Page 162 of Claimed

“Yeah?” Jase checks.

I know he’d like nothing more right now than to know we can dispose of this asshole ourselves.

“Think so. Those people have had their power stripped, no autonomy over any of their lives, not even their own bodies. All that shit. I think they should get to vote on what happens and I think a fair, balanced process is a good way for them to start on their new path.”

“Hm,” is Jase’s reaction.

“Unless he makes it so I have no choice but to end him,” I add through gritted teeth, knowing that what I’ve just said is the right thing and also knowing I won’t hesitate to end this fucker’s life if I’m facing a situation that makes it so I have to. Once he’s in my grasp, he’s not getting out of it to do more damage. That’s for damn sure.

“The fuck is all this shit gonna do to my sister?”

I look at Jase and feel for him. Not many people like Sherry Creed, but regardless of what a shitty person she is, there are people who love her. And if this jackhole is her fated mate, she’ll feel the loss. And whether he is or isn’t her fated mate, he’s an abusive asshole and it’s highly doubtful he’s been a prince to her for the last few days.

Both Jase and I have eyes trained on the massage parlor across the street from the corner of a strip joint parking lot where we’re parked.

We weren’t expecting the place to be open to the public just one night after Brody took someone out and injured four others as well as took three quarters of the “talent”, but the pink and green neonOPENand MASSAGE signs are lit and we’ve watched the door for forty-five minutes, seeing it seems like it’s business as usual. Brody said nobody stood guard out here last night, though there was a built male receptionist slash bouncer type at the front desk who Brody had knocked unconscious and locked in a closet. Tonight, there’s a petite female receptionist instead, with two large, heavy guards outside.

Me and Jase watched the two guys frisk Jared. Jared is built of stone where they’re large but not made of the same stuff – he makes them look like marshmallows.

He says something that makes one of them laugh and then they let him in.

Using the small case of common potions Dani gave me, most of which I don’t have the barest notion of their purpose, Jase and I used the masking cologne. I need to read the material she sent me, but checked with her about using the scent mask and she gave me the green light to use it before doing any reading. She told me to apply it to pulse points and said this particularformulation would last between two and three hours. Of course Jared doesn’t need it what with his scentlessness.

I told Jared earlier that I owe him for all the help, that I’ll be there if he needs me to return the favor. He corrected me, telling me he’s more than happy to help considering we let him park his Airstream on our land.

“Why don’t you come on in once in a while, see how it suits you?” Jase asked. “Consider joining the pack officially.”

Jared clammed up and Linc was quick to speak up.

“Already told him that. He knows if he changes his mind to let us know. In the meantime, we won’t pressure him, and he can consider himself an extended member of the pack.”

It has me curious. Jared seems well-adjusted. I can’t wrap my mind around being an alpha without the need to take care of some people, be around folks, go for runs with others in wolf form. Ty has talked a lot about living as a lone wolf and has made it plain that the way he lives now is how he was meant to live. He can’t imagine going back.

Though I guess Jared’s doing his bit to pay us back now, lending a hand without the long-term commitment so I imagine it must scratch the alpha itch somewhat. Still, I’d like to know more about his situation and though he’s been a huge help, I can’t say I’m 100% comfortable with him, because not only is he scentless, which throws my wolf off, but unlike most alphas, betas, or omegas… I don’t understand what makes him tick.

***

Brody described the two-story building as having a large upstairs apartment with five bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen. The ground level has a lobby with a reception areaand ten small “treatment” rooms along with an office and two bathrooms. There’s no basement.

Twenty-five minutes have taken forever to pass and Jase is increasingly fidgety.

“Might take a bit of time for him to suss it all out. Relax,” I suggest.

“Yeah, like you’re relaxed?” Jase scoffs. “You’re just as amped as I am. You justthinkyou hide it better.”

Yeah, I want this shit over with. My wolf is pacing back and forth in a cage right now. Having this over with tonight would be ideal. Put Meadows where he can’t hurt anybody. After the drama is over with, I’ll be ready to celebrate by taking my good girl in the woods, on her hands and knees again for me – that sweet little ass tipped up and waiting for more of my teeth marks.

I shuffle in my seat with impatience. Jase scoffs.

Jared was planning to order a massage and said he’d then scope the place out for signs of the jackhole, of the missing little girl, or any other shifters. It’s after nine o’clock and the strip joint we’re parked at is hopping, so we’re not likely to be noticed. We’ve watched two cars pull up behind the massage parlor, two other men walk over from the strip joint on foot, but one car pulls out now, driven by a middle-aged guy driving off looking a whole lot less tense than he looked when he went in after Jared.

“Quickdraw McGraw?” Jase muses.

This time it’s me that scoffs.

“How weird is it?” Jase asks. “Mating.”

“How weird is it?” I parrot. “How weird is what part of it?”

---