Page 2 of Rugged

Clint had been a natural enforcer. Protecting the pack and meting justice that the Council handed down. He’d worked closely with Levi, another shifter and member of the Wolf Pack, who was the sheriff of Cooper Valley. Together, they made great protectors not only of the shifters in the community but the humans, too. Their combined roles were crucial to keep us and our kind’s secret safe. It also helped that his mate was human, and Lily was both. Perfect.

Now I was in Clint’s role, and I was already friends with Levi. Still, I questioned whether this was a good fit. If I was too good. Too dark for the role.

“I had to go before the Council.” That had been scary as hell.

“So that’s why they knew of you.”

I laughed although the reason wasn’t all that funny. “Yup. My punishment was that I got shipped to Wolf Ranch. Left my family behind.”

“Wolf Ranch isn’t a punishment, kid,” Clint reminded. “You know that.”

It wasn’t. At the time, I thought it was, but now I knew differently. The Montana pack was pretty fucking great. I may have left my family with my old pack, but I’d made a found family with the Wolfs. It was where I belonged.

“Your sister’s safe because of you,” he added.

I looked down at another shifter who liked to knock a female around. He wouldn’t harm anyone else again, either. I nodded in agreement.

“She’s mated now and has two pups,” I said, thinking of Simi. I couldn’t help but smile a little and feel pride.

He grinned. “Good. Sounds like she put that behind her.” His smile slipped as he studied me. “Have you?”

The wind ruffled my hair, the air cooling my sweaty skin. Had I put what happened to Simi behind me?

I shook my head. “No. Definitely not.”

Squatting down, I dug through the man’s pockets to strip him of his ID. We’d leave him here, miles from civilization, far from any road. The animals would get him.

I looked up at Clint. “What’s that make me? Dangerous? Ruthless? No way I’ll find a mate with what’s inside of me.”

He took off his hat, ran a hand over his dark hair, then set it back in place. “Your soul’s not black, kid. You didn’t sentence him to death. The Council did. You’re just enforcing their decision. Remember, there’s one less threat to those who can’t protect themselves. You see that. You know it.”

I tossed him the guy’s wallet.

“As for a mate?” he continued. “You’ve seen everyone else at the ranch find theirs. One after the other. Even me. It’ll happen when you least expect it.”

I stood. I didn’t want to keep talking about this. We’d done our job. He was right. Everyone else at Wolf Ranch had found their fated mates. But they weren’t murderers.

I was.

2

EMMA

It was almost ten at night, and I was still at work. Ugh.

“Emma–chop chop. We don’t have all night.” My supervisor, Stan, clapped his hands together as he passed my cubicle.

Asshole.

Tilting my head back, I rolled my sore neck around.

God, this job was a nightmare. I’d thought I’d landed my dream role when I got hired to do digital effects in Hollywood. My design degree had paid off, and I’d thought living in a big city on the ocean was going to be a dream.

I’d thoughtIwas the lucky twin for a change.

I hadn’t minded the late nights. I hadn’t minded working eighty hours a week. I expected it. I’ve alwaysbeen the diligent one between me and my sister. This time, I’d thought I was part of something big when I took the job. But two and a half years later, I was still making the same salary and working the same hours. My self-confidence had been ground to a little nub. I didn’t even remember the last time I saw the Pacific or anything outside the walls of my office.

It would be one thing if I felt like my work was respected or I was given any credit for anything I did.

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