Page 12 of Bitter Discord

“He was probably worried you would miss family pancake Saturday,” Dirk pointed out, a smiling forming. “You are the only person who has missed one yet.”

“Yeah, I know,” I said, sighing.

“I don’t even live here and haven’t missed one. Come on.” Dirk’s smile turned into a teasing grin. “Landon makes fun of you while you’re not around.”

“You and Landon make fun of me when I am around, so I’m not surprised.” I dismissed him with a wave of my hand and looked back at Ranger. “I just don’t have anything this weekend, Ranger. I normally have a chore list going that you’re really helpful with, but everything today was taken care of or not something you can do because you’re a werewolf. I’ll be spending the next week in Dallas at the mansion. I’m packing tonight with Heath helping me decide what I should wear all week. Tomorrow, I’ll pick up my sister from the airport.”

“Of course,” Ranger said. “I’ll—”

“Good lord,” Dirk mumbled.

It was subtle for a moment, the shift in the room. I figured Ranger would just keep talking, but he didn’t. I didn’t fully realize the change until I saw Ranger’s eyes shift from man to wolf as he turned toward Dirk. It took another moment for me to inhale and catch how offended Ranger was with Dirk’s small, pointless comment.

“Do you have something to say? Go on… say it,” Ranger dared him, growling beneath the words in a way only our kinds could. It didn’t come from the throat but from our chest.

“No, he doesn’t,” I said quickly, knowing I needed to head this off before it blew up like a stick of TNT. “Ranger, I’m certain there’s something I need help with.” I glanced quickly at Dirk, hoping he kept his mouth shut this time. His jade green eyes promised violence, and they were pointed at Ranger. When I looked back at Ranger, I realized he’d never turned back in my direction.

“Say what you want to say, pup. Let’s hear it,” Ranger ordered, his glare focused on Dirk. “If you can’t say it out loud, then keep your thoughts to yourself.”

“Don’t talk to me like that. Not here,” Dirk snapped as the scent of his anger finally reached my nose. “Not in front ofmyaunt. This is the closest thing I have to a family home. If I want to mumble under my breath, I’m going to. There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“Pup, if you challenge me, so you don’t have to listen to me anymore, not even Landon will have grounds to stop me from kicking your ass. Sadly, he’s not here to help you keep your mouth shut,” Ranger growled. With every word out of Ranger’s mouth, Dirk’s anger grew.

I had to make a decision, and I had to make it quickly. I had four options. I could give Heath an emergency call, and they would behave long enough for him to come deal with them. It would ruin his day and probably Carey’s and Landon’s as well, for a number of reasons. Getting called away from family time was exactly why Heath wanted to step away from having a pack while Carey was growing up. Landon would have to come here and find Dirk in the middle of it with Ranger. Since day one, Landon and Heath had done their best to keep Dirk from getting himself hurt while Heath and I were protective of Ranger.

“I don’t need Landon to protect me from a tripod,” Dirk snarled back. “And stop calling me a pup. It stopped being cute six months ago.”

So, I was left with the other three options.

Let them fight inside. Clearly terrible. It was a hard rule from Heath I really liked—not getting my house broken. The poor thing had seen enough damage over the last few years. It didn’t need this nonsense.

“If you don’t want to be called a puppy, then don’t act like one. Be a man and tell me what you feel,” Ranger countered.

I could tell them to take it outside, but someone would get hurt. Worst-case scenario would be someone would be killed. If Dirk somehow killed Ranger, he would have to carry that for the rest of his life, and it would be bad for everyone in the pack. I didn’t want to consider what happened in the other direction. If Dirk died, all hell would break loose.

“Or do you want me to call you a bitch instead?” Ranger continued.

I had to pick the last option.

Shut this shit down myself.

Now, I was mad.

“I’ll turn you into one if you try.” Dirk’s snarl rumbled the room. He was furious.

Ranger started to stand, but I was out of my seat faster. I pushed him back down with one hand before grabbing Dirk’s shirt as he tried to get up.

“That’s enough,” I snarled, then shoved him back into his seat before I turned to Ranger, pointing a finger at him. “From both of you. You want to talk a bunch of shit to each other and pick a useless fight? You sound idiotic, and I don’t have the patience for it. Who’s the strongest person in the room right now?”

“You,” Dirk said quickly. Ranger lowered his head, silently agreeing.

“Don’t fight in my fucking house,” I snapped. “Don’t fucking fight at all.” I inhaled slowly, trying to calm down, but when I exhaled, it was a growl. “Ranger, finish what you were saying.”

“I’ll wait for Heath to come home because I’ve been assisting him with paperwork to free up his time.”

“Good. Dirk, go for a run and clear your damn head,” I ordered, turning to my nephew. He was the one who was seriously pissed off. Ranger’s scent was empty in comparison. When Dirk didn’t immediately move, I snarled. “Now.”

He was moving after that, and the front door slammed when he left. It shook pictures Heath hung up on the wall near the door and I watched to make sure none fell.

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