Page 61 of In Your Eyes
“You wore me out,” he said, his eyelids drooping closed.
The feeling was mutual. I rested my head on his shoulder and held him tight as I fell asleep, our bodies still tied together.
SOMEDAY,OURlives would fall into a predictable pattern with no drama or violence. But that day had not yet arrived. A knock on the front door, followed by the doorbell ringing, and then another knock woke me up. I squinted at the alarm clock. It was four in the morning.
“Whoever that is, I’m going to kill them,” I mumbled into my pillow.
“No. It’s my turn. You got to do all the killing yesterday.”
They pounded on the door again. With a growl of frustration, I threw the blanket off me, climbed out of bed, and started stomping toward the door.
“Clothes,” Korban reminded me.
I grunted, got dressed in a rush, and hustled down the stairs. It couldn’t have taken me more than a minute, but they’d rung the doorbell another half-dozen times in the interim. Despite their best efforts to drown themselves in liquor, I recognized the scents of the shifters waiting for me before I saw them.
Rick Collins led with his fist, swinging at me the instant I opened the door. I ducked, grabbed his wrist, twisted his arm behind his back, and pinned him to the wall. I turned my head and glared at Damon Huntsworth.
“Oh God,” he said, raising his hands up and stepping back. “I didn’t… I wasn’t… I told him to stop. I was trying to get him back in the car.” He pointed at a car parked partially in the driveway and partially in the yard. Both doors were flung open and the engine was still on.
“I know what I saw,” Rick slurred. “You’re lying so you can stay as Alpha, but I know what you did to the tribute.”
I pulled him back and then shoved him into the wall again. “His name is Korban Keller. Use it.”
“You’re sick,” he said. “I bet you’re enjoying this right now, aren’t you?”
I truly wasn’t. Not even the part where I’d bested him while half-asleep and without breaking a sweat.
A car sped around the corner. It skidded to a stop in front of my house. Jason Clemson and Paul Strickland jumped out.
“Rick, stop,” Jason begged. “My father told you he talked to Samuel. He told you he was fine. He’s our Alpha.”
“He can’t be Alpha. He’s a pervert.” He thrust his butt back, pushing it against my groin. “Look what he’s doing to me right now. I bet he’s hard.”
“He better not be,” Korban said from behind me, amusement lacing his voice.
“Very funny,” I responded.
“Who is that?” Rick asked, twisting his head to the left and then to the right.
“That’s Korban, my mate. I’ll let you go so you can see for yourself, but you have to calm down.”
“Fine,” he agreed.
I released him and stepped back. Within seconds, he turned around and jumped on me again, fists swinging.
“Rick, no!” Paul yelled.
“Damn it!” I said, avoiding his hands as I kicked his feet out from under him, sending him to the ground. I placed my foot on his chest and held him in pace. “You need to stop, Rick.”
He had come to my home, repeatedly attacked me, and insulted me in front of my pack members. But I couldn’t bring myself to be angry. Instead, I felt sorry for him.
With a sigh, I bent down, grabbed his arms, and helped him to his feet, keeping a tight grip on him. He wriggled and grunted, trying to get free.
“Rick,” I said quietly, my voice almost a whisper. “I appreciate your concern about how you believe I treated someone. It’s important for all pack members, the Alpha included, to be held accountable for their actions.”
He stopped struggling and stared at me.
“And I’m glad you’re brave enough to call me on a perceived injustice.”
