Page 39 of Pack Rivals: Part Two
I notice they’re both wearing smart shoes to match their suits. I hope they end up with a shit load of sand in them. And in their socks. And between their toes too.
“Hi sweetheart,” Angel says, a concerned look on his face. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thank you,” I say as formally as I can.
The sea breeze rolling off the ocean drops in temperature about five degrees.
“Good, that’s good.” He nods, running his fingers through his beard.
“We’re glad you’re safe,” Axel adds.
“I am now. So thank you for that. I appreciate it.”
“We’d do anything for you, sweetheart,” Axel says with a smile that makes his eyes twinkle.
“Except tell me the truth,” I say.
The smile drops from his face and both men are silent while the gulls continue to squabble in the sky above us.
Perhaps a few dollops of bird shit on their suits as well as the sand?
Angel scratches his chin. “We’ve been looking into who took you. The police are too.”
“And?”
“Nothing yet.”
I stare at them both.
“How about the man Bea stabbed?” Courtney asks.
“Under arrest and still in the hospital.”
“And is Bea in any trouble for hurting him?”
I snap my head around to look at my cousin. That hadn’t even occurred to me. I squeak, my hands rising to my throat. Both alphas take a concerned step towards me.
“No, no,” Axel says soothingly. “Not at all. She’s not being charged with anything and even if she was, Pack York has the best lawyers in the city.”
Angel snorts and Axel glares at him.
“I don’t need your lawyers,” I say. I hug my arms around my stomach. “And I’m handing in my resignation.”
Axel frowns. “Why?”
“You can come work for us, sweetheart?” Angels says. “Pack Boston has always paid much better than Pack York.”
“Bullshit,” Axel growls.
I stare at them both. Really? This again.
“I’m grateful, really grateful, that you helped me out of that clinic. But nothing’s changed here.” Courtney lifts her shotgun. “You used me. You hurt me. And frankly, I’ve had too much of that in my lifetime. I don’t want to see either one of you, or your packs, ever again.”
“Bea,” Axel says, frowning hard. “I risked my life to come get you. I risked my packmates’ lives too. Surely you can see how sorry I am? How serious I am about you? It was a mistake. You can’t keep punishing us forever. We’re meant to be together. I know you feel that too.”
“She’s meant to be with us,” Angel says, hands on his hips.
“I’m not meant to be with anyone.” I swing my head from side to side. My eyes swim with tears. “You hurt me. You used me. You lied to me. And look,” I point to the two of them, “nothing’s changed. This …” I screw up my face, “this rivalry. This hatred you have going on. It’s destructive. I don’t want to be caught up in it. I don’t want to be anywhere near it!”
