Not fucking good.
“I’m warning you,” he threatened, growling, “I’m not feeling very social right now.”
“That’s obviously not true,” Simone countered, arching a brow at Rachel. With a glance down at Declan’s crotch—her eyes hovering over his erection—she added, “You seem to be very social right now.”
“Who the fuck are you?” Rachel, love her, apparently didn’t give a shit about her attire. She slid out of the seat, her livid gaze homed on Simone.
“The better question would be,” Simone inhaled, nostrils flaring as she scented the air, “who the fuck are you?”
“My mate,” Declan answered, snaking an arm around Rachel’s waist. “And as you can see we’re busy. So piss off.”
Simone paused, staring openly at Rachel. Declan knew when the werebitch smelled the change, identifying the burgeoning wolf within his female. Taking her attention from Rachel, Simone studied him, shaking her head.
“Really?” she said, laughing. “You’re mating a mutt?”
Rachel froze when the insult struck home. Declan wanted to knock the hell out of the female. True, Rachel wasn’t a full-blooded werewolf or Halfling but she belonged to his pack. That gave her value. A respectful member of any pack didn’t sling mud at others. Simone knew better. The bitch simply didn’t care. He’d never struck a female before in his life but he found himself sorely tempted.
“Better a mutt than a slut,” Rachel snapped hotly, trying to wriggle from his arm, “A man will always take a bitch to bed but that doesn’t mean she’s suitable material when it’s time to meet Momma.”
Shit.
Rachel hadn’t shifted yet but he still felt the strength of her beast. And no wonder. Rachel was all iron will, ready to engage in battle and throw the fuck down. He felt the hum from her, the way her muscles collected as she prepared to pounce. As an added precaution he wrapped his other arm around her midsection, creating an unbreakable hold. She might be able to hold her own against a human but she had to shift before she could take down a werewolf bitch.
“Simone,” he hissed, baring his fangs, “I’ll let Jackson know how you feel about the newest member of the pack. I’m sure he’ll want to let everyone know how you welcomed her to our family.”
“Simone?” Rachel asked, going eerily still at his side.
Glancing down, he asked softly, “You know her?”
“I want to go back to the car,” she whispered, lowering her gaze. “Please let me go.”
Had Chloe told her about Simone? Had his Lupa had a chance to share the pack’s suspicions about the female before he’d burst into his bedroom earlier that morning?
He tried to get a read on Rachel’s scent but Simone interrupted them—again.
“By all means,” the haughty female retorted, hands on her hips, her red lacquered nails bright and shiny. “Tell him. I’ll be sure to show you the same courtesy. I have a feeling I’m not the only one who hasn’t gotten the wonderful news regarding your mating. It seems Jackson’s keeping a lot of secrets nowadays.”
His mating—while not vital to the pack hierarchy, necessarily—was something the other packs would want to know about as soon as possible. As a Beta they trusted him to be up front in all matters just as they were. As soon as Simone got home and opened her mouth Jackson would find more shit steaming up his already full plate. They’d want to know how long Jackson had known about Declan’s mating and why he hadn’t spoken up about the matter. If they found out Rachel had been human and that Jackson had given Declan permission to change her without consulting the Alphas in the area things might turn sour.
“Let go,” Rachel whispered, squirming away from him.
He almost didn’t. Something told him it was best to keep her close. But she seemed calm, almost strangely so. He let go and she walked back to the door and climbed into the SUV. He tore his eyes from his mate and attuned himself to Simone. He’d never liked the woman but he’d never truly hated her.
Until now.
“Word around the packs is you left town.” Simone smiled, cherry-red lips parting into a wide smile. “The newest addition to your pack didn’t have anything to do with your absence, did it?”
“I have five words for you,” he replied, getting ready to close Rachel’s door and leave, “None of your fucking business.”
Rachel took him off guard, slamming her feet into his chest when he made it to her. He hit the ground in a blink, using all the speed within him to get back on his feet. In that time his feisty little mate had crossed over to Simone, wielding the tire iron he kept beneath his passenger seat for emergencies. Simone was old and quick enough to avoid the blows, granting him enough time to reach Rachel. He wasn’t easy or timid as he caught her, wrapping his arms around her middle.
She screamed in fury, kicking and waving the length of metal in her hand. “You don’t know who you’re fucking with,” she roared, her voice deeper than normal.
“Calm down.”
He called on his strength as a Beta, trying to quiet the wolf inside Rachel that was new to the world and therefore confused. It needed more time to develop. Unstable emotions were all Rachel had given it thus far. Since she couldn’t shift the rage would only intensify, creating fury that had no outlet.
Not yet.
“Listen to me, Rachel. Calm down.”
Realizing she wasn’t going to get free, Rachel threw the tire iron at Simone’s face. Simone moved but the sharp edge caught her cheek, breaking the skin. Simone brought her hand up, eyes saucered as she assessed the injury. Blood seeped past her fingers, matching the color of her nails, her skin healing but not quickly enough.
“That’s only a sample of what’s coming to you,” Rachel snarled, fighting him for all she was worth. “Next time there won’t be anyone holding me back. I’ll kick your ass good and proper. You’d better pack a lunch. It’s going to be an all-day fucking affair!”
Son of bitch! Has she always been this brutal?
“That’s enough,” he thundered, walking to the passenger side door to close it. Since he didn’t trust Rachel he stormed to the driver’s side. Even if it meant driving for a couple of miles with her in her arms, traveling with his door open, he had to leave.
He couldn’t keep Rachel in line like this.
He’d only seen a similar fury once before, after a rowdy pup playing football had flown into the spectator area of a park and injured Gage. One tiny cry—the unbearable echo of his sister’s pain—and his dad had gone batshit. Declan hadn’t been there to witness the event but he’d heard about it. Pops hadn’t taken it easy on the young male, unleashing his fury with his fists. His mother had been the only person who could pull his old man off the whimpering pup, pleading with him to listen.
If it hadn’t been for her, his father could have been tried for murder.
He’d nearly killed the fucker.
He felt for the poor bastard who mated with Gage. He wouldn’t have it easy. In fact, he’d have it pretty damn hard.
Dad will fucking kill him.
“You don’t have to worry about me.” Rachel squirmed against him, gaining his full attention. “I can take care of myself, you know. I’ve been doing it for years.”
“I’ll always worry about you. And you don’t need to take care of yourself anymore. Since you haven’t taken the hint let me spell it out—that’s my job.” He tried to remain cool and composed but it wasn’t easy. She itched like a rash under his skin, finding just the right places to poke and prod. “But you shouldn’t go starting shit with strangers. It’s not smart.”