Page 22 of The Werewolf Who Gave A Shift
The Crows shifted restlessly, murmurs rippling like dark wings.Griffin leaned closer, his breath hot with malice.“That’s not your decision.That’s Jack’s.”
“Then I’ll tell Jack, since he is Alpha and you are just his lackey,” Macy shot back, though her stomach turned.“You’ll get nothing from me, Griffin.Not now, not ever.”
Griffin’s eyes narrowed, and in a blink, he had her by the arm in a bruising grip, dragging her toward the door.Billie Ann cursed, moving to follow, but one of the Crows stepped in her path, blocking her.
Outside, the night air was thick and heavy, or maybe that was just her fear.Griffin shoved Macy against the wall, his shadow blotting out the moonlight as he leaned in, menace dripping from every word.“You think you can defy us?You’ll regret this, little Crow.You’ll regret it until your last breath.”Griffin hissed in her face, hatred for her in his eyes.The hatred was nothing new; Griffin hated everyone, and anyone who followed him did it out of fear.
Her pulse thundered in her ears, fear clawing at her throat, but she refused to flinch.“Is that a threat?”she spat, breathless but defiant.
Griffin’s sneer deepened, his face inches from hers.“It’s a promise!”The weight of his power pressed in, suffocating her, until the roar of an engine shattered the moment.
A motorcycle tore up the gravel, its headlight blazing like fire cutting through the dark.Every Crow turned at the sound as the machine skidded to a halt.
Kaelen swung off the bike, leather jacket catching the glow of the headlamp, his golden eyes burning like twin suns.He looked wild, dangerous, utterly untamed—and he was looking right at Griffin.
CHAPTER14
Kaelen headed toward the bar where he knew Macy was working.He has spent the day getting his shit back, which turned out to be enjoyable.Griffin tried to act badass, but when Kaelen didn’t play his games and Mac threatened to pull the Crows out of his protection as King, he had backed down.Yeah, that was a win for Kaelen.No bloodshed.Kaelen didn’t like to fight.He had done way too much of it from the time he could fight, and he was over it.
After that, they met with Thorne to view the rental property, which would suit his needs well.He then paid his first month’s rent, along with a security deposit in cash.Kaelen wasn’t loaded by any means, but he had saved his money because he didn’t need much.Often, he lived off the land as he moved frequently.But a beautiful Shifter had him wanting to settle down, so that’s exactly what he planned to do.
Thorne had also had a motorcycle for sale, which Kaelen bought sight unseen.During all of this, his mind kept going back to Macy.He just wanted to get all of this done, buy some clothes that fit, so he could go back to her.He had, in fact, gone to her cabin to find it empty, so he was now heading toward the bar.
Pulling in the parking lot, his eyes narrowed when his light reflected off a man who had a woman caged against the bar wall.His Werewolf howled in fury when they both realized who the woman was.Instantly, he felt the Shift coming on, but he controlled it.He would handle this as a man.As Kaelen.Revving the engine, he pulled up and parked, quickly getting off the bike.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” Kaelen growled, his voice low and lethal, promising that if Griffin didn’t obey, the night would end in blood.
“This is no business of yours, monster.”Griffin glared over his shoulder at Kaelen, but he did let her go.“She owes the Murder money, and I’m here to collect.”
“No, you are here to take out on her what I just did to you in front of the Crows,” Kaelen shot back, his eyes narrowing.“Which makes you a poor excuse of a man.”
Macy’s eyes were wide as she stared at Kaelen.She really wanted to know what he had done to Griffin.Her eyes went to the motorcycle, then to his leather jacket, and even though it was unhinged, she was totally turned on by him acting all alpha.Was this the same Kaelen who had left her cabin just hours ago?
“Hey, fuck you,” Griffin spat in disgust as he shook in anger, which showed just how much Kaelen’s words were getting to him.“The only reason you got your stuff back is because you would have unleashed your monster on us.”Griffin spat in disgust.
“There was only you I was talking to,” Kaelen replied as a smirk played across his lips.“I don’t need my Werewolf to beat you, Crow.”
Macy wanted to applaud and whistle at Kaelen’s response, but remained silent, letting this play out.Kaelen hadn’t called his Werewolf a monster or beast.
“Macy owes you or the Murder nothing and never will,” Kaelen announced, his voice firm and unwavering.“The Murder offers her nothing, but takes too much.I am her protector, which means you have to go through me.”
“Damn, guess he told you,” Bruce, who walked around the corner, looked from Kaelen to Griffin.“I’d say cut your losses, bro, and move on before you get your ass kicked all over this parking lot.I’ve seen you fight and well...not impressed.”
Macy sighed, rolling her eyes.Leave it to Bruce to show up and stir the shit even more.
“Shut the fuck up!”Griffin growled, kicking out at Bruce, who moved just in time.He then turned his attention back to Kaelen.“You seriously think you can tell me what I can and cannot do?”
“I do,” Kaelen said simply.He watched as Griffin took a step toward Macy.“Take one more step toward her, and that will be the last step you ever take.”
Kaelen knew he was pushing Griffin, which was his plan, and it worked.Griffen growled as he lunged, but Kaelen met him head-on, striking him square in the chest.Griffin flew toward the side of the bar with an unstoppable force.
The sound of Griffin’s body hitting wood echoed like a thunderclap.The Crows flinched, unsure if they should intervene.
Kaelen’s voice cut through the air, low and unrelenting.“I said, stay away from her.”
Griffin tried to recover by rushing Kaelen with a shove, but Kaelen didn’t move.He now stood between Griffin and Macy.
“Fuck you, man,” Griffin’s face twisted with rage.He tried another strike, but Kaelen caught his wrist and twisted it with precision, forcing Griffin down to his knees.The air was thick with the sound of heavy breathing.
