Page 50 of Taming of a Wolf

What’s yours is minenow.

Those words refuse to leave my mind as I drive to Jace’s school.

It’s been so difficult trying to find someone I can trust with Jace. Not too many guys are enthusiastic about sharing me with my little brother. But Anders just accepted that Jace and I come as a package. Since we met, he’s been so good with my brother, patient and kind like he’s known Jace forever.

Like we’re a family.

Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I grip the wheel tightly. That’s a dangerous line of thinking. Anders isn’t staying. He has goals, and I’m not part of them. Once the year is over, Anders will choose revenge over Jace and me and return to his timeline. I’ll have to move on without him. This isn’t a relationship—it’s just sex. That’s all. I can’t afford to get attached.

“I don’t understand why he would start a fight.” I bite my nail while I wait for the light to change. “He never acts out like this.”

“Does he have enemies at school?” Anders’s big body is tense, a muscle flickering in his jaw.

I totally don’t feel mushy over how protective he is of Jace already. Not at all. “Not that I know of.” Did some kid start a fight? If someone is bullying my little brother, there’s going to be hell to pay. “What if he’s being bullied and I’ve just been so busy with the shop that I missed the signs?” The idea that I’ve been unintentionally neglectful makes my knuckles whiten around the steering wheel.

“Then we will deal with it,” Anders growls, and the fact that he looks ready to charge into a fight on Jace’s behalf soothes me.

We. We will deal with it.

For the first time in so long, I’m not in this alone.

My heart’s ready to beat out of my chest as I jog to the principal’s office. Throwing open the door, I find her behind her desk. Jace is hunched in a chair and scowling. There’s a Band-Aid on his cheek, which is already bruising purple.

“Jace!” I kneel beside his chair. “Are you okay?”

Lips folded tight together, Jace glowers at the floor.

“Please have a seat, Mr. Sullivan. Kevin and his parents will be here at any moment.”

Oh, great. I have to speak with angry parents.

She directs a smile at Anders. “And you are?”

“My boyfriend,” I blurt. I need Anders in the room for this.

“Aye,” Anders agrees, making my cheeks warm as he comes up behind my chair and grips the top of it, looming over me like a big, protective guard dog. Instantly, a comforting sense of safety envelops me like a blanket—until the door bangs open and a man and woman storm in with a scowling, red-faced little boy.

“Mr. and Mrs. Davidson, please have a—”

“I want that boy expelled!” Mr. Davidson booms, pointing at Jace. I have the sudden urge to bite his damn finger off. “He’s a violent, out-of-control hooligan!”

Outrage flares in me.

“I am not. He’s a bully! He started it first!” Jace snaps, leaping out of his seat.

“Easy, lad.” Anders grips Jace’s shoulders.

Shushing both my guys reassuringly, I ball my hands into fists so I don’t explode at Davidson as I turn to face him. “I understand you’re upset, Mr. Davidson, but can someone please explain what happened? I’m sure we can work this out.”

Mrs. Davidson throws me a scathing look. “That boy attacked my child completely unprovoked!”

“I didn’t!” Jace erupts, and Anders urges him to sit down. “He deserved it anyway!”

“Jace, that’s enough!” I say, shocked. “Is this true?” I ask the principal, hoping for a more measured response to cool my boiling blood.

“The schoolyard monitor pulled them apart when they started fighting, but she wasn’t sure who started it, and we have mixed reports from the other children present. Regardless of who started it, we have a zero-tolerance policy for violence at this school. Both Jace and Kevin are suspended for a week. I expect better behavior when they return to class.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. How am I going to look after Jaceandmanage the store at the same time? Anger rises in me.

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