Page 45 of Wolf Hunter

And something I’ll need to watch out for in the near future.

I observe the two of them sizing each other up. Both get to their feet without any further reaction.

There are clear power struggles between them, if the look Julius sends at the alpha’s turned back gives me any insight. Personal struggles too, if I had to guess. Siblings always come with baggage, don’t they?

Reid also hates sharing. That much is clear.

Carmen and I got along well because we had no choice. Most of the time, it was only the two of us for company, with Mom and Dad preferring to keep us hidden away from the local covens. Which meant homeschooling. No friends.

I store all of my observations away and more as I push the hair behind my ears. With both men struggling to get themselves back under control, I start making my sandwich. I ignore their heavy breathing, piercing stares, and jerky movement, and it’s not long before I hop down from the counter with my freshly made lunch balancing in my palm.

“It’s been fun, boys, really it has.” I sound calmer than I actually feel. Nothing about this situation is easy. Especially not when I sense Reid’s eyes boring into the space between my shoulders blades as I turn and head for the hallway.

I probably shouldn’t give him my back and walk away right now, but the cloud of testosterone in the room is about to choke me.

And I hate to admit this, but a part of me actually likes the way Reid stood up for me. Likes it too much, actually.

Enough that I have to leave immediately.

ChapterThirteen

Reid

“What the hell, man? You’d seriously threaten me like that in front of a sacrifice? A witch? Are you out of your mind?”

I glance over in time to watch Julius smooth his hair back from his face and readjust his shirt, trying to collect himself the same way I do.

Neither one of us is successful.

“I’m not out of my mind. I did what I had to do,” I reply.

“The fuck you did, Reid. I came in here to find you with your plaything, and the moment I try to touch her, which meant nothing by the way, you went all bullshit alpha on me. There was no reason.” Fury flashes in his eyes for a second before dying, replaced by exhaustion and defeat.

“I’m not going to apologize for my actions.” Except I do want to apologize because I got a little out of control.

More than a little out of control.

Guilt tears through me at seeing the marks on his neck where I made a fool of myself. He wasn’t trying to stake a claim on Tasha, not really. I just saw the contact and lost my mind for a moment. The wolf took over me, demanding I put Julius in his place even as I claimed the woman as mine.

Mine.

Oh yeah, she loved hearing that.

Tasha quickly made herself scarce, with a sandwich in one hand and the other shooting us the finger as she left. As she showed me her back, she drew the wolf inside me even closer to the surface. He wanted us to follow her. To show her our devotion and prove we’re the best match for her.

More than likely, she’ll try to knee me in the nuts again, and this time, I’ll be singing soprano.

“She’s a witch,” Julius is saying.

I hum in approval. “I’m aware.”

“I’ve never seen you act this way about a sacrifice before. Especially when she’s already tried to kill you once.” Julius grabs a chair and slings it around to sit with his arms resting over the back rungs. “Granted, you’ve only accepted two. Who’s to say she won’t try it again?”

“I’m sure she will,” I agree.

“Then… why?”

I wish I had an answer for him outside of the crazy notion that my wolf formed an attachment to her. She isn’t a shifter, so we have no business being together, and I have no right to claim her.

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