Page 7 of The Werewolf Who Gave A Shift
“You best do as you’re told by your King,” Rafe drawled, low and dangerous, his Jaguar eyes flashing.
“He was a trespasser on our land,” Griffin snapped, ignoring Rafe’s warning completely.“Jack?—”
“Takes orders from me!”Mac’s growl cracked through the room like thunder, the Alpha in him impossible to mistake.His glare cut straight through Griffin.“I will not ask you again.Leave on your own, or you’ll be escorted out, and you’ll find yourself in lockdown, the very same threat you threw at Macy.”
For a long, tense beat, Griffin didn’t move.Then his jaw flexed, teeth grinding as he finally gave a sharp jerk of his head, but as he turned, his gaze snapped to Macy.
Kaelen saw the threat in Griffin’s eyes.Cold and sharp.A silent threat to her, that this wasn’t over.
Every muscle in Kaelen’s body locked tight, rage roaring to life in his chest.His beast surged forward, demanding blood, demanding that he end this now before Griffin could so much as breathe in Macy’s direction again.His hands curled into fists at his sides, nails biting into skin, but he forced himself to remain still.Not here.Not yet.
His golden gaze followed Griffin until the bastard disappeared out the door.Silent, unblinking, he made himself a vow.‘If that bastard so much as looked Macy’s way again, Kaelen would rip him apart and scatter him across the forest.Curse or no curse, he’d protect her.’
“He’s an idiot,” Bruce huffed, finally creeping out from behind the couch and shaking dust from his fur.“I’d watch your back, Wolfman.Crows can be real dicks, and they hold grudges for a long time.They don’t play by the rules.Ah—no offense, Macy.”
“None taken,” Macy replied with a shrug, though her tone carried bite.“He’s an asshole.Now I know why he and Frisco were such good friends.”
“You need to be watching your back also, girl,” Bruce said, giving his paw a slow lick before pinning her with an uncharacteristically serious look.“You pretty much shit on their feathers by taking Wolfman’s side.They don’t take kindly to that, and we all know how Jack Crow is about loyalty.You also embarrassed Griffin.Easy enough, he’s an idiot.But here’s the thing… by doing that, you just made your life a hell of a lot harder than it already was.”
Silence settled over the room again, heavy and undeniable.Even Mac, the King of Shifters, didn’t speak.That alone told Kaelen how grave this was.
This woman… this Crow Shifter who hadn’t even known his name…just stood against her own Murder for him.For a monster.
His jaw locked.His chest burned with something he refused to name.He couldn’t let her pay the price for it.He had to end it before it got worse for her.
He dragged his gaze from her and fixed it on Mac instead, his words clipped and cold.“I’m only here to speak to the Witch and nothing more.As soon as I do that, I’ll be gone.”Kaelen broke the silence, then looked at Macy and those beautiful, round eyes.“And I don’t need anyone standing up for me.Though I appreciate the thought, it matters not.”
The moment the words left his mouth, he saw it.The shift in her posture.Shoulders tightening as her chin dipped just slightly.No gasp, no words, just a flicker of hurt she tried to hide, as if his words had landed sharper than any blade.And still, Kaelen forced himself to look away.Distance from him was safer for her.
Mac just stared at Kaelen for a long minute.“Are there more of you?”
“I don’t know,” Kaelen was waiting for that question.
“Do you only shift on a full moon?”Bruce looked up at him curiously, then noticed everyone staring at him.“What?Like you guys weren’t wondering the same thing?”
“How has Wicked not killed you yet?”Mac grumbled, pulling out his phone, then walked outside.
“Because I’m adorable, funny and?—”
“Full of shit.”Rafe snorted, shaking his head.
“Some days that’s true, especially after I eat Wicked’s cooking,” Bruce replied, then looked back at Kaelen.“So do you?”
“Do I what?”Kaelen figured this cat was a Witch’s familiar.The damn thing had an earring in one ear.Kaelen was starting to second-guess himself for coming to this place.Hell, the name Assjacket should have clued him in on how messed up this place could be.
“Only shift during a full moon,” Bruce asked, watching him closely.“I mean, that’s what they do in the movies, and I’ve never met a real Wolfman before.Honestly, I didn’t believe in you.”
“Said the talking cat,” Macy sighed, then looked at Kaelen.“Just ignore him.He asks rude questions.”
“That is not rude,” Bruce said as if he was offended by her accusation.“That is a life-saving tip.”
“How so?”Rafe actually laughed at that.
“Because when a full moon is expected and that big son of a gun is still here, I’m hiding my furry ass somewhere,” Bruce replied, then looked at Kaelen.“No offense.”
“None taken,” Kaelen smirked.“But you don’t have to worry about a full moon.If I wanted you dead, I could do it now and you wouldn’t even know it, but I don’t eat cat, so you are safe...for now.”
“Um, well, shit.Good to know...I think.”Bruce said, looking confused.“But that didn’t answer my damn question.”
