Page 23 of Cold Foot Komodo

“Oh, come on. Let’s take turns. I want to tell people what to do.”

“When do I ever tell any of you what to do?” King asked.

“Exactly! You aren’t even appreciating your power! I would!”

“Cash, you are making everyone so tired,” Katrina muttered.

“Fine, Third. Final offer,” Cash said.

“Dude, I’m Third,” Kade said.

“What are you talking about?” Wreck asked.

“You flipped me off three times last week,” he said. “That’s three votes for me.”

“I probably flipped you off a dozen times,” Wreck said. “You’ve been pissing me off all week. I guess you can be twelfth.”

“What do the ranks mean?” Sasha asked.

“Jack-shit,” Katrina said. “Only Alpha and his mate, and then Second, mean anything.”

“And the mate of the Second doesn’t suck either,” Raynah pointed out to Katrina. “I think I’m at the bottom of the Crew.”

“You definitely are,” Kade said somberly, nodding his head.

“Raynah, you’re second to bottom,” Wreck said. “Kade, you’re bottom.”

“That’s what she said,” King muttered.

“What?” Kade demanded. “That’s bullshit. Let’s all Change and see whose animal belongs at the bottom.”

“Dude, your animal would freeze to death in like four minutes,” Reed said.

Sasha couldn’t stop giggling, and now Reed was joining in on their antics? This was awesome. “Technically, I would think I’m bottom of the Crew,” Sasha pointed out. “Since I’m human and all.”

The others got quiet, and Timber looked over at Wreck with the strangest expression.

“Oh, honey,” Beth said softly from a couple chairs away. “We aren’t a part of the Crew.”

Sasha’s eyes went wide. “Wait, why? Because I’m human?”

“No, it’s not just that—”

“But it’s part of it,” she said to Timber. “Beth and I are human.”

“We’re still talking about it with Damon,” Timber assured her.

“Okay. Yeah, of course. Even if I’m not part of things around here, I can still…hang out,” she said, trying to give them all an out from this awkward moment. She felt so silly. She’d comehere thinking she would be a member of the Cold Foot Crew. Her cheeks were on fire right now.

“Look, not yet,” Timber said. “Doesn’t mean never.”

“Okay, but if she was a part of the Crew, what rank would she be?” Kade asked.

“Higher than you,” Wreck assured him.

“Horsecrap!” Kade’s voice echoed through the woods, and a smile was stretching Sasha’s face again as the banter picked up.

Thank goodness for the Crew who could see her discomfort and actively moved the conversation away from it.

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