Page 50 of Fastlander Fealty

“I’m not talking about whose lion is bigger,” Owen said. “I’m talking about whose heart is bigger. Rook will die without love, and with a shitbag legacy. He will be known for the pain he causes. But you? You’ll live a different life.”

“How do you know?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I just have this instinct. I just know.”

Oh, his beautiful words.

“Where will you run to this time?” he asked.

“Not Colorado. Rook calls me a creature of habit, and he will look to Colorado first. I thought maybe Texas. Texas is a big place to get lost in. I’ll switch out my phone, trash the one I have, cut off all access, and just…disappear.”

The soft smile fell from Owen’s lips and he angled his head. “Texas is nice.” She didn’t understand the seriousness that had tainted his tone, but before she had a chance to ask, the server brought the mozzarella sticks and garlic knots out for them.

“I emailed Mason,” she said, changing the subject to something more interesting.

“What?” Owen drawled out, removing his baseball cap. He ran his hand through his messy blond hair and leaned back on the back legs of his chair. “What did you say?”

“I asked him to warn Damon about what Rook plans to do to the Fastlanders. I don’t like that your Crew is on the outskirts of the Dragon’s territory. I figured if he knew what to look for, he could be ready to help you faster when the time comes.”

“We’ve been ready for a while,” Owen said.

“What? How?”

“We have a couple of seers in the mountains. One of them even saw you coming. I knew who you were the second you came into Moosey’s paying attention to Captain.”

“Oh, so that’s why you talked to me. That makes sense.”

“That and you were hot.”

Silver snorted. “No I’m not. I’m just me.”

“Why did you attack me?” he asked suddenly. “Earlier in the river, why did your lion go after me?”

“Because you are the biggest danger. The animal is broken. She goes after the biggest and baddest. That was you.”

Owen did this little fist pump. “I’m telling Captain you said that. I can’t wait to see his dumb face.”

“The dynamics of your Crew is interesting.”

“You mispronounced disastrous. We’ve got an Alpha who barely cares about anything outside of his mate, and a mixed bag of nuts who want to fight each other all the time.”

“Yeah, but between those lines you create these beautiful moments. When the friendship bonds present themselves, it’s…you don’t realize how lucky you are. It’s not like that in the Pride. I’ve never seen it before.”

He nodded thoughtfully as he chewed on a bite of garlic knot bread. “I guess it’s different than the boars I grew up with too. I just don’t think about it. The fighting eclipses the friendship part sometimes.”

“I have a theory.”

“Spill it.”

“The fighting will settle in time, as you all get to know each other better, and as your animals begin to learn loyalty. Can I ask you a personal question?”

“Sure.”

“If someone came after any member of your Crew, what would you do?”

“Maul them,” he said without hesitation. Truth.

She smiled knowingly. “The fighting between the Crew doesn’t eclipse the loyalty then.” Her words touched him. She could tell. “You Fastlanders will be just fine. You’ve got it better than you think.”

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