Page 47 of Just Dare Me
He drills his toes deeper into the dirt, gritting his teeth. “But it’s fair.”
“It’s fair, why?”
Randy recites his answer mechanically, as if memorized from a flashcard. “Because she’s being honest, and honesty is respect.”
Nolan smiles, and Blanche curls her boy into a hug. “That’s so good, sweetheart. Dad will be so proud of you. Should we go see him?”
Randy brightens at the idea. “I’m going to tell him the plan. If Ben comes back, we’ll tell him to stay. Shayne has no say, because she’s not pack anymore.”
Blanche raises a finger to reprimand him, but I cut her off. “You’re exactly right, Randy. Don’t listen to anything I say.”
“I won’t,” he chirps happily before shifting and sprinting away.
Blanche winces at me. “Sorry, I hope that doesn’t, like…” She waves her hands in a confused motion. “I don’t know.Chafewith your dominance. I mean, the alpha coming off you, it feels a lot like Ray’s.”
“What does that mean? Like, it’s a lot?”
Nolan raises a concerned brow. “It’s a lot.”
I groan. “Well, shit. So, what, like, now everybody’s going to look at me different?”
“Do we really have a choice? It’s biology, Shayne.”
“But it doesn’t make any sense. If this came from Bunica, why didn’t we ever feel it from her? Where’s it been all this time?”
“I don’t know,” Blanche says. “Why don’t you ask Mom?”
“Oh, that’s hilarious.”
She turns her palms up. “I mean, since you’re staying the night.”
“Wait, I am?”
“That’s not a command, of course. I wouldn’tdreamof commanding my dominant baby sister.”
“Okay, this is already getting really old.”
“It’s an invitation, for you and your friends.Please.” She gives me a respectful bow of the head, then shifts, escaping into the woods before I can answer.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Nolan says, rubbing his knuckles through his lumberjack beard. “There’s too much to do. Gotta let the Agency know what happened. Gotta debrief and regroup, because East Side just took the initiative, and now we’ll have to hit them hard and fast, before Detroit’s turned into a flaming crater hole.”
My eyes grow wide. “Well,nowI’m thinking all that!”
“And we will, Shayne. Just not today. You deserve that much. We all do.”
He’s not wrong. A night off with Jay?Pffft, are you kidding?But still… “And if East Side blows us all up first thing tomorrow morning?”
“Then you’ll be glad you spent one last night with your family.” Knowing he’s got me beat, Nolan turns to walk away.
Jay steps forward. “Nolan.”
Nolan stops. Glances back over his shoulder.
“These last few months, me and the Windsor clan had eyes on Shayne practically 24/7, trailing her every move. In the process, we got pretty familiar with a few other faces that were never too far away, always watching out, checking in with Shayne. I owe a debt to those people.” Jay extends his hand.
Nolan considers it. I know he gets squeamish about this sort of touchy-feely thing, but Jay has nailed just the right tone. If he’d actually said the wordsthank you, Nolan would’ve made some glib remark about doing his duty, just so he could avoid sayingyou’re welcome. But a handshake requires no words. A handshake, he can do.
And he does. With a solid grip, he gives a firm shake and a nod. Done. He walks away without shifting.
