Page 21 of Wolf Hunter

“Absolutely not. You’ve had some time to get your story straight, and now I’m wondering what it might be.” Julius looks way too pleased with himself as his sensitive hearing picks up my under-the-breath comment.

He’s found a way to corner me when I lack an easy excuse for an escape.

Typical.

“I thought we settled this hours ago. Or was it not you who I nearly strangled earlier this morning, Julius?” I don’t bother smiling at them. They’ll see through it anyway.

“Oh, I thought we were settled as well. Until Liam came to me with a few concerns, and we both decided it might be time for a deeper talk. Just the three of us.” Julius grins. “Like old times. Before you took over, remember? Or have you conveniently forgotten?”

I sweep out a hand for both of them, and we head into the library with spines equally straight. Chins lift toward the ceiling, or in Liam’s case, cast down to the floor, and we’re in a single file line that feels almost natural at this point.

Father always used to make us walk in order of age, with Julius first and me sandwiched in the middle.

Some things don’t change no matter how hard you struggle against them. They become a part of you in a way you never expect. The smallest oddity has the potential to hide a world of mental issues and a fucked-up past.

The library won’t do well against prying ears, but it gives us a semblance of privacy with most of the wolves still asleep at this hour. They are no longer forced to rise with the sun and sit out in the snow to build character, like when Father led.

“Tell me you have an explanation now, Reid,” Julius begins without hesitation. “And make it a good one. I don’t want to hear any ridiculous excuses.”

“I love how you think you have the right to question me or any decision I make,” I reply tersely.

Liam shakes his head. “It’s concern, Reid. Simply concern. For you and for the rest of us.”

“Over what?”

The two of them glance over at each other, and I don’t miss the way Julius lifts a brow as though to prompt Liam to answer.

When he doesn’t, Julius comes out with, “You can’t honestly think it’s a good idea to keep someone like her here with the rest of us. I mean, for any length of time. She’s dangerous. She’s one ofthem.”

I automatically want to snap at him, to say something regrettable that will make them back off and stop questioning me. I draw in a breath instead, because hey, don’t people always say that breathing keeps you calm? Hasn’t worked for me yet but better to try.

“I appreciate your concern, but what I choose to do with the woman is none of your business. She’s nothing but a sacrifice, and it’s up to me to decide her future. Without input from any other source,” I say.

“We just want to know what you plan to do with her,” Liam replies.

“Whatever I damn well please.”

“Ah, I understand now. I see it clearly,” Julius adds with a sneer.

That gets me all twitchy. “What do you understand?”

Julius just nods, his smile smug and the rest of him relaxed. “No need to say any more, Reid old boy. You do whatever it is you want with her for as long as you want to do it.”

“As long as I wantis a vastly different beast from what you said in your last useless comment. Care to elaborate for me?”

“I’m simply saying that if you told us you wanted to fuck her in the first place, I might not have had to worry about your constitution. I know you’ve been in the middle of a dry spell for a while. You deserve some nice pussy.”

I see red. There’s no other way to describe the lightheaded feeling that starts at the back of my skull and creeps forward. “What?”

“She’s cute. I don’t blame you for wanting to grab a piece. Especially when she’s at your mercy. And maybe when you’re done, you can give the rest of us a turn. I didn’t get a good look at her last night, but the pink hair is definitely something different. You’ve always had a thing for the dangerous ones.”

I keep everything I want to say to myself, and let Julius insist I’ll use Tasha for my own pleasure. I hate the thought, but the logical part of me sees this for the perfect opportunity to bury the truth.

I’ll be damned if I let anyone else lay a finger on her, though.

With a growl, I tell the others, “I don’t share. Get that fucking idea out of your head immediately.”

I let my unspoken warning be the end of the conversation. And if anyone tries to combat me for her, then I’ll show them how I won my position. My claws at their throat will be the last thing any of them see.

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