Page 81 of Wolf's Reckoning
“That someone challenged youat allis enough,” he growled. “I’m pack leader here. They want to challenge anyone, they challengeme.”
My brows lifted. “So this is about your pride, then?”
“No,” he snapped impatiently. “This is about the fact that while I was dealing with routine practices to keep this fucking pack safe, one of thesefuckersthought he could take a run at what’smi?—”
He stopped himself, but it was too late. The tension snapped between us like a live wire.
“Your what?” I asked, voice like ice. “Yourlittlewife?”
His jaw clenched. “Is that what he called you?”
“It doesn’t even matter,” I said with a sigh. “You came in here throwing words around like you’ve earned the right.”
“I’ve earned more than you give me credit for.”
“And I’ve bled more thanyouknow,” I snapped in irritation. “For Luna’s sake, Wolfe, you think Kirk’s the first shifter to start shit with me because of who I am?”
Wolfe shook his head, looking away in frustration.
Finally, he took a slow breath and stepped closer, voice dropping low. “You handled it. I’m glad you did,” he said slowly, as if he was choosing the right words. “I’m not angry atyou.I’m angry that anyone thought they had therightto.”
I swallowed hard. Because Goddess help me, I believed him.
“What are you going to do?” I asked him, concern blooming in my chest when I saw the raw fury in his eyes. “Wolfe? Don’t hurt him. It was nothing, it’s forgotten.”
He looked at me for a long moment, gaze dark and unreadable.
“Don’t hurt him?” His voice was a low, dangerous thing. “Is that what you want?” he asked me. When I nodded, his temper flared brighter. “Fine. But I will make sure no one ever forgets who the fuck mylittlewifeis.”
Stupidly, I poked the beast. “Careful,husband, it sounds like you care.”
He froze, his eyes fixed on mine, the fire within him shifting to a different heat. He reached past me slowly, brushing against my arm and causing goose bumps, as he picked up half the apple. He remained still, our faces so close. Too close. His breath was warm on my lips, his gaze locked on mine, testing me as he moved an inch closer. I dared not move in case I did something stupid, like kiss him,which was exactly what he wanted, I realized when I saw the satisfied gleam in his eyes at my breathless reaction to his nearness.
He turned and left the same way he came—silent, controlled, a storm barely caged. Luna help me…I didn’t hate the way he was making me feel, and that just wouldn’t do at all.
Chapter 20
Wolfe
Killian had been toldas soon as we got back.
“She laid him flat on his ass, apparently.” Killian had the decency to wait until we were out of earshot of the others, voice low, like saying it too loud would set me off.
It did anyway.
“Kirk challenged her,” I repeated, slow and measured. Like I hadn’t heard it right the first time. “I remember him. He was a fucking dipshit back then. Age hasn’t improved him.”
Killian nodded. “He said she wasn’t strong enough. Something like because she was female, she was weak.”
“And the pack let it happen?” I glanced at him. “Say shit like that in Stonefang, a female will serve you your balls for supper.”
Killian nodded in agreement. “The only redeeming thing this pack has so far is that they let her handle it,” he said with a shrug. “They didn’t intervene. She put him down fast. Clean. No hesitation.”
That didn’t settle the fury burning in my gut. Sheshouldn’t have had to handle this kind of bullshit at all. Not because she couldn’t—but because someone should’ve made damn sure she never needed to.
“Spread the word, I want everyone in the clearing now,” I told him. He didn’t say anything, just peeled away from my side to do as I bade as I went to find Rowen.
Speaking with her hadn’t helped. In fact, it made me worse. My blood was hot for her, and I had no idea how to resist the pull to her. It was making me irritable and rash. And while I would never be described as fluffy, I was never reckless.
