“We could cut out his tongue,” Declan offered.
“You’re disgusting,” Elsie snapped, narrowing her eyes at her pack mate. “Are you going to cut off his fingers too? He doesn’t have to talk. He could write the information down, you know.”
Rather than being offended, Declan shrugged. “Just putting it out there. And now that you mention it, cutting off his fingers is probably a good idea.” He peered over at Jackson. “Do you think the bastard can write with his feet too? Should we cut off his toes?”
Dear God, he can’t be serious.
Jackson slid his fingers under her hair, resting his palm against her neck. The gesture was comforting, slowing the beating of her heart. “That won’t be necessary,” he said quietly. “Andy’s safely caged. We’ll keep him there until the matter is settled.”
“You’re so cruel.” Declan laughed, eyes turning gold, his earlier anger gone. “Keeping him caged on the full moon.”
“It’s a light punishment compared to what he deserves.” Jackson curled his fingers around her nape, the motion disrupting random strands of hair, making her scalp tickle.
A knock at the door had them all glancing up. It wasn’t the first time someone had come to the parlor. Although Jackson’d had everyone park in the back and had flipped the sign to closed, people continued showing up for their appointments. Declan warned Jackson that three people were scheduled for ink. Since this was the third interruption, she assumed it had to be another unlucky person who’d shown up and wouldn’t get what he or she came for.
“We need to wrap this up.” Declan sat back in his seat, annoyance etched in his face. “Before undesirables start coming around.”
“So what’s the plan?” Clint asked.
Jackson’s lowered his eyes, meeting Chloe’s gaze.
Apparently she wasn’t the only one whose head was in the gutter.
She tried not to shiver at the heat in his stare, embarrassed to feel her nipples harden and her pussy contract. Everyone had to know what was transpiring between them, aware of what their Alpha had in store for his mate. Her own sense of smell was evolving and she swore she detected something spicy and thick in the air.
Jackson’s lust.
It shouldn’t have been possible but the scent called to her, blocking out the harsh odor of the sanitizers and chemicals the shop used to keep their tools clean.
“We need to face everyone as a unified pack,” Jackson answered, tearing his eyes from hers. “I want everyone to gather at Atrum Divide. Be there at five o’clock sharp. We’ll drive to the hunt together.”
Atrum Divide? No way.
She was only becoming accustomed to all things werewolf. She wasn’t ready to visit their local haunts. Humans stupid enough to venture into the supernatural bar never came back.
Jackson massaged her neck, working on the suddenly tense muscles. He leaned in for a quick kiss, brushing his lips over hers. “We’ll be leaving soon,” he told her, voice low. “After I bust your ass for testing me in front of the pack you can tell me what’s going through that head of yours.”
Her eyes went wide, cheeks becoming hot. She didn’t know which was more mortifying—that he’d threatened to spank her in front of the pack or that she felt a flutter in her tummy just thinking about being placed over his knee.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Wouldn’t I?”
Two words and she had her answer.
He totally would.
“What about your future grandpa-in-law?” Declan asked, tilting his head, studying their exchange. “We can’t take him inside The Divide. He’d have a heart attack.”
“I said we’d meet there, not that we’d go in, smartass,” Jackson retorted, pulling away from her. “Gather in the back lot near the rear entrance. We’ll head out as soon as everyone arrives. I’ll also need someone to miss the hunt. Once Fletcher addresses Gavin he’ll need to be escorted from the premises.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Shane responded before anyone else could. “No worries.”
For some reason Chloe got the impression Shane wanted to avoid the hunt. She wasn’t sure why. He appeared at ease with the pack but she sensed he kept everyone at a distance. She frowned as she studied the man, trying to figure him out. Perhaps the idea of sprouting fur and running all fours didn’t appeal to him either.
Yeah right.
From what she’d gathered the hunt brought wolves in the area together. They shifted, ventured into the enormous piece of property that was open only to their kind and allowed the animals inside them free rein.
Why would he want to miss something so important?
Another knock interrupted them—this one sounding much closer—forcing her to put her questions about Shane on hold. Everyone’s attention drifted to the hallway. One knock became two, then three. The back door to the building was right around the corner and someone was pounding on it.
“Jackson Donovan,” an angry, masculine voice bellowed. “Get your ass out here. I want a word with you.”
Jackson snarled, glaring at Declan. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
To his credit, Declan appeared uneasy. “With everything else going on, I forgot to tell you. Simone stopped by and informed me her father would be paying you a visit. She’s tired of waiting.”
“Who are you talking about?” Chloe asked, studying the reactions of those in the room. The mated couples had taken to whispering and the single males looked like they were preparing for a fight.
“That would be Ward Wilson. A decent guy with a bitch of a daughter,” Declan answered when no one else did. “Apparently she’s tired of being blown off.”
“Blown off?”
“Told no, turned away, given the shaft. You know—blown off.” Declan settled his intense gaze on her. “Simone Wilson has a thing for your boy toy.”
“Declan,” Jackson snapped, and Chloe could almost feel the fury coming from her lover. “You’re starting to piss me off.”
“Who’s Simone?”
“She’s from another pack,” Elsie shared before Declan could stoke the flames, giving the Beta an eat-shit-and-die glare. “She wants Jackson to agree to an arranged mating.”
The information did more than provide clarity—it also made Chloe furious.
Jackson was more than gorgeous, he was positively irresistible. Women the world over would take one look at the man and want him. But knowing a female had the audacity to try to force him into a relationship—one that would take him away from her—brought on a possessiveness that clawed at her insides.
“Did you lead her on?” A part of her wanted to wince when she heard how bitchy she sounded, like a scorned lover lashing out when she learned her man had been dipping his jimmy stick into other women. Maybe it was a werewolf thing but in the human world a father didn’t appear at a man’s doorstep unless someone had done something wrong. If she was going to put her pride on the line, she wanted to make she had a damn good reason.
“Hell no.” Despite everything that had transpired, Jackson had never let her go, resting his hand on her nape. She felt a sharp bite at her throat—his claws—as his fingers tightened around her neck. He dropped to a knee, bringing them eye to eye. “When we’re finally alone I’m going to show you why you shouldn’t have asked that question.” He waited for the words to sink in before he whispered, “You’re sexy when you’re jealous, Chloe girl.”
“Jackson!” Ward bellowed and another thunderous round of pounding resumed. “If you don’t open the door I’m breaking the fucker down.”
“At the risk of stating the obvious,” Shane offered quietly, completely serious and somber, “you should probably address the issue. The last thing you want is to face the pack with an Alpha on your back. Gavin will be bad enough.”