Page 64 of A Wolf's Wound
Shit.
Chapter 36
Hannah
Ryderdoesn’tanswermeat first.Honestly, he doesn’t even seem to see me for a minute.I’m not sure Gavin does either.They’re both looking in my direction but both men seemed locked into their fight, each getting ready to land another verbal blow.
Ryder’s arm is tense.His whole body is.But his arm is so rigid that it feels like I’m touching warm concrete.His face is beaded with sweat, and his mouth is turned down in a scowl.
But it’s his hands that I can’t stop staring at.They’re balled into fists, like he’s about to start swinging.Would he really punch his brother?That would be bad enough in a regular family, but in the Stone family, a beta punching an alpha is unheard of.
I look back at Ryder’s face, and to my great relief, he’s staring back at me now.I feel the muscles in his arm relax, not by much, but enough to make me think that maybe this fight is over.
“I’m sorry, Hannah,” Ryder says softly.He glances around, but no one else has noticed the argument brewing between him and Gavin.
“Me too,” Gavin says.
“I appreciate the apology, but you guys need to both calm down,” I tell them.“We’re all on the same team here.”
“Even if we have different ideas about how to play the game,” Ryder adds.He holds out his hand to Gavin.“I’m sorry, Gavin.I let my temper and fear get the better of me.You’re a great alpha and I’m honored to be your beta.”
“Thanks, Ryder.”Gavin shakes his hand.“I’m sorry too.You’re the best beta an alpha could have.”
“Thanks,” Ryder says.“And you’re right that trying to provoke this person could be too dangerous.The last thing either of us wants is for someone else to get hurt.”
“I appreciate your dedication,” Gavin tells him.“And your passion.But I’m glad you’re willing to try my approach.If it doesn’t work, I promise we’ll reevaluate our plans together.”
Ryder nods, and Gavin looks at me.
“Hannah, I want to make something very clear.You’ve probably already figured this out, but let me say it anyway.”
I wait, feeling my own muscles tense up.Gavin still looks so serious.What is he going to tell me?What was I supposed to have figured out?
“You have the full protection of the Stone pack,” Gavin continues, and I let out a relieved breath.“For as long as you’re in Stonehaven and probably even after that, if you want.We consider you a member of the pack now, and that means we’ll protect you with our lives.And not just because of our ties to the Blackwood pack but because we care about you.”
“Thank you, Gavin,” I say, genuinely touched.“I just hope it doesn’t come to that, for everyone’s sake.”
“Don’t mind Gavin,” Ryder says with a teasing glint in his eyes.“He masks emotion with being very stern.”He says those last two words in a near-perfect imitation of Gavin, and both brothers laugh.
“And Ryder loves to undercut sentiment with jokes he thinks are funnier than they are,” Gavin says, taking a playful swipe at his brother’s head.
“Ow!”Ryder protests.He bares his teeth and snaps them at Gavin.“Better sleep with one eye open.”
“I always do,” Gavin says and they laugh again.
I laugh too although joking about being on high alert seems a little inappropriate, given what we’re all dealing with.But both Gavin and Ryder seem to find it hilarious, and I’m glad that they stopped arguing.
“Okay, it’s getting late,” Gavin says when they’ve calmed down.“Ryder, you and Hannah should get going.”
“I thought I was staying in the main house tonight,” I say in surprise.
“There’s actually another place that is better suited,” Ryder says.“But it’s a bit of a drive, so we should get going.”
“Okay,” I say, confused.“Um, good night.”I look to Gavin as Ryder puts his hand on my shoulder.
“You’ll be fine,” Gavin says reassuringly.
“I’m taking Hannah to the cottage,” Ryder says as we pass his parents.
