Page 54 of Shifting Winds
“Only if I get to escape from Captain Grumpy Pants again.”
Garrett shook his head and slid into the driver’s seat. “Wrap it up, girl.”
Thalia shot him a dark glare. “I’m not a girl.”
He started the car, the engine rumbling loud enough to drown out the rest of her words.
I bit down my smile. “See you around!”
On my way back to the shop, I turned to give Garrett a mocking little wave.
He raised his middle finger and waved back.
I burst out laughing, even as I didn’t envy him.
Thalia, as much as I liked her, seemed like she could be a real handful.
Chapter
Seventeen
CAELAN
Isat on the steps of the Keep waiting for the familiar rumble of my Second’s truck. An hour ago, I sent two wolves to Thalia’s to relieve him of duty.
The telltale purr of the engine sounded before I spotted Garrett’s vehicle. My Second pulled up close and slid out of the vehicle.
“I knew you’d be out here,” Garrett said, a sour note in his voice.
“You threatened to kill Evie.” I’d stewed on it for hours, wanting to let it go. But a wild possessiveness toward her hummed in my veins, and I knew I couldn’t let it stand.
Garrett’s face turned wary. “So?”
“You haven’t liked her from the moment you met her.”
“Why would I? She’s dangerous.”
“We’re both dangerous.”
Violence bloomed in my blood, the urge to push Garrett into a fight almost overwhelming my good sense.
“Yes, but she’s dangerous to every shifter in this territory.” Garrett leaned against his vehicle and crossed his arms. “What’s this about, Caelan?”
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “I’m in love with her.”
No surprise on his face. My Second wasn’t stupid. “Doesn’t mean you have to take us down with you.”
He and Simone were the only ones I’d allow to speak to me this way. We had years of history between us and rarely pulled our punches. “I’ve no intentions of doing any such thing.”
Garrett snorted. “You damn well granted that woman liberties in our Pack, Caelan.”
“Because she will be our Lady.” A gold haze rolled over my vision. “Watch your tone when you speak about her.”
Garrett’s jaw tightened. “Every time you go to see her, every time she wakes up here, you lose a little bit of a grip on this territory. You need someone as invested in this as you are.”
“A shifter, then.”
He shrugged. “A shifter would love our Pack as much as we all do. As much as you do.”
