Page 75 of Midnight Hunt

“Sure you’re up for this?” Kolton asked me as we watched the first guests start to arrive. Jagger was directing cars into parking spots along the private drive, and the females and children were still inside, so it was just Kolton and me on the wide porch.

“Not really,” I openly admitted, “but this Alpha Meeting needs to happen. I’m glad you didn’t postpone or cancel it.”

“It’s definitely casual compared to the last one,” Kolton said, clearly still uncertain about his decision to host the meeting at the Rivers family estate.

Alpha Meetings were usually few and far between, but it was an opportunity for the hosts to display their influence, power, and wealth. The estate alone was worth hundreds of millions, but he and Nora had decided against decorating for the occasion. We weren’t even offering food or beverages to our esteemed guests.

After what had just happened to me and Vi, it didn’t seem appropriate.

“I had to wear a suit and tie at the last meeting,” I responded to Kolton’s comment. “This meeting is much more my style.”

He grunted at that, sweeping a glance over my business casual attire. I was wearing dark gray pants and a white collared shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbow. His apparel was similar to mine, and so was Jagger’s. “At least you’re wearing shoes.”

I barked a laugh. “They pinch my feet, but Vi would kill me if she caught me wearing flip-flops to this shindig.”

His gaze went to my right arm, to the spot where my snake tattoo should be. “How is she?”

Even though Vi was his sister, it didn’t feel strange to hear him ask me that question. They’d always been close, but she and I were closer, even as kids. If she needed to confide in someone, she usually went to me. Problem was, she had a tendency to bottle up her feelings and put up a brave front instead of talking things out. After the morning we’d just had together in my bed, though, I’d hoped to wake up and coax some of those feelings out of her. But she’d sneaked out of my room before I had a chance to.

With a quiet sigh, I answered Kolton, “Staying strong as always, but I’m worried. After visiting Randy’s family this afternoon to tell them the bad news, she went right back to work as if nothing had happened. She’s been through a lot lately, and I don’t think she’s taken the time to process any of it yet, including . . . including us.”

Kolton was silent for a long beat, then replied, “Although I was surprised that you two were intimate so soon after Reid broke up with her, I understand why. You’ve loved her for years and have always been there for her. After you started helping with her heat, I’d hoped you two would become a mated pair.”

I blinked, relieved to hear him say that. “Me too. I assumed she wasn’t interested in me that way, only to find out that she thoughtIwasn’t. She even thought I was ashamed to be helping her. That’s why she ended things between us last year, so I could move on and find a true mate.”

“Oh, Vi,” Kolton said, shaking his head. “I think she’s still holding on to what Arrow did to her. That, and she still blames herself for what happened afterward.”

I stared out at the cars quickly filling the private drive, the evening sky darkening by the minute. As if on cue, the tall lamps circling the roundabout and lining the narrow road flickered on, lighting up the growing dusk.

“I think you’re right,” I replied, then decided to take the plunge and say, “But after what that hunter said, all I can think about is claiming her. If they’re only kidnapping unclaimed hybrid females, then maybe they’ll leave her alone if I mark her.”

I held my breath, half-expecting my best friend to be angry at me for having such a thought. Vi was his little sister, and I was talking aboutbitingher. Sex was one thing, but leaving my mark and scent on her was a whole other level.

But, to my surprise, all Kolton said was, “Claiming her is a smart idea. But are you sure she wants that?”

I blew out a pent-up breath, rubbing at the back of my neck before replying, “I don’t know. She seems to want me one minute, then pulls away the next. She even said she loved me. But after we slept together this morning—”

“Watch it,” Kolton rumbled in warning.

“After we slept for hours without touching each other,” I amended with a smirk, “she bolted.”

Kolton hummed softly in thought but didn’t say anything.

“The last thing I want to do is force her into something she doesn’t want,” I continued, even as my heart broke a little at the thought of her not wanting me.

“I know that feeling all too well,” Kolton wryly replied, reaching up to clap me on the shoulder. “Sounds like you’re doing a better job at being patient than I was with Nora, though.”

I snorted, remembering how determined he’d been to marry his soulmate before she was ready. At least Vi hadn’t hit me over the head with a serving tray. Yet.

“I’ll talk to Nora and see if she can get Vi to open up,” he added, giving my shoulder a squeeze before letting go. “Vi went several years without close female connections, but she’s getting better at confiding in them. There are just some things she can’t talk to us males about.”

Before I could reply, noises from inside the house interrupted our conversation. Knowing that Vi and Nora were about to join us, we dropped the subject for the time being. Mrs. Rivers and Brielle would be watching the children during the meeting, so they were staying inside. Kolton had almost decided against holding the meeting here so close to the children, but going anywhere else could leave them vulnerable. Even after learning that the hunters were packless rogues and wouldn’t be at the meeting, they were still a threat. Besides Vi, we still had one other unclaimed hybrid female in the family that needed our protection.

Melanie.

She was only seven, but I wouldn’t put anything past those sick bastards.

Until we dealt with the rogue males and found the missing females, we weren’t taking any chances. Hosting an Alpha Meeting was all the risk we could afford. But knowing that I’d have to see mybrothertonight was testing the limits of my control. He had a way of getting under my skin like no one else could, and I was already on edge from everything that had happened this past week.

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