Page 399 of Love Bites

“No.”

He titled his head. “And why not?”

“Beckett had sex in that car and I’d rather see it burn. I want to sell it to a stranger so I never have to see it again.”

“Tell you what. I’ll see what I can do about taking the car off your hands, and I promise—it’ll be gone for good.”

That was a relief. Buying or selling a car was stressful, and I didn’t really know how to handle those things. “Thanks, Austin. I’d appreciate it.”

Denver appeared and his voice boomed. “We got company!”

“Who?” Austin’s eyes were bright and alert.

“Jericho’s hunting them down.” Denver hopped on one foot while shoving the other into a sneaker. “We were twenty yards from the house and—”

“Shifters?” Austin peeled off his shirt and his abs tensed.

Denver flicked his eyes to me. “Yeah. One of them said we have an unclaimed bitch and he wanted to meet her.”

My eyes narrowed. “Who’s he calling a bitch?”

“Word’s out then,” Austin muttered. “Doesn’t take long. How the hell do they know about her?”

Denver shrugged as he tied his laces. “Only an alpha would have smelled her if she was close to the change. You been near any alphas?” Denver asked.

“How would I know? I get a ton of customers coming in and out of my store and I couldn’t tell you an alpha from a beta. Are you saying you can smell me?”

Denver quirked a smile and quickly switched over to a serious face. “They didn’t state what pack they belonged to. If Jericho tracks them down, you should have a talk with their Packmaster. I wouldn’t recommend going after them yourself,” he said, eyeing Austin who was squeezing his hands into fists. “You know the consequences if an alpha attacks another pack on the offense without provocation, especially if they’re not on our turf. Rules, bro. Play by ’em.”

In that moment, I saw wisdom in Denver as an older brother, even though he didn’t look it. Austin was in charge, but their experience would serve to provide him with invaluable advice.

Austin pointed at him and replied in a chillingly cool voice. “He’dbetterfind them. Stay outside and keep guard. I don’t want anyone sniffing around my territory. Have Jericho mark the perimeter and leave a warning.”

“Let me just go get him some Gatorade,” Denver said with a suppressed smile and a song in his voice, hitching up his jeans in the back as he sauntered out of the room.

Austin looked me over and released a breath he must have been holding in. “You’re staying here tonight.”

I sprang up. “I have to go to work tomorrow, Austin. I feel better and my work clothes are at home.”

“Call in sick and I’ll go pick up your things. They’re not going to fire you for having the flu.”

“Wait a second,” I protested, inching my way toward the hallway. “I’ll agree to stay here the night, but I go home tomorrow. Period. This isn’t a request. You can’t waltz into my life and start making decisions for me. I have a job, a family, and a life to live. Okay, so maybe I’m dealing with a little bit more… like the fact I’m a wolf.”

I paused. This was too much.

“Do you guys really call us bitches?”

Austin made a little grunt that sounded like he found my question inane. “It doesn’t have any negative connotations with Shifters. It just is what it is.”

“I still have a problem with it.” The bottom of my feet were sticky against the wood floor as I paced in a small circle. “Better warn your brothers, Austin. I’m dead serious. I’ve been called a lot of things, but bitch is one name I don’t tolerate very well.”

He leaned forward. Just a little. “Who’s calling you names?” he asked, and I didn’t care for the darkness in his voice.

“No one. Since when did you become so concerned with my life?”

There was an uncomfortable silence between us as he swallowed thickly, like he wanted to say something. “I’m going to check the locks on the doors and windows. If you’re hungry, there’s plenty in the kitchen. The boys will be out all night; that’s usually the deal when it’s Shifter’s night at the bar. Denver will let us know if something’s up. I don’t have any concerns. This ismyturf. Sounds like they were just checking you out. Someone got them riled up about an unclaimed woman in town—someone knows about you.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know who that could be. I wouldn’t know how to spot a Shifter.”

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