Aline Hunter - Enemy Mine

“You’re safe here,” he finally said, unable to leave without saying something— anything . He glanced over his shoulder and saw she was staring at the hands she’d placed in her lap, her fingers wrapped together to form one large fist. “I’ll come back later with Doc so he can make sure you’re okay.”

She nodded but didn’t look at him. The rejection hit him square in the chest. Of everything he’d considered, the one thing he hadn’t counted on was how vulnerable he’d feel if she turned him away, how lost. His life had no meaning until he met Mary. Without her there would be no reason to exist, no light in the darkness that was his world.

Despite the wolf’s agonized howl in his head, he stepped from the room and closed the door—but he didn’t leave. Instead he waited outside, protecting her in the only way he could, and gave his mate the space she asked for.

Sadie Dumus remained in the shadows as she studied the object of her obsession. Trey reclined in a lounge chair on the back patio of the fire station, drowning his sorrows with a bottle of Jack Daniels. He was delectable even when he looked like shit, his dark hair a mess on his head, the heavy growth on his face almost thick enough to be considered a beard. The last time she’d seen him he’d taken more care with his appearance.

Now it seemed he no longer cared.

She reached out to him with her telepathy, listening to his thoughts. The fury that assailed her almost broke her veil—the only thing that prevented the shifters all around her from detecting her presence. She tamped down the fury that consumed her, separating her feelings from Trey’s. He was an absolute mess, full of self-loathing and misery. The alcohol helped, dulling some of his grief. But it wasn’t enough, not nearly enough. Long gone was the proud male who could be powerful one minute and playful the next. In his place was a man who recognized only revenge, death and retribution.

Guilt slammed into her, the impact hard and direct.

This was her fault, the blame settling directly on her shoulders.

If only she’d known he would deteriorate to this state, she could have made different decisions. Such as entrusting her coven to protect the city, handing over the reins for once. But no. Instead she’d focused on Aldon Frost—the power-hungry vampire who was a threat to all of humanity—and allowed her responsibilities to overcome her emotions. Making things worse was the fact she hadn’t learned a damn thing about Aldon. He’d covered his tracks too well, making his actions impossible to predict.

The human male who had recently been accepted into the pack approached Trey, his movements almost as smooth as a shifter’s. Sadie knew to avoid his thoughts, recalling only too well the heartache and loss the man had suffered. The deaths of his wife and unborn child had changed him, leaving his heart as hard and cold as ice. She’d always been told you could see death in some people, and Caden Stone was the personification of a mortal grim reaper, as likely to kill you as look at you. The man would cut someone’s throat, leave their body where it dropped and sleep like a baby when he went to bed hours later.

“Good evening, Cade.” Trey acknowledged his guest with the dip of his chin, his words slightly slurred.

“Is it? I didn’t notice,” Cade responded and took a seat across from Trey, resting the beer bottle in his hand on his knee. “Not in the mood for a family reunion, I take it.”

“Nope,” Trey retorted and took another swig of Jack.

“Can’t say I blame you.” He glanced at the bottle in Trey’s grasp. “But I’m not sure drinking is the solution to your problems.”

“Is that right? Funny, I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”

Cade smirked. “When has that ever stopped me?”

Trey shrugged and gazed into the trees lined along the property. “It was worth a shot.”

“Want to discuss what happened upstairs?” Cade inquired casually and nursed his beer.

“A dispute between siblings,” Trey muttered, shifting his weight in his chair. “It happens.”

“My understanding is you threatened the girl we brought here.” Cade’s voice changed, becoming deep, a warning evident. “Scared the hell out of her, so I’m told.”

“Then your understanding is shit and you need better snitches to keep you informed.” Trey snorted. “I only wanted to ask a few questions.”

“She’s got enough to deal with without pressure from you.” Cade leaned forward and rested his elbows on the arms of his chair. “You’re going to have to get past who her family is and think about what she means to Emory.”

“A Shepherd in the fucking pack.” Trey laughed, the sound cynical. “A constant reminder of what we’ll never get back. That’ll be real easy to get past.”

“Everyone is going to take cues from you on how to treat her,” Cade said quietly. “If you turn your back on her, they will too.”

“What the fuck would you know about it?”

“Enough.”

“Don’t worry so much.” Trey waved absently toward the house. “Diskant and Ava have already welcomed her to the fold. She’s officially a member of our big happy family. None of the pack would dare fuck with that female. Not if they know what’s good for them.”

“Maybe not,” Cade agreed, nodding slowly, “but just because they’re polite doesn’t mean they’ll accept her or make the transition any easier.”

Trey whipped his head around and studied Cade, grinning in a smug manner that Sadie detested. “Just look at you, protective and pissed-off over a female. I didn’t think you had it in you. Maybe I should warn my brother that he’s got competition. Shifter rule number one: never trust a human male around your mate. They don’t understand the concept of keep your hands to your fucking self.”

Cade’s gray eyes narrowed. “She’s human, one of my kind. If you think I’ll let you shit on her because you’re holding a grudge against the world, you’ve got another think coming.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Do you want it to be?”

Sadie’s heart sped up. She watched the men, feeling the tension intensifying between them. Although Trey was a shifter, Caden had years of extensive physical training under his belt. The glimpses she’d gained from the mortal’s head warned her he would be a danger, someone who wouldn’t go down easily. With the way Trey was behaving, as well as his current state of intoxication, it could go from a brawl to a bloodbath in minutes.

Trey threw the bottle of Jack into nearby bushes and rose from his chair. “That’s it. Put away the beer. Let’s see if your pussy ass can cash the checks your mouth writes.”

Cade didn’t move. “I’m not going to fight you. You don’t deserve the satisfaction of getting your ass kicked.”

“You? Kick my ass? I’m going to enjoy making you eat those words.” Trey cracked his neck and swayed from side to side, his equilibrium obviously affected by the alcohol he’d consumed. “I’m going to rack your balls so hard you won’t be able to walk for days. You’ll be lucky to bust a nut without crying like a girl when I’m done.”

“You’re so wasted you’d be lucky if you touched me at all.” Cade lifted his head, meeting Trey’s gaze. “Go find a room and sleep it off. You don’t want your family to see you like this.”

Trey snarled and had stepped toward the human when feminine giggles brought him short. He lifted his gaze, nostrils flaring, and studied the small group of shifters who approached—all of them female.

“Why don’t you put that energy to better use?” One of the woman tottered forward in skimpy leather pants, a matching corset and boots with spiked heels. The drink in her hand sloshed around the rim of the glass as the red liquid swayed from side to side.