Page 49 of Shattered

She bit the inside of her cheek to hold back the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “You’re crazy.”

He eased up onto his elbow and stared down at her. His eyes were still the icy color of his wolf. “Tell me something I don’t already know.”

“I can’t even think.”

“Neither can I,” he mumbled, flexing his hips.

“Mackenzie, are you?” She furrowed her brows.

“Shh, go with it. We both need this.”

As much as she should tell him no, who the hell was she kidding? She’d gotten a taste of Mackenzie Raferty, and she wanted more. Tomorrow, she’d worry about the consequences of taking advantage of a man who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Just promise you won’t hate me later.”

He peered down at her, rubbing his nose against hers. “Never. I could never hate you, star.”

That’s what he say now, but what happens when he finds out the truth?

Chapter Seven

The demanding knock on Mackenzie’s bedroom door, startled Mackenzie awake. He blinked, trying to orientate himself. The pounding began again as he rolled over and stared at the clock.What the fuck? How did it get so late?

“Dad,” Royce’s gruff voice, snared Mackenzie’s attention. “Dad!” The handle of his bedroom door jiggled. Had he locked it?

Fuck.

Mackenzie had lost time again. Only this time, it happened during the day.

“Dad, open the door.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, glaring at the door in confusion. Royce rarely, if ever, called him dad. When his son did refer to him as such, his tone usually had a smug undercurrent. “Give me a second, son. I was—” What the fuck was he doing? Sleeping? Napping? Wait he knew, losing his goddamn mind. That’s what he was doing— “sleeping.”

Mackenzie glanced down, and grimaced. Shouldn’t have surprised him he was naked, again. Royce didn’t need to see him in all his glory. He’d realize very early on with Hayden then Riley and Liam, having a robe available nearby was a good thing. His was currently draped over a chair. He slipped out of bed and grabbed the garment before putting it on. He wrapped the lapels around himself tying it shut then he made his way to his bedroom door. He flicked the lock turning the knob and pulled the door open.

Royce stood there, concern mixed with some other emotion Mackenzie couldn’t place etched on his features. “Heard you had a rough day.”

He rubbed at his beard. “Could say that.”

“Got to brush it off, dad.” There was that term again. This time, Mackenzie schooled his features, so his first born didn’t see his confusion. “It’s her lawyer’s job to discredit you.”

“Kal said the same. Still doesn’t make me feel much better when they’re making me out to be the asshole,” he admitted.

“It’s fucked up,” Royce remarked. “I’m sure they’ll say worse about me at some point. I think we’re all going to be thrown under the bus where that bitch is concerned. She’s got ten years’ worth of bullshit she can bring up. But the evidence against Holly is staggering.”

Mackenzie nodded.

“Charisma wanted me to wake you up since it was getting late. We picked up Riley and Liam from school since Aurora called us to say she couldn’t get ahold of you, and she had the night off. We’ve made sure Riley and Liam’s homework was completed and Charisma made a snack for everyone. You remember the play, right?”

Now he felt like shit. Not only had he lost time, he’d left all his responsibilities to his son and his mate who had three of their own children to take care of. “Sorry. I fucking forgot for a minute what day it was.”

“Don’t worry about it, dad.” Jesus, what had he done to be called dad so much? Maybe Mackenzie had woken up in an alternate universe he wasn’t aware of.It would explain everything.“It’s what family does.”

“I appreciate the help both you and Charisma have given me over the last couple months,” he said.

“Don’t worry about it, you can make it up to us by watching the kids when we plan a long adult weekend in the spring.” Royce winked at him.

Mackenzie smiled. He’d love nothing better than getting his three grandkids to himself for a couple of days. “I’d love to.”

“Charisma said you’d agree to it.”

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