Page 26 of Silver Claw

Sam watched her with a tiny smile, and there was genuine happiness in his eyes. He needed people to care about him, and now, with Lucy, and Jared and Shadowfield and me and Silverwood, he had that.

Even if it was hard for him to believe.

Zach and Remy, their wounds tended, followed Ben and Belinda into the kitchen.

Ben waved away my invitation to lunch. “We need to get back, dear. I’d like to see how your wounds are healing, but I know you’re not about to take time for that.”

I laughed. “I’m healing fine, Ben.”

After they left, the rest of us gathered around the table to eat and talk about the Ironridge alpha. Gavin Voss was very nearly enough to put me off my food, and that was saying something.

“He said he doesn’t fight women,” I told Jared, curling my lip. “So I guess he’s just going to stand there and take it when I’m beating the hell out of him.”

“What did he want?”

I shrugged. “Maybe to see what he was up against.” I hesitated, then, “He has some misguided notion that he needs to avenge Adam and retrieve the former Stone Moon pack, even if he has to kill you and take your people and territory to do it.”

“He thinks that because Kait’s a woman,” Remy said, “she’s not responsible for what happened with Thorne. That’s on you.” He shoved his chair back and stood. “I’m heading out. Call me, Kait. I’ll be close.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Remy.”

“He asked Kait to be his mate,” Sam said, as Remy left the kitchen.

Immediate rage lit Jared’s eyes.

“He’s learned enough about us to know I already have a mate,” I said. “He doesn’t want to play by pack rules.”

“I’m going after him,” Jared said. That was all he said, but the threat was in his voice. He was done with Gavin Voss. He’d either run him out of Jakeston, or he’d put him in the ground. He would not let Voss take Adam Thorne’s former pack.

They were his pack now.

“I’m going with you,” Sam said. He took a sip of coffee. “I don’t need to play by pack rules, either.”

“When?” I asked, a little worried despite knowing Jared’s strength.

“I’ll send scouts to find out where he’s staying,” Jared said. “Then I’ll go encourage him to leave Jakeston.”

“And to take the teeth you knock out with him,” Sam said, and he and Zach shared a laugh.

I hid a yawn behind my fingers, my thoughts a little sluggish.

Jared stood immediately and held out his hand. “Let’s get you to bed.”

I felt like I hadn’t slept for days, and not even a wolf could stay awake forever.

But with my alpha taking me to my bed, I was nearly certain sleep wasn’t coming anytime soon.

And I was good with that.

Chapter Eleven

The city seemed a little extra loud as I walked into my office, Joe at my side. Sometimes the noise, smells, and chaos of Jakeston were overwhelming, but honestly, I loved it. I was also protective of it, because it was my city—and it had always protected me.

The wolf, she loved the country and the woods and the nature, but the woman was partial to the crowded bustle, the crimes to solve, the ghosts who were more inclined to wander city streets than empty woods.

And they were out in force tonight.

Gracie Dawn was sitting at her little desk beside Max, and seven clients sat in the waiting room, waiting for my arrival.