Page 23 of The Werewolf Who Gave A Shift
“Enough,” Kaelen said, his voice now a growl of command.“I’m going to let you walk away, Griffin.However, this is your final warning.Touch her again, and I will kill you.”
“I suggest you heed that warning, Griffin.”Mac’s voice rang out across the parking lot as he and Rafe walked up to the group.
The Crows looked at one another, unsure.Griffin gave one last glare, but the certainty in Kaelen’s stance and the power in his voice made him hesitate.Finally, with a snarl, Griffin stepped back.“This isn’t over.”
Kaelen reached out, grabbing Griffin by the shirt.His voice was low and deadly as he leaned toward him.“My monster, as you call it, is just begging for me to release him.He has taken a very protective position over Macy.You’ve been warned, but if you decide to dismiss my warning, I will beat you as a man as I did tonight, but then let my Werewolf out to finish you off.”Kaelen pulled him even closer to where Griffin could see his Werewolf’s eyes coming through because Kaelen allowed it.“Got me.”The voice wasn’t Kaelen’s, but his Werewolves' gravelly voice, full of fury.
Griffin struggled to break free, but failed until Kaelen decided to release him.He stumbled away, the rest of the Crows following him, their confidence shattered.Silence fell over the lot.
Kaelen turned, looking at Macy.“Are you hurt?”When she didn’t answer, just stared up at him, he gently grasped her chin, moving her face side to side to make sure there were no visible marks.He then looked back into her beautiful eyes.“Macy, if you don’t answer me, I will chase Griffin down and kill him.”
“I’m okay,” Macy whispered, looking a little shocked, and it worried Kaelen.Had he scared her with his actions toward Griffin?
“Macy!”Billie Ann ran up to her, her face filled with concern.“Are you okay?He grabbed you so hard.”
“Did that bastard touch you?”Rafe growled, looking at Billie Ann.“No, but one of the Crows wouldn’t let me out of the bar.”Billie Ann retorted.
“Mac, I don’t want them in here anymore,” Rafe growled, pulling Billie Ann to his side.“This is the third incident at Shift Faced involving them.I will kill someone, and that’s not an empty threat.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Mac said, not looking happy at all.He then looked at Macy.“I’ve come to understand that you’ve been paying half of your earnings and food to the Murder while you are not living with them, nor are they offering protection.Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Macy nodded, not really looking anyone in the eyes.Kaelen glanced to see Billie Ann looking at Macy with concern.
“That ends, and I will see if I can’t get your money back,” Mac assured her.“I cannot do anything for those inside the Murder, but I will definitely make sure this matter gets settled as soon as Jack Crow comes back.Do you wish to be with the Murder?”
That caused Macy to meet Kaelen’s stare and the sadness in her eyes about did him in.“Does she have to answer that right now?”Kaelen answered for Macy.
“No, of course not,” Mac replied, with an understanding glance to Macy.
“Listen, I’m going to close the bar down early, Macy.”Billie Ann hugged her.“Why don’t you let Kaelen take you home.Tomorrow is going to be a busy night, and I think we all need some rest.Rafe, can you grab her bag from the office?”
Rafe did as Billie Ann asked, and Macy just stood there without saying a word.Kaelen was ready to get her alone because something definitely was not right.This silent Macy was not what he was used to at all, and he didn’t like it.Seeing her shiver, he quickly removed his jacket and wrapped it around her.
“Let me see if Mac can drive you home, and I’ll follow,” Kaelen told her, knowing that she would freeze on the back of his bike.
“No,” She shook her head, wrapping his jacket around her.It swallowed her, almost going to her knees.“I want to go with you.”
Her words meant everything to him.If she were in fact afraid of him now, she would have jumped at the chance to have Mac take her home instead of him.Once Rafe brought her bag, Kaelen took it and led her to his bike.He placed her bag in one of the compartments, then got on and waited for her to climb on behind him.Reaching back, he grabbed her arms, placing them around him.
“Hold on tight,” he ordered before he started the bike.As he pulled out of the parking lot, he kept an eye out for danger.He didn’t trust Griffin or any of the Crows.His heart pounded as Macy lay against his back, resting her head against him in total trust.
It was in that moment that he knew, for certain, that he loved this woman.Now was the time for him to let her know exactly how he felt.
CHAPTER15
Macy was disappointed when they rode up to her cabin.She loved riding behind Kaelen and hoped to do it more often.Climbing off the back with his help, she waited as he got off and took her bag out of the compartment.
“Thank you,” she whispered, then looked up at him.“Are you leaving?”
Kaelen stared down at her.“What are you asking me, Macy?”
Dammit, Macy hated to cry.She had cried only two times in the last twenty years of her life.That was from the loss of her parents and Davey.Tears filled her eyes.“Just answer me, please.”
Kaelen pulled her into his arms and wiped a tear from her cheek, but before he could say anything, she shook her head.
“No, wait.”She sniffed as more tears fell.Macy had to get this out before she heard his answer.“No one has ever stood up for me like you did tonight.Not my parents or Davey.I never agreed with the rules of the Murder.I begged my parents to find another, but they refused and continued to give and give without getting much in return.Davey, who gave me this cabin and a job, never stood up against the Murder when they took half of everything I earned.Without Davey, I would have been living on the streets.You are the only person who has ever given a real shit about me, Kaelen, and I’m terrified of losing you.”
Once again, Kaelen tried to speak, and once again, Macy stopped him.
