Page 64 of Aries
The venom had me smiling wider. This beta was unexpected.
“Not a threat to you, beta,” I said as I tried to wipe the amusement from my face.
“Not a threat, my ass!” he screamed. “He just took my mate.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Oh? Did she have a bite mark I missed?”
His teeth bared, and my laughter burst out unexpectedly. Fuck, I was losing it. The fact we’d found Aries after all this time had me practically giddy.
“I could argue that she is safer than anyone else on this planet right now. He’s waited a long time to find her. If she wanted him to stop, she would’ve told us.”
“Safe with him?” the man scoffed. “If she were safe, would she have been taken in the first place?”
My control snapped and it was already pulled taut. He was a pleasant distraction, but that was something I would not allow.
I stepped closer, but the sheriff stepped in, saving him from my fury.
“I understand that she’s been through hell, and you probably all have, but you do not get to pretend like he didn’t do his damnedest to get to her,” I spit out.
Leon’s anger deflated but he wasn’t giving in completely.
“She’s not the same woman that he lost,” Leon said. The beta was stubborn. “You don’t get to come back and snatch her away.”
“You don’t get to make decisions for her, either,” I challenged.
“While we’re all standing out here, these poor girls are waiting to find some peace,” one of the women said carefully.
“She’s right. Aries has been waiting for him, Leon. And she would have said something if she didn’t want this. Take a breath and she’ll be back before you know it.”
Leon looked away, jaw tense, but a single nod was tossed her way.
“Now, If you could come with us, we’ll get you all settled,” she promised the omegas. They followed the women, leaving the sheriff, Luca, and a still-pissed-off Leon standing alone.
“Sounds like a pack matter,” the sheriff said pointedly, looking at Leon.
“Not until they prove it,” he said firmly, not giving an inch.
“I admire your grit,” I said, “but maybe you should let the alphas handle this.”
Was I baiting him? Oh, absolutely. It was a condescending, asshole thing to say, but it did exactly as I intended.
His cheeks flushed with fury, eyes narrowing on me. He angrily shoved a hand through his long hair.
“Maybe we should be working together,” Luca pointed out, putting himself between Leon and me. “I’m not sure what the fuck this is about or what kind of pissing contest is happening between you two, but frankly, I just figured out that I have an omega. I’m not going to fuck it up by standing here and fighting.”
“And who are you?” Leon said. His mouth was just as sharp when directed at Luca, but my best friend didn’t rise to the challenge like I did.
“My name is Luca. I’m with them.”
“I don’t think I understand why the Crows are involved in the first place,” the sheriff said. He hadn’t walked away like I expected.
I studied him for a moment, deciding what all to tell him, then simply shrugged.
“We had a target. Our target had the girls. We relieved him of his supply.”
He let out a snort. “I’m sure that’s the whole story.”
“Of course,” I grinned, not the least bit worried he’d press further.
