Page 9 of Wolf's Wild Woman

“You should have what? Done something to prevent me from even being born? Killed me one night in my sleep?”

I barely contained the growl in my chest.

“My whole life I’ve only ever wanted someone to love me. How silly of me to think you might be capable of such an emotion.”

“I’ve done the best I could with what I had. Made sure you had a roof over your head. Food to eat. Clothes to wear. None of it matters now. You need to leave.”

“Leaving would be a lot easier if I had the money you took. Why would you steal from me?” Rebel asked.

Her mother looked exhausted. “I…I needed it.”

She was lying. I stepped away from the wall and her gaze swung to me. “You didn’t take the money. Who did? Who are you covering for?”

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head almost frantically. “Just leave. I’m begging you, Rebbie. Take your man and get the hell out of here. Go anywhere. Don’t look back.”

“She’s not going anywhere,” I stated to both of them. Now, I understood why she kept saying she was leaving. Hell, she certainly had nothing in this house to keep her here.

Listening to the two of them brought back memories I’d much rather leave alone. I rubbed my hand over the scruff of my beard and what lay beneath. I knew firsthand what it was to have no one protect you. I was one of the walking wounded myself. Or I had been before I’d crossed paths with the James Pack and found a band of brothers with similar stories. Rebel was meant to be a part of us.

“Come back for some more, did ya?”

A burly guy closer to her mother’s age entered Rebel’s bedroom and stepped toward her. I was quicker. I pinned him to the wall, feet dangling, my hand choking the air out of him.

“Is this the man who attacked you?” Now, I reveled in the gritty tone of my voice. I wanted the fear I saw on his face, the smell of it tickling my nose like a foul odor.

“No, it wasn’t him,” Rebel told me. “This is Jarod Makers. He’s definitely one of those problem makers you were talking about. He’s one of my mother’s…friends.”

I glared at him, not caring that he struggled for breath. I glanced between him and Rebel’s mother, and it clicked. “He took your money.”

“What?” Rebel narrowed her eyes at the man I held.

I released him enough that he could answer some questions.

He sputtered and coughed then glared. “I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, but you’ve messed with the wrong man. That little girl tried to kill my son, Benji, and she’s going to pay for it.”

I lifted him away from the wall just so I could slam him back against it. He was putting on a good show, but his fear was palpable. If it escalated much higher, he’d piss himself.

“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Taylor Gelsted.” He paled, and I grinned. “I see you’ve heard of me.”

“I don’t want any trouble with the James Pack,” he hastened to assure me.

“Then don’t fuck with my mate.”

“You’re…” His eyes went wide. “I didn’t know. Donna never said a thing about little Rebbie getting mated.”

“Ignorance doesn’t excuse what you’ve allowed to happen here. Your son tried to rape Rebel.”

His face went red with rage, and any intelligence he seemed to have flew out the window.

“Now, listen. Things aren’t what they seem around here. That piece you mated is just like her mother. She’s been leading Benji around since she hit puberty, getting him all riled up. He was only taking what she’s been teasing him with. Isn’t rape when it’s with a whore.”

“You lying sack of shit!” Rebel yelled and swung her fist at Makers. I let it connect. She was right. He was a lying sack of shit.

“Do you have a death wish?” I asked softly, releasing my grip on him. I wanted him to come at me, to challenge me. That would be all the encouragement I needed

“It doesn’t matter what I think no ways,” he told me. “Benji left to find his buddies. When he comes back, he won’t be alone. Rebbie will pay for what she did to my boy. One way or another.”

“Anyone who comes after my mate will face me.” I leaned into his face. “And I don’t lose. Ever.”

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