Page 64 of Rocky Top

“They’ll wonder why not. Wonder if I plan to. Wonder if you’re worth the risk.” His voice dropped, rough and low. “Or if I should just kill you and clean up the mess.”

The air sucked out of my lungs. “Jesus, Rocky.”

He looked away, shoulders tense. “You said no. To the bite. To this life. I respect that. I do.”

“So, what?” I snapped. “You gonna kill me?”

“Jesus, Birdie. No. But I can’t let you outta my sight.”

“What are you going to do? Force me to hole up somewhere? Chain me to your radiator?”

He didn’t laugh. Didn’t smirk.

“Look, I’m staying with Eliza. Are you saying Knox can’t keep me safe?”

“No. I’m sayin’ I can’t give you space, Birdie. Not when every instinct in me is screamin’ to keep you close. Not when my pack’s on edge. Not when you’re under threat.”

I looked at him, really looked, and I saw it. The strain. The fear.

“You don’t just want to protect me,” I said quietly. “You’re afraid.”

He nodded, one sharp motion. “Damn right I am. I’ve already seen what happens when the Council doesn’t like what it sees. They erased a whole pack once. Gone. Poof.Because someone stepped outta line.”

“And I’m the line?”

“You’re the spark that could light the whole fuckin’ thing.”

We stood in silence after that. The cicadas buzzed in the trees. Somewhere behind us, laughter echoed from inside the Wild Dog, like none of this was even happening.

“I need you to trust me,” Rocky said finally. “Let me keep you close. Let me figure out what to do before they decide for us.”

My throat tightened. “And what if I say no again? What if I say Istilldon’t want this?”

He stepped even closer, hands hovering near my waist but not touching. “Then I’ll beg,” he said. “Because if they come for you, it won’t be to talk. And I’d rather burn the whole goddamn Council to the ground than let them take you.”

My breath hitched. “Rocky…”

He leaned in, close enough that I could feel the heat of him. “You’re already in this, Birdie. There ain’t no goin’ back. Only question is how far you’re willin’ to go.”

And that?

That scared me more than anything.

Because a part of me—the reckless, beatin’ heart of me—wantedto go all the way.

Chapter 16

Rocky

Birdie went back to stay with Prez and Eliza that night. I had work the next day, and Prez had my back. He also had Eliza who had him wrapped around her finger, suggesting it.

And I dreamed of Birdie again.

Not in that soft, romantic way some poor bastard might hope for. Nah. My dreams were feral, teeth-baring, scent-soaked, edge-of-the-cliff kinda wild. And she was always at the center of ‘em—Birdie in my arms, under me, around me, that sunny smile melting into moans while my wolf clawed for control.

I woke up with my sheets twisted and my body tight with frustration, jaw sore from clenching through the need to mark her. Claim her. Let the beast inside me say what my mouth hadn’t yet.

But I hadn’t. Couldn’t.

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