Page 40 of Shadow Bound

“You almost died today,” Remi deadpans. “This venture you’ve picked up almost killed you. Why are you going to keep doing this when it’s clearly not safe?”

“I can’t just let him get away; he’s hurting people,” I snap angrily at her. “What happened today isn’t exactly a daily occurrence. I think it’s safe to say I’ll never see another avalanche in my lifetime.” My attempt to lighten the mood at the end falls flat because Remi’s scowl grows deeper.

“Not fucking funny, Ransom,” she bites. “Did you not see what happened to Sawyer’s arm? He’s lucky it was just his arm. It very well could have been hisneck.”

“Did I say it was funny?”

“You’ve been gone for months already, it’s time to come home.” Ranger shifts behind his mate, putting his hands on her shoulder. Winslow leans into him, resting her head on his chest, but keeps her eyes on me. “I don’t know why you feel like you have to do this. Hunting rogues was Ryker’s thing and the only reason he did it was because he thought rogues had killed Pruitt. Why do you do it?”

Angrily I shove my hands through my hair, tugging on the strands. Letting out a long breath, I release my hair and pin him with my gaze. “Hunting rogues gives me a purpose. I don’t have a purpose there. I was just the son of the alpha, but he’s not even technically our alpha anymore. At home, nothing I do matters, what I do out herematters. I’m helping families find peace knowing that the rogue who killed their daughter, wife, sister or mom is gone so they can feel safe again.”

“It also makes your wolf happy.” Winslow finally pipes up, giving me a knowing look.

Winslow and her ability to seeeverything.

I pause before answering. “Yeah, hunting makes him happy. He’s restless at home, he loves you guys, but it’s not enough. When I’m home, I’m restless and I feel useless.” My eyes meet my twin’s. “Ryker and you have your mates—which I’m so fucking happy you have. Winslow and Pruitt give you both a purpose in life. And maybe one day, if I find my mate, I’ll have a different purpose, but until then, hunting is mine.”

In my peripheral vision, I see Beau drop her tightly crossed arms and stand up straighter. I feel her eyes on me, it makes my skin burn in awareness. The night Pru was shot, I knew someone was watching me, the sensation was so intense, there was no denying it. Now that I know that it was Beau, it makes sense why it felt like that.

They’re quiet for a minute, pondering my words. Finally, Remi speaks. “It doesn’t change the fact that it’s not safe for you to be hunting by yourself. You need to at least come home while Sawyer takes a break.”

“Or I’ll stay,” Ranger offers, surprising me.

“That would never work, and you know it. You couldn’t stand to be apart from your little witch.” I smile endearingly at Winnie. “And you’d never bring her along because you’d never put her in that kind of danger.”

“The little witch can take care of herself.” Winslow smirks. “I’m quite handy with knives now.”

Not as handy as Isabeau.

“Well I can’t join you—notthat I’d want to, I’m not cut out for life on the road.” Remi shakes her head. “It’s my last semester of school and finals mightactuallykill me.”

“I wasn’t going to ask you, Remi.” I laugh.

“Rude.” She scoffs.

“We can’t leave you here alone to go hunt a dangerous rogue wolf.” Winslow frowns. “Regardless of how badass you are, Cujo, you still need backup.”

Chills run down my spine before I even hear her speak. My body is just aware of her at all times, and when she’s close, it hums with energy. “He won’t be alone. I’ll go with him.” Beau’s raspy voice fills my ears.

Spinning around, I frown at her. “What?”

She lifts one narrow shoulder. “I still have to ask him a couple of questions, it’s not like I’m doing you a favor.”

“We both know how you feel about those,” I retort, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

Her response is a quick sneer. “I’m offering you my help; you don’t have to be a smart-ass.”

“Honey, it’s either that or adumbass. It’s best not to be picky,” Remi quips.

“We aren’t leaving you alone withher.” Ranger shakes his head. “I’m not going to let you go off alone with her. She might not be working for Sterling now, but we can’t trust her not to turn on you.”

Isabeau’s arctic eyes sharpen in his direction and I feel the annoyance coming off her in waves. “You know what? I’m getting really tired of this conversation. I’ve defended myself the best I can. I’m not asking you to trust me, Ranger, it’s probably best you don’t. The good things I’ve done for your family will never make up for the bad things I’ve done. The scale is never going to even out.I know this—I don’t need you to remind me.” Her hands are balled into tight fists at her side. “We have a common enemy.Sterling. I’m not your enemy right now. He is and the only way you’re going to be able to get to him, is by eliminating his allies. He’s weak without them. The rogue Ransom is hunting has been around one of his biggest ones. He will know information on how I can findher. So, whether you like it or not, I’m going to help your twin find the rogue. Ransom doesn’t need permission from you to do either. As far as I’m aware, you’re not his father or his alpha. You’re his brother, so shut the fuck up, get out of his way and let him do his job.”

Would it be in bad taste to slam Isabeau against the side of the car and claim her mouth in front of my family after that little outburst? Because I’m seriously considering it.

As if she can read my thoughts, her eyes flare, silently warning me to stop. I bite back a smirk.

“Well,damn.” Winslow grins at Isabeau, a look of approval on her face. “That’s good enough for me. Call if you need us—well, callme—White Fang here still has his panties in a twist and might not be so inclined to help. I’ll try my best to unravel them, but you know how he gets.” She rolls her eyes and juts her thumb in his direction. She flounces away from him, stopping to kiss my cheek and giving Isabeau’s arm a quick squeeze. “I knew I liked you.” Isabeau looks shocked by her words but smooths her face quickly. “You two be good and keep your teeth to yourselves,” Winslow offers over her shoulder as sheskipsto the car, disappearing inside.

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