” Kicks was staring like he’d take Rastin out at the knees if he said another word.

It didn’t matter. We all knew what Rastin was going to say. Anyone could fill in the blanks.

He stood there for another moment, as if unsure what to do. Even he seemed aware he’d crossed the line.

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