Page 64 of Tempest

“Quit blinding them with your pearly whites and get out of the way,” a deep, growly voice said, and Cash suppressed a chuckle as Nero rolled his eyes but did as he was told.

A few steps from the bottom was a copper-skinned man Cash would recognize anywhere.

“Hey, Dare,” he said, holding his hand out. As the wolf moved closer to him, he gave him a quick handshake and then pointed at Ore. “This is Ore.”

He nodded at him before turning to Cash. “I’m going to get our SUVs ready.”

And then he turned and walked into the hangar without saying anything else.

Cash glanced at his mate and wasn’t surprised to see the barely disguised horror on his face. It wasn’t over Dare’s abrupt personality. It was because of the scar that ran down the left side of his face and clouded his left eye. Cash didn’t know if he had any vision left in it, but either way, it didn’t stop him from being a fierce and very competent second-in-command to Quinten.

Ore met his eyes, and he knew he would have questions later. But more people were coming down the stairs, so they didn’t have time to focus on Dare’s traumatic life. He hoped his mate didn’t expect an answer on how he’d gotten scarred because Cash had no idea, just like he didn’t know what had happened to Liam to leave permanent claw marks on him.

The next two to exit the plane were also people he knew.

Nico and his mate, Keegan, had spent a little time with their pack about a year ago. Keegan had been in bad shape, thanks to his fucked-up mom torturing him, and Nico had promiseda favor from Rick in exchange for Liam’s help and allowing Keegan to stay with them until he was better. Liam had agreed because the last thing he was was a fool. Having the most powerful alpha on the continent owe you a favor was something he couldn’t turn down.

Nico was nearly as big and wide as Darius, but he definitely had more of Nero’s personality, a grin always at the ready.

“Hey. Cash, right?” Nico said, hurrying down the last few steps and clasping Cash on his upper arm. “Good to see you again, man.”

“And you,” Cash said, nodding politely.

Nico had only been with them a couple of days before heading back to his pack, and they hadn’t spent a lot of time together. He gave a soft smile to Keegan, who was a little shorter than his mate and not as bulky, his skin dark brown compared to Nico’s pale white.

“You’ve been good?” Cash asked, and the witch nodded at him, grinning widely.

“Finally bagged this one,” Keegan said, jerking his thumb at his mate. “And then got settled in with the Kincaids just before they decided to… give themselves a little more responsibility.”

“One way of putting it,” Cash said dryly. He turned to his mate. “Ore, this is Nico and Keegan. They visited us last year for a while.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“Same,” Nico said as Keegan smiled and nodded and then herded his mate out of the way.

Behind them was someone he wasn’t familiar with. He had alabaster skin, freckles, red hair, and was tall, maybe even taller than Liam. He was followed closely by a stockier Latino who Cash was surprised to find was human but not a witch.

An odd choice for Kincaid to send. He didn’t want to have to keep an eye on his mate and some human who didn’t know how to handle himself around shifters.

“Welcome to Silver Oak,” he said, waiting until they both hit the ground before extending his hand.

“I’m Marcus Rivera,” the redhead said, “and this is my mate, Robson Medina.”

Cash gave them a polite smile. “Thank you for agreeing to help us.”

A wide grin spread across Robson’s face. “Don’t worry, man. I’ve got some tactical experience from the military and from the Kincaid Pack.”

Marcus gave his mate a soft, proud smile. “Robson helps train the betas in our pack as well as any other members who want lessons in fighting.”

Cash was impressed. Most humans couldn’t stand a chance against even an untrained shifter. He had a feeling he could maybe even learn something from this particularly cocky one.

Two more people stepped out of the plane, and then the man he assumed was the pilot brought up the rear. The woman with wild blonde curls he knew, but the other man behind her he’d never met before. He was younger, so he was guessing a beta and either Latino or Mediterranean based on his dark tan.

“Cash,” the blonde said, grinning brightly at him and coming right over to wrap him in a hug. He smelled a surge of anger from his little bit, but Ore didn’t say anything.

“Ericka.” He loosely wrapped his arms around her, not looking to piss off his mate. “Been a minute.”

She laughed, bright and cheery, and stepped back. The lioness had come with Nico last year and then stuck around to keep an eye on Keegan and his sister since she would blend in and was less well-known than the big Enforcer.

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