Page 49 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

My hand curled into a fist, and I let my claws jut out into my palm to redirect the sting radiating through my chest to my palm.

Kerrigan covered another yawn with her hand. “A quick nap, and then I’ll head home to shower and grab a change of clothes, so I can get back to the clinic.” She stretched. “How many guards would stop me if I snuck out of the compound before dawn?”

“Three,” I said, kicking off my shoes.

“Pfft.Only three. I could take out that many, no problem.” Kerrigan sure talked a tough game while semi-delirious.

I peeled off my shirt and tossed it in the direction of the hamper. “You’d only see them if they were attacking, and by then it’d be too late.”

Her eyes remained closed, but her forehead crinkled. “Wait. Are we still joking?” “Still? When did we start?”

One eye cracked open. “You’re serious about the guards?”

“Deadly. Which is the force I’ll apply if anyone messes with you or any of my pack members.” Too many people had been hurt, and the lack of clues was infuriating. Tonight I’d rest up, because tomorrow, I was going to double the patrols and do whatever it took to hunt down the coven of witches and slaughter every. Last. One.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The dinin the large dining room died the instant Kerrigan stepped inside. The soldiers eating breakfast with me gawked as though they’d never seen a human before.

They certainly didn’t greet her with the respect she deserved after countless hours spent saving our wounded comrades. She’d awoken around dawn, not to care for her own needs, but to check on Elias.

Last night I’d crashed out curled around her, so she’d wiggled out of my grasp, kissed my cheek, and urged me to get more sleep. At the doorway of my bedroom, she’d double-checked checked no one would tackle her if she headed to the infirmary and went on her way.

This cold-shoulder bullshit had gone on long enough. I gestured her over and filled a plate with eggs, bacon, biscuits, and sausage gravy. Not only because she was probably famished, but also to show everyone at the table thatI’dprepared her food.

In other words, I was providing for her, so get onboard.

After a quick update on Elias—still unconscious, pulse rate low but steady, and since he still required oxygen, she’d administered a steroid shot to help his lungs—I introduced herto Mikal, Diego, and Chandra, rattling off their specialties along with their names. “Tyrese is our tracker, so he took off bright and early. Nissa’s our expert in military tactics and in gathering intelligence.”

Kerrigan swallowed her bite of eggs. “Wow, what an impressive team. It’s so nice to meet everyone.”

Did they say the same back? Nope. Assholes, and I glared to convey as much.

Kerrigan swung her fork between Nissa and me. “If she’s your beta, did you two have to fight for the top-dog spot?”

“The alpha position is about much more than being the ‘top dog,’” Nissa spat.

I draped my arm around Kerrigan’s shoulders and aimed a smile at my number two, hoping to return the mood to casual territory. “Nissa and I would never fight.”

“Because she’s female?” Kerrigan appeared slightly offended by her own question; meanwhile, Nissa lobbed a death-ray glare.

“Nah. Because she’d kick my ass.” I nudged Nissa’s foot beneath the table. “She and I have been friends since we were teenagers. She, Diego, and I forged relationships with like- minded shifters and formed the Bridgewater Pack. She’s married to Tyrese, in case you didn’t catch that—they’re absurdly formal about it.”

“Personal details,” Nissa gritted out.

“That I’m choosing to share so Kerrigan can get to know us and better do her job.” “With all due respect, I don’t understand how that’ll help her do her job.”

“With all due respect, you don’t need to.” While I didn’t relish reminding Nissa I was in charge, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t.

My beta’s spine went stick straight, and the fuming smart-ass saluted me.

This time the room fell silent for a different reason, the other wolves afraid to move, blink, or breathe, for fear it’d ignite thefight that’d been brewing for days. Nissa had scared off females who’d shown interest before, but I’d never cared much—it prevented power-hungry women from other packs from getting too close. It also meant I didn’t come off like a jerk when I informed the women I wasn’t looking for anything serious.

But something serious had come along when I’d least expected it, and I wanted Kerrigan and Nissa to get along. Not just for my sake, but for the good of the pack.

“Kerrigan, would you mind taking your food to the lobby and waiting for me there? There’s a pack matter that evidently can’t wait any longer.” Guilt emerged at her sagging posture, her dislike of being dismissed loud and clear. Or perhaps it was the glaring lack of acceptance. Either way, it was for her own protection; this conversation was about to get ugly.

Once the door closed behind Kerrigan, I turned my full attention on Nissa. “When you started dating Tyrese, you demanded I give him a chance. Don’t I deserve the same courtesy?”

---