Page 10 of Feral

He might just be. The fucker would have to make it right with me, but if he tried right now, I was likely to bloody the guy.

Silence descended. I didn’t speak or move until I heard two vehicles start and drive away. Then I looked around at everyone who remained, silent and watchful.

“Anyone else here want to say something about my brothers’ choices in mates?”

Or mine?

Something sharp and painful twisted in my gut, thinking of how happy Boyd was with Audrey, his pup in her belly. And Colton, pushed to the brink with his own moon madness, but now mated to the woman who was meant to be his. And me?

My wolf had met its mate. For the first time ever, I knew. Just like Boyd and Colton had. One look, one whiff of Audrey’s and Marina’s scent, and they were fucking goners.

Natalie Shefield, that gorgeous human neighbor of mine. Her scent called to my wolf. Her body called to my dick. Her feisty, brave determination called to my mind.

I’d barely spoken with her. Barely seen enough of her body to satisfy my basest instincts. And yet, she was my mate.

If I’d clung to one shred of hope, I might be able to have her. It just fucking went up in flames. No way would Nathan or anyone in the Madison Range pack think twice about getting rid of me as alpha if I admitted I had a mate who was human.

This pack was a disaster, and it was all because of me.

5

WILLOW

Mother.Fucker.

I’d just stripped out of my clothes to take a shower after my date with Markle, and the asshole was knocking on my door again. Seriously? I didn’t play up the yawning and I’m-so-tired thing at the end of the date enough? I even let the asshole have a kiss before he left me at the door. Denying him that would have hurt my investigation. But even on assignment, I needed to clock out. Sure, I was pretending to be Natalie Shefield, but it was harder pretending to like Jett Markle.

The date had gone fine. I didn’t learn much about him of importance, even though he barely shut up the entire time. He had nine hundred acres and planned to build a stable to stud horses. He’d also just purchased a bull to inseminate his cows. When he’d said that, he’d raised a brow, as if he wondered if I needed to be inseminated. By him.

I learned about cattle and the solar panels he’d installed. I’d asked after his time in New York, hoping to learn more about his job and how he no longer had it, but all I’d gotten was a lesson in bond trading.

It had been painful, but it was a start. Maybe I’d smiled and feigned more interest than his previous dates because he’d definitely thought he was going to score.

Now it seemed he didn’t know when to stop.

I debated putting my clothes back on, but he wasn’t staying long, barely long enough to tell him I had a headache and was just about to wash my hair then shut the door in his face. I threw on my short silky robe and tied it at my waist. Just to be safe, I grabbed my Glock and carried it downstairs, tucking it under a basket by the front door before I swung it open, a slight scowl in place.

And my nipples went hard as diamond points.

Rob Wolf. At my door. Wearing a furious scowl of his own.

“Well. You have a habit of showing up at the worst times,” I told him. Although the truth was, after a date with Markle, Rob’s large real cowboy form was a delicious sight. As attested to by my nips.

“You armed?”

Those two words gave me goosebumps. Yes, it was ridiculous, but the deep timbre of his voice set me off. I glanced down at myself. “Where would I hide a weapon?”

“You had on a towel earlier,” he countered, his gaze raking down my body.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “No gun on me.”

He understood what I didn’t say and looked around for a weapon. Smart man.

He took off his hat, which showed his dark hair was long on top with a curl to it. A little wild, just like him. His scowl grew deeper, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Tell me you didn’t just kiss Jett Markle on this porch,” he demanded.

I narrowed my eyes. “Tell me what business it is of yours.”

“Fuck.” He clenched his jaw like he was grinding his back teeth. I seriously didn’t know what his problem was, but he definitely was wound up. “You—” he spluttered then stopped, like he had no idea what to say next. “You have a gun, that’s good.” He paced a step on the porch then pivoted, like he was trying to work something out. The summer sun had just set, but I could still see him clearly. “I’m sure you think you can take care of yourself, but, dammit, Natalie, that man is trouble.” He lifted his eyes to mine, and they were burning with conflict.