Page 6 of Midnight Hunt

“Why weren’t you with her?” Griff interrupted him, lifting his head from the crook of my neck to glare at my boyfriend.

“We decided to meet back at the apartment after the game. She had an errand to run.”

“And you let her go, just like that?”

“Of course.”

“But we entrusted her to you. It’s your job to keep hersafe. She shouldn’t be wandering the city by herself.”

“Vi is a grown woman and doesn’t take orders from me,” Reid replied, a slight edge to his voice. “I don’t know how you do things in the Midnight Pack, but in the Lunar Falls Pack, we allow our females to come and go as they please.”

“Even the unclaimed ones?”

“Yes.”

Griff scoffed. “Some alpha you’ll make some day.”

“Okay,enough,” I finally interjected before things could escalate.

When I started to pull away, Griff reluctantly let go of me. At the loss of his touch, Sable released a low whine. Ignoring her, I faced the guys, surprised to discover that Jagger had come as well. I took in his familiar light brown skin and serious blue gray eyes, noting that he must have given his black hair a fresh shave while I was away. He stood just inside the apartment like a silent sentinel, the diamond studs in his ears contrasting sharply with his black attire.

“Reid isn’t to blame for what happened,” I continued, relieved when my voice remained steady. “It was my idea to meet back here after the game. Besides, he’s right. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself.”

“We know that, Vi,” Kolton calmly replied, even as his dark amber eyes narrowed on the tear in my Rebel’s jersey. “Griff was just worried. We all were. We’re not used to you being so far away from home, and this attack has us all on edge.”

At his confession, I deflated like a balloon, realizing just how homesick I’d been now that they were here. I hurried across the room to hug my brother, and as he folded me into his arms, I soaked up his steady strength before murmuring, “Please don’t tell me you guys took the jet.”

“Of course we took the jet.”

Groaning, I stuck out a fist behind Kolton’s back. “Hey, Jag.” The pack’s second in command silently bumped my knuckles. I knew better than to attempt a hug with him. “Sorry I freaked you all out. You really didn’t need to come. I’m perfectly fine.”

“I smell blood,” Jagger quietly remarked.

“Where?” Griff demanded. In an instant, he was across the room and tugging me from Kolton’s arms.

“Griff,” I groaned again, batting his hands away as he tried to find my injuries. “It was just a few cuts and bruises, and they’ve already healed. No need to fuss.”

Peering around him, I gave Reid an apologetic look. He’d seen the guys in protective mode before, but this was excessive. Still, my heart warmed at the realization that they’d missed me too.

“I’ve already contacted Alpha DeRosa, but I’ll need to see him while we’re here,” Kolton said, his tone all business. “I could use your help if you have time, Reid.”

“Sure,” my boyfriend immediately replied. “He’ll want a full report anyway. I was about to contact him myself.”

“Good. If Vi’s attackers are members of his pack, I have no doubt that he’ll properly punish them, but I need assurances that this won’t happen again while Vi is visiting his territory.”

“I’ll go too,” I started, only for Kolton to shake his head at me.

“Reid, Jagger, and I can take care of this. Griff will take you home. Gather your things. The jet is already waiting for you.”

“But you need me to describe what my attackers looked like to Alpha DeRosa.”

“Reid can do that. Until we get to the bottom of this attack, I don’t want you here any longer than necessary.”

“But I’mfine,” I pressed, frustrated that he was pulling both the big brother and pack alpha card on me. “Once Sable got involved, there was no way they were getting me into that SUV.”

“They tried tokidnapyou?” Griff roared, nearly making me jump. “That’s it. You’re not staying here another minute. Let’s go.”

He snagged my arm, but I jerked it free and shouted, “Wait!” When they all blinked at me in surprise, I inhaled a calming breath before saying, “Can we slow down here, please? I know you’re all just trying to keep me safe, but if I leave the way you want me to, it’ll make me look weak. Let me go on my own terms. I want to drive my Jeep home.”

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