Page 37 of The Enemy to the Living
The smile he’s been holding back blooms on his face. “I look forward to it.”
Chapter Thirteen
Asher
Ittakeseverythinginme not to chase Quinn when he leaves my flat and drag him back inside. Back to bed. He needs more rest than we both got today, but the only thing soothing me and keeping me put is the fact that he still looked better, even though I want him to have more.
Well, that and my own reactions to him.
I know better. Whatever I might feel for Quinn—now or in the future—is irrelevant. I’m too old, too distant. He needs family and pack and healing I can’t give him, even if I can help him realign with his wolf.
None of those thoughts stop me from waiting half an hour before I shower and dress. They don’t stop me from leaving my flat, though I could use more sleep myself, and crossing the city to stand outside Kieran’s pack house.
I ignore the voice in the back of my head that tells me I’m in too deep. It alternately sounds like Maurice or Vlad, and that’s fucking rich.
I’ll worry when it sounds like Paxton. He’s the youngest of all of us, but at least he has his head on straight.
I use my blessing to keep myself hidden when Quinn comes out of the building a couple of hours later. I could follow him, but I already know where he’s going, and I don’t want to be the reason he loses a fight tonight. Instead, I watch him walk out of sight, inwardly debating whether his shoulders look a little lighter or if it’s all just in my head.
An hour or so after Quinn leaves, and when I’m finally considering leaving myself, someone else comes out of the building. Sam. His eyes narrow in on the spot where I’m standing, blessing still keeping the shadows around me, and he doesn’t even hesitate as he crosses the road and approaches.
I sigh and push my blessing away. Sam doesn’t smile, doesn’t look welcoming at all.
Is it better that he’s here and Kieran isn’t? Can’t be. They’re both dangerous, but I know how to handle a wolf.
“You’ve been out here for a while,” Sam says, tone conversational. There’s an edge to it. Once upon a time, I’d have been able to pick it up in his scent.
“Just keeping an eye on things.”
“Ah. In trouble, are we?”
“No.”
“No,” Sam repeats, scoffing softly. He leans on the wall next to me, staring up at the building he calls home. I can feel the wards, of course, something I never would have been able to do before I received the Huntsman’s blessing. “Quinn didn’t come home at all last night. Not until this afternoon, and then he left again.”
“Why are you here? Why not Kieran?”
Sam’s smile is sharp. “We tossed a coin. I won.”
I don’t dislike him. Everything I’ve heard about this pack makes me want to like them. Only, I keep replaying that moment this morning when Quinn grabbed my wrist and asked me to stay and I can’t match up what I’ve heard about this pack with what Quinn is going through.
“What do you want?”
“We just want to know one thing.”We.Specific instructions, then.
“Which is?”
“Are you looking out for him?” Sam’s breath shudders out of him, and I glance over in surprise. Shadows haunt his eyes. He’s still only looking at the building, not me, but there’s a darkness there that I don’t want to reach for.
“Yes.”
“And he’s… opening up to you?”
I hesitate before I reply, “Yes.”
Sam blows out another breath. “Drew said he scented you when Quinn came back. Another wolf, too, but you… Kieran said that at least he’d be safe with you.”
“You haven’t asked him?”
