Page 52 of Wolf Hunter

Actually, I’ve come to develop a little bit of a soft spot for Julius, despite my mistrust of him. Maybe it’s the wounded animal in me who recognizes it in others. There’s something about the oldest Holden that makes me look his way repeatedly. And not just the fucked-up hidden note from their father.

But he’s been skating on thin ice for a few days, ever since the incident in the kitchen, and even though Bullet seems unable to see it, Reid’s patience is wearing thin with everyone because of it.

Bullet’s belligerent and sarcastic attitude just gets under my skin like no one’s business, and it takes work to tell myself I’ll be rid of him soon.

Maybe once I take care of Reid, I’d kill Bullet for good measure. Only, the thought of taking Reid out doesn’t have as much appeal to me as it did a few weeks ago. Or even a few days ago.

“Kitty is going to kick your ass if you don’t watch yourself,” Reid corrects, his voice colored with dark intent.

A bunch of the weaker wolves whine in discomfort at the tone.

“AndKittydoesn’t like being talked about like she’s not in the room,” I add, more for my benefit than anyone else’s.

Liam stifles a laugh, but no one says anything for the longest time. Crane, Reid’s third-in-command, seems the type to barely string together a word or two, much more content to watch than take part in any sort of real back-and-forth. He’s also a mountain of a man. I appreciate both of those things about him.

These dinners are the worst, I decide, even though it’s only my first one. I intend to make it my last.

Pretending with Reid feels different than pretending in front of an audience. Especially when my life depends on my performance. No one ever claimed I’m an actress, and I prefer not to be seen for a multitude of reasons. One of them being that way no one sees the real me.

No one outside of Carmen.

And maybe—I glance to the side—maybeReid. But the jury is still out on that one.

“Yes,” Emily cuts in smoothly, “it is interesting that you’ve set her up with us at the table like she’s part of the pack, Alpha.”

My face tenses, and I have to focus for a second as a wave of anxiety cuts through me.

She’s pretty much just given every excuse for Reid to rip her a new asshole, and I fully plan to be there to watch it happen.

“She is a part of this pack as long as I will it,” Reid answers simply.

Some of the tension pops with the second squeeze of his hand on my skin, and I look around to find Darcy, Emily, and Val all staring at me. The omegas seem less inclined to argue, but the others…Damn.

All they want to do is antagonize.

And one of them knows what happened to my sister.

Reid told me earlier not to get my hopes up, because a lot of members of the pack had left when his father died. But there are still women being stolen in Buson. Which means the culprit is here. Now. At this table.

Please let it be Bullet.

I really want to kill him.

“Maybe you’d rather we all go somewhere else so you can eat in private with your new friend?” Emily continues as she takes a sip of water, smiling at me over the rim of the glass.

Reid glances at her and then sends me a dry look. “So glad to see everyone in a great mood. It warms my heart.”

I’m not sure what he expects out of this dinner. No one is going to jump out of their seat and scream ‘Hey, look at me, I’m guilty!’ No matter how hard he wants it to be the case.

Hell looks a lot like this, I decide on the spot.

There’s nothing left to do but watch for tells.

“I’ve already warned everyone to treat Tasha as one of us no matter how she came to be in our company,” Reid says through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.

The elephant in the room does nothing to dull his appetite, it seems.

“Why don’t you just mate with her and get it over with?” Emily wonders.

---