Page 23 of Wolf Targeted
John said they were playing. Could he have mistaken Jara for playing with the pup when she was actually trying to wrangle her?
Libby can be a handful, and I know how much Jara cares for her, but she never should have gone into the forest knowing what she does about the humans.
“I’ll think about it, Patrick,” I say with a grunt.
“I’m grateful to her for finding Libby before someone else did, or gods forbid she was seen shifting by the humans,” Patrick whispers.
“Me too, but Jara should have found an enforcer to look for Libby if that’s what really happened.” I run a hand down my face.
The woman has no sense of self preservation. She can fight and she can win, but why does she have to make everything exceedingly difficult.
I stab at the phone screen to hang up.
The longer I drive, the angrier I get. She was reckless going into the forest by herself. She should have gotten Patrick to go look for his pup.
I pull into the drive too fast, but I don’t care. Rage tints my vision red. If Jara doesn’t want to protect herself and stop wandering off on her own, she’s going to have someone with her at all times.
The slam of the door cracks like a shot over the pack village, and I stomp to the door of the pack house. Quick footsteps follow behind me, but I don’t turn. I already know who’s there.
Her citrus and vanilla scent floats on the breeze. My spine stiffens as I slam the front door behind me and storm into my office.
I lean my forearms against the wall and squeeze my eyes shut. She’ll be in here in a minute, and I need to calm as much as possible so this doesn’t turn into yet another argument.
Thoughts of humans seeing her out in the forest and somehow hurting her play like a movie behind my eyes. I will not let that happen.
Even if she hates me for it, I will make sure she is protected.
The door clicks open, and quiet footsteps follow me into the room.
“How did your meeting go?” Jara asks.
I spin on her with a glare. “What were you thinking?”
“Me?”
“Why do you constantly defy me?” I stomp forward and wrap my hands around her arms.
Touching her is a bad idea, even when I’m angry. I want her so much. I can’t though. I have to be strong, and this woman is my weakness. A weakness I can admit to myself but no one else.
Not even her. Especially not her.
“It wasn’t like that, Archer. I was playing with Libby, and she went into the forest.” Jara stares into my eyes.
“You never should have gone into the forest on your own. You know the risks.” I push her back into the door, crowding her.
“You wanted me to leave her in the forest and go find someone to go with me to get her out?” she asks, exasperated.
Would I have done the same thing in her position? Yes, but I’m the alpha. I’m supposed to risk myself for my pack. Not her. Never her.
She’s not allowed to risk herself. She’s meant to be protected at all costs. She’s going to hate me for it, but I would rather have her hate me than her not be here at all.
“Yes,” I snarl. “Anything could have happened. You know the risks with the humans.”
“Those same things could have happened to Libby. It was worth the risk.”
“No, it was not.” I drop her arms and take a step back.
“Yes, it was worth the risk. You aren’t the only one that can put the members of this pack first.” She plants her hands on her hips.
