Page 72 of Hayden's Haven
“You don’t think I could take my brother.” Hayden sounded offended.
“I didn’t say that. I don’t want to risk you in a fight, that’s all.”
“Of course not,” he said, brushing by her as he headed into the bedroom. She stood by the dark fireplace, feeling chilled but not from the lack of fire.
Hayden finished dressing in a white cable-knit sweater, which for some reason reminded her of his white wolf. She had never seen him wear white before. Now, it was as if he was flaunting the color, as if he needed to prove something to her, or maybe Damien. He was headed there directly, without bothering to eat breakfast.
“I’ll go with you,” she said. Just wait for me to get changed. She rushed back into the bedroom, suddenly remembering she didn’t have any clothing here. She had shifted in the woods. After Vance attacked, Hayden had brought her directly here. She hastily searched through his clothes. The robe was probably the best option given anything he had would float on her. Hell, she didn’t even have shoes. She found an old pair of his sneakers and stuffed extra socks in the toes to take up some of the room. It wasn’t ideal, but it would last until she got back to Aloe’s.
Mila rushed back into the living room. “I hope you don’t mind that—” She stopped, dead cold. Hayden had left without her.
* * *
HAYDEN
Hayden didn’t wait for Mila because this conversation with Damien would likely not end well, and he didn’t want her caught in the middle trying to make peace between them. For that matter, he planned to suggest to Damien that he tell Tess to leave if she was home. If this turned ugly, then neither of the women should be present.
“Coward,” someone called from across the compound.
Hayden stopped for a moment, thought about turning to see who it was with the big mouth, but then did what he usually did. He kept walking. It wasn’t worth his time to find the idiot and show him just how hewasn’ta coward.
“They know,” Mila whispered beside him.
Hell, he had been so lost in thought he hadn’t heard her sneak up behind him. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he noticed the three guards trailing her. Yes, Damien would watch over her if Hayden was no longer around. That knowledge comforted Hayden.
“Secrets are hard to come by here,” he said, trying to be polite. Perhaps in her pack, it was different. Maybe they were more spread out. Damn shifter hearing was a blessing and a curse.
He thought of telling Mila to leave, that this meeting with Damien was private, but her presence would give him and Damien an excuse to get rid of Tess too. They could ask Tess to take Mila somewhere, maybe town to shop for some clothes. By his count, aside from the clothing she had shredded during her shift yesterday, she only had a dress and another pair of jeans.
As they walked up Damien’s front steps, Mila slipped her hand in his. Her touch, god help him, brought him such peace and strength. She was smart, brave, and caring, everything a shifter could want in a mate—and she was his.
He entered without knocking. Part of him felt bad for that, given how he knew Tess frowned on shifters entering without knocking, but he had a message of his own for his alpha.
“Relax,” Mila whispered at his side. “Doctor’s orders.”
He quirked a brow and was tempted to flirt with her, that need to put a smile on her face ever-present. That’s when Damien rose from the table in the kitchen. Tess was nowhere in sight, but Blade was in the kitchen with Damien, a cup of coffee on the table in front of him. Curious, considering those two rarely talked so casually. Business between Damien and Blade was usually in Damien’s office.
“Perhaps you should go find Tess, find some clothes,” Hayden said, flashing Mila a quick smile. “Maybe go shopping in town. You’re running low, and now that you’re shifting again, you’ll need more than the one dress and pair of jeans, at least until Aloe returns.”
“If Aloe returns,” Damien added.
If.Aloe would be killed along with the rest of Liam’s pack unless Hayden challenged Drake. “There is nothing you or anyone can do that will make me fight my brother.”
“That’s twice you’ve referred to Drake as your brother,” Damien said.
“Heismy brother.”
“I can’t recall the last time you referred to him as your brother though. Suddenly, you’re talking as if you owe him something. Have I lost your loyalty, Hayden?”
“I’ve always been loyal to you.”
“Have been. Past tense. What aboutnow?”
“Don’t make me do this, Damien.”
“Make you answer if you’re loyal to me, or make you challenge Drake?”
It was a good question, a fair question. “I’ll always be loyal to you. I haven’t forgotten what you’ve done for me, but I can’t—I won’t—challenge Drake.”
