Chapter 26 — Wouldn't I?

~ LYRA ~

I look into Ronan's eyes and smile. "I agree with you, but endangerment is kind of a stretch, don't you think?"

Ronan huffs before growling, "If you hadn't found me, honey, you'd be singing a very different tune right now."

"So you keep telling me," I growl right back. It seems Ronan holds the trigger to my temper. "Maybe if you repeat yourself a few more times, the message will stick."

I immediately feel the energy in the room shift and glance up to find everyone watching our exchange with a mix of curiosity and humor. Especially the mated males. It's as though they've been waiting a long time for this moment. Normally, I hate being the center of attention, but since I'm already the elephant in the room, I might as well speak my mind.

"If you declare her as your mate during the hunt, no one can question it," a big male—Barron, I remember—says to Ronan, getting the conversation back on track. "If her protector puts his seal on the match in front of local Alphas, it's a done deal. No fuss, no muss."

The woman next to him, his mate Eve, grasps Barron's arm. "But he's human." She shoots a glance at me. "Wolf law states..."

"That doesn't matter," Ronan finishes after a moment. "Silas Vale has earned the right to speak. No one will question that. If they do, they'll risk the fury of the pack. As a member of my mate's family, he's entitled to our protection."

"Magnus won't like it," Eve murmurs.

"Who gives a fuck what Magnus likes?" Killan snarls, his teasing nature evaporating. "He's a pompous ass who needs to be taken down a few notches."

"Killan," Barron growls. "That's my female you're talking to."

Killan's lips quirk into a sarcastic smirk. "My most humble apology, Eve, for offending your gentle sensibilities."

"You are just an annoying asshole," Eve snickers while Barron gives Killan a glare that promises payback.

I glance at the small window above the sofa, noting the sky has become dark. It’s almost nighttime. The moon will rise soon. Relentless sexual energy returns, making me keenly aware of my body.

Cut it out. Now isn’t the time, I berate myself.

"What do we do about our guests in the basement?" one of the single males in the pack, Cain, asks, bringing me back to the present. "If you let Jude go, he’ll tell his Master everything. If you don’t, The Crimson Court might come sniffing around for his missing snitch."

I try not to stare. Cain only has one tattoo. I can see the edge of it along the back of his neck, but it’s not the ink that makes me edgy. It’s the lethal and potent power that surrounds him. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the man was born to be a leader, not a follower.

"We could cut out his tongue," Killan offers.

"That’s disgusting," Eve snaps, narrowing her eyes at him. "Are you going to cut off his fingers too? He doesn’t have to talk. He could write the information down, you know."

Rather than being offended, Killan just shrugs. "Just putting it out there. And now that you mention it, cutting off his fingers is probably a good idea." He peers over at Ronan. "Do you think the bastard can write with his feet too? Should we cut off his toes?"

Dear Goddess, he can't be serious.

Ronan slides his fingers under my hair, resting his palm against the back of my ear. The gesture is comforting, slowing the beating of my heart. "That won’t be necessary," he says quietly. "Jude’s safely caged. We’ll keep him there until we find a way to make use of him. But first, we need to understand what’s going on."

"You’re so cruel," Killan laughs, eyes turning gold, his earlier anger gone. "Keeping him caged on the full moon with so many wolves around, and very little hope for human blood. A vampire’s worst nightmare."

"It’s a light punishment compared to what he did," Ronan responds as he curls his fingers around my nape, the motion disrupting random strands of hair, making my scalp tickle. "By the way, there is a matter we need to discuss with him. A vampire attacked Lyra on her way here."

Loud gasps and muttering erupt from the room.

"A vampire?" Killan asks, brows furrowing. "Why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

"Because I needed you to concentrate on finding out information about Magnus. And now that Jude is in our custody, I think this will be a great opportunity to get some answers in that regard."

Approving nods come from everyone around the room and Killan is probably about to say something when a knock at the door has us all glancing up. It isn’t the first time someone has come to Moonmark Ink. Although Ronan had everyone park in the back and flipped the sign to closed, people continue showing up for their appointments. Killan had warned Ronan that three people were scheduled for ink. Since this is the third interruption, we all assume it has to be another unlucky person who showed up and won’t get what they came for.

"We need to wrap this up." Killan sits back in his seat, annoyance etched on his face. "Before undesirables start coming around."

"What’s the plan?" Barron asks.

Ronan lowers his eyes, meeting mine, and I realize I’m not the only one whose head is in the gutter.

I try not to shiver at the heat in his stare, embarrassed to feel my nipples harden and my core contract. Everyone has to know what’s transpiring between us, aware of what their Alpha has in store for his mate. My sense of smell is evolving, and I swear I detect something spicy and thick in the air.

Ronan’s lust.

It shouldn’t be possible, but the scent calls to me, blocking out the harsh odor of the sanitizers and chemicals the shop uses to keep their tools clean.

"We need to face everyone as a unified pack," Ronan answers, tearing his eyes from mine. "I want everyone to gather at The Grit. Be there at five o’clock sharp. We’ll drive to the hunt together."

The Grit? No way.

I’m only becoming accustomed to all things werewolf. I’m not ready to visit their local bats and hunts. Humans stupid enough to venture into the supernatural bar never come out.

Ronan massages my neck, working on the suddenly tense muscles. He leans in for a quick kiss, brushing his lips over mine. "We’ll be leaving soon," he tells me, voice low. "After I bust your ass for testing me in front of the pack, you can tell me what’s going through that head of yours."

My eyes go wide, cheeks becoming hot. I don’t know which is more mortifying, that he’s threatened to spank me in front of the pack, or that I feel a flutter in my tummy just thinking about being placed over his knee.

"You wouldn’t dare."

"Wouldn’t I?"

Two words, and I have my answer.

He totally would.

"What about your future stepfather-in-law?" Killan asks, tilting his head, studying our exchange. "We can’t take him inside The Grit. He’d have a heart attack."

"I said we’d meet there, not that we’d go in, smart-ass," Ronan retorts, pulling away from me. "Gather in the back lot near the rear entrance. We’ll head out as soon as everyone arrives. I’ll also need someone to miss the hunt. Once Silas addresses Magnus, he’ll need to be escorted from the premises."

"I’ll take care of it," Cain responds before anyone else can. "No worries."

For some reason, I get the impression Cain wants to avoid the hunt. I’m not sure why. He appears at ease with the pack, but I sense he keeps everyone at a distance. I frown as I study the man, trying to figure him out. Perhaps the idea of sprouting fur and running on all fours doesn’t appeal to him either.

Yeah, right.

From what I’ve gathered, the hunt brings wolves in the area together. They shift, venture into the enormous piece of property that’s open only to our kind, and allow the animals inside them free rein.

Why would he want to miss something so important? Something isn’t right with the man.