Page 65 of Secret Wolf Baby

Reacher strutted behind them, hands stuffed in his pockets as he gave a lazy, triumphant smirk, looking like he had won the lottery.

I snarled, my fingers lengthening to claws and teeth sharpening to fangs. I was going to enjoy tearing each and every one of these people to shreds.

“You do so much as swipe a paw at one of my men, and those two are done for,” Reacher said. There was no threat or bravado in his voice, just pure fact, as if he were discussing the weather. Something about that made everything even worse.

“If you hurt them—” I growl.

“Whether or not they get hurt is up to you,” Reacher said. “Now, are you going to keep this up, or stop and listen?”

My jaw clenched. I wanted to jump over the circle and kill him once and for all, but I knew I couldn’t, not without risking Audrey and Claire. I exhaled hard, listening to my wolf snarl and beg to be let out to tear Reacher to shreds for even daring to threaten my mate and daughter. I forced my claws and fangs to change to human fingers and teeth.

Reacher nodded his approval. “Now that we’re all cozy, why don’t we have a little chat?” Reacher said. He glanced around. “Where’s Saul?”

“Ran off,” I answered.

He tutted. “Pity. I always liked him.”

“He’s not dead,” I said.

Reacher flapped his hand dismissively. “He is to me. If he gets his ass handed to him, then he isn’t useful to me anymore. But that’s beside the point.” He folded his arms as he stood in front of me.

“The second trail. I’m guessing that was a trap?” I said.

“Not so much a trap as a decoy,” Reacher said. “Though, I have to admit, I had my doubts that the infamous Golden Wolves would fall for it. I guess I overestimated you. Still, it’s fortunate for me. I wanted to talk to you alone.”

“And why’s that?” I asked.

“I figured that since you and I have struck a bargain once before, why not do it again?” He spread his hands in a magnanimous gesture as his grin grew wide. “And I didn’t want the rest of your team trying to interfere and give you bad advice, so here we are. I knew you would choose to come get your daughter over following my scent. Though, I have to admit, Audrey coming along was an unexpected boon. You really did grow a wild streak since leaving, didn’t you?” He turned to Audrey as he said this last part, his tone almost mocking. “Not to worry, we’ll fix that soon enough.”

“You’re acting like she’s staying with you,” I said. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting that happen.”

“Ah, and we finally come back to the point I was trying to get to this whole time,” Reacher said patronizingly. “I knew we’d get there eventually.”

“Do you ever shut up, or do you like hearing the sound of your own voice that much?”

Reacher chuckled humorlessly. “You should be nicer to me, you know.”

“Or what? You’ll sic one of your goons on me?” I asked, gesturing at the wolves surrounding me.

“Not on you.” He flicked his wrist, and a loud snarl came from one of the wolves trapping Audrey and Claire. They lunged forward, nipping at Audrey’s heel. “Next time, it won’t be a warning,” he said, his eyes cold, his voice flat and emotionless.

My jaw worked as I tried to fight back the rage threatening to burst out. My wolf snarled, flexing his claws, bristling at the mere thought that this shifter was threatening his mate and cub. It took all my effort not to tear into him right then and there. The only thing holding me back was the fact that I couldn’t risk Audrey and Claire getting hurt.

“Now, are you going to listen to my offer, or are you going to keep blustering and threatening me?” Reacher asked.

My hands curled into fists. I glanced over at Audrey. She shook her head. I turned back to Reacher.

“What’s your offer?” I asked.

He grinned, showing a row of fangs. “Good man. I knew you’d see sense. Here it is: you walk away and forget all of this ever happened. And all three of you will live.”

I laughed. “You seriously think I believe you would let all three of us just walk away?”

“No, no. Not them. Just you. You walk away right now and stop interfering in our plans. Your mate and that bastard daughter of yours—”

“Watch it,” Audrey snarled, earning her a growl from one of her guards.

“—stay here as an insurance package,” Reacher continued as if she hadn’t said anything. “So long as you and the rest of the Gold Wolves behave yourselves, they’ll be safe and sound.”

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