Page 45 of Ravenous

I suddenly went cold. Very, very cold. I also wanted to reach out and throttle her, but that wouldn’t kill her. She was threatening me with Joy.

“I can smell her on you.” Her nose crinkled up as if the scent was foul.

I loved having Joy’s scent all over me. My wolf was soothed by it.

I tipped my chin up. “Get gone, Soraya. Go back from whatever hole you crawled out of. Leave us the fuck alone.”

She took a step toward me. Tipped her chin back so our eyes held. “I’m calling a council hearing, and they’re going to side with me.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” I growled although I wasn’t too sure.

Would the council side with her? Did they make choices in favor of she-wolves based on their biology? Did they try to prevent a pup from being raised in a mixed family?

“I’ll be back.” Soraya headed down the walk with a toss of her long, thick hair.

I watched until she was in her car and down the street. Then I pulled out my cell and called Johnny.

“Got any info yet?” I asked.

Johnny laughed. “Hello, to you, too. Back to your grumpy self, it seems. Shouldn’t your mate be–”

I cut him off. “Soraya stopped by again. She’s here for Remy.”

“Shit, man. Sorry. Let me check my email from my contact in your old pack.”

I went inside, shut the front door, then paced. Thank fuck the girls weren’t here. I’d scare both of them right now. Thank fuck it was a full moon tomorrow, and we could run.

“Nothing yet.”

I sighed, rubbed my forehead. “Shit.”

“If there’s something there, we’ll find it,” he vowed.

“There’s something there. That woman’s like Jekyl and Hyde. She’s trying her hardest to be sweet, so I’ll just give in, but when I fight her on it, her she-claws come out.”

“She sounds fun,” Johnny muttered.

“She mentioned taking it up with the council.”

“Haven’t heard anything yet,” he said. “I’d know because you’re in my pack, and I protect you.”

Johnny was a kid in comparison to me, and he had the job of protecting me. I appreciated it and him.

“Let me know if you hear anything.”

“Will do.”

Now I had to wait. Tried to be like Joy and feel all sunshiney, but I knew after trying for two seconds that wasn’t going to work.

My ex was after Remy. I wouldn’t be happy until this was fucking resolved.

20

JOY

I didn’t remembera time when Mom seemed so… bright.

Little Remy worked her four-year-old wiles on her and got cookies. Hot cocoa. A princess movie. A special movie blanket–which was an old pink one Mom found in the closet. Even apple juice with two maraschino cherries added.

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