Page 104 of Wicked Witch of the Wolf

“Because someone told me it would make it harder foryou. That the pack wouldn’t accept you, and that you’d end up going through the same shit you dealt with back in Arizona.”

“You were protecting me. Like I pro?—”

“No.Uh-uh. We arenotthe same. I never lied to you.” I walked out.

Ronan yelled after me—or tried to. His voice was hoarse, weak. “Betty, don’t do this. Don’t walk away.”

“I’ve got nothing left to say.”

I was back in my Mini, key jammed in the ignition, the radio blaring Heart’s “Barracuda,” when I received an anonymous text.

Get him out of there. Now.

I looked around, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. Instead of dwelling on the feeling, I scrabbled for the car door, nearly spilled onto the street in my haste, and ran back inside. Ronan was exactly where I’d left him beside the door.

“Calvin, Jenny, go home,” I said. “Ronan, come with me. Felicia, I hope you have a protection spell on this house, because I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

“He’s coming?” Her breath caught and her eyes glimmered. I couldn’t decide if she was scared or excited. “Excellent.”

Excited, then. “You aren’t worried he might retaliate?”

“No.” She ticked off the reasons on her fingers. “Number one, I was protecting thebelovedson of mygoodfriend. Number two, I had no idea the alpha was looking for him. Number three, I might not have told Alpha Vincent that I was harboring the wolf alpha’s son, but that’s a lesser crime than Alpha Floyd attacking a member of the rat pack. For the first, I risk condemnation and, at worst, expulsion. For the second, he riskswar.”

Her mean-spirited glee was contagious. I wished her success and turned to Ronan, who lurched for the front door, slamming it shut behind Jenny and Calvin. The couple hadn’t wasted any time following my advice and were already halfway to her car.

“I can’t abandon these people. Everyone here helped me when I needed it most.”

I gave him my fiercest look. “Ronan, the way the text was worded told me we don’t have time to argue about this, so I’m going to lay it out so you can start trucking your skinny butt to the car.”

One of his eyebrows arched at theskinny buttcomment.

“If you stay here, you’ll not only get yourself killed, you’ll get everyone here killed, including me.” I sighed and said the thing I’d been thinking since I first saw his beautiful damn face today. “While I wouldn’t mind doing the horizontal Macarena with you and think wemighthave a future if you dropped that whole superior, shifter,must protect non-wolf peopleattitude, I don’t intend to die because in your misguided, confused brain you think facing your father and his pack while you’re injured makes you a hero.”

“Damn.” Mauricio whistled. “If you do decide to break up with him, would you consider going out with me? I appreciate a woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind.”

Ronan growled.

“You’re too young for me, Mauricio, but thanks for the offer.” I jabbed my thumb at the door. “Move it, Pallás. Felicia’s not helpless and doesn’t need you or anyone else to ride to her rescue. The woman is mean as a snake and resourceful as hell, and you’re a distraction.”

“Thank you,” Felicia said.

“Thanks for the offer?” Ronan roared.

“That’s it.” I brushed past him, threw open the door, and grabbed his hand. He let me lead him through the doorway, which was when I realized exactly how hurt he was.

Something was really off with him.

“Just so we’re clear, my ass isn’t skinny.” He tumbled into the passenger seat. Fell into it, if I was being precise.

“Noted.” I slammed the door and ran around the car.

Ten seconds later, we were on the road.

A black SUV headed in the opposite direction flipped a U and ran up on my bumper. I cursed and floored the Mini. We were a minute from home.

“What’s happening?” Ronan sounded like he was underwater. “Why are you driving like the Bandit? Is there a smokey on our tail?”

Goddess, if he was referencing iconic seventies movies at a time like this, he was definitely messed up.

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