“Hey, I’m a breath of fresh air,” maintained Dominic. “Besides, why would I want a mate yet when there is such a wide variety of females out there to sample?”
Shaya wasn’t buying that act for one minute. Oh sure, Dominic loved women, and women loved Dominic—it was impossible not to love that wicked grin, his caramel skin, and those impressive abs—but he wasn’t quite the slut he pretended to be. She had yet to figure out what his act was all about, however. Just as she had yet to figure out why he bothered with lines, given how easily he reeled in females.
As Greta came to stand beside Shaya, the old woman scowled at Nick. “You I’m not in the least bit happy with,” she told him in her usual witchy voice. Nick’s brows rose in surprise. “It doesn’t matter that you had your reasons—you hurt our Shaya, and I don’t like it. You should be thankful that you have a mate as wonderful as Shaya and not a hussy like her!” She tipped her head at Taryn, who just smiled.
“You love me really, Greta.” Taryn elbowed her gently. “Admit it, I hold a place in your heart of solid concrete.”
Trey rolled his eyes and then turned to Shaya. “Nick and Derren have told us what’s been happening around here with the humans. It’s not safe.”
“Which is why I recommended that you take your pack and leave,” Nick told him.
Sensing his understandable tension, Shaya went to Nick. Without moving his gaze from Trey, Nick looped an arm around her waist and pulled her onto his lap.
“Shaya told me a little of what’s going on too.” Taryn went to stand beside Trey and their son. “If she’s in danger, we’re not leaving without her.”
Nick went to argue, but then he considered that for a moment. The idea of Shaya around Logan didn’t sit well with Nick any more than it did for Taryn. Looking at Shaya, he said, “Maybe you should leave.” Her eyes flashed with fury.
“No.”
“Shay—”
“All you have to do is keep a low profile until the court hearing. Then you can do whatever the hell you want.”
“But keeping a low profile will be hard to do if the guy is doing his best to provoke Nick,” Tao gently pointed out, shrugging.
“We could always head off in the motor home and lead the humans away,” Derren suggested to Nick.
“No,” insisted Shaya shakily, earning Nick’s instant and undivided attention. “You said you wouldn’t leave me again.”
“And I meant it.” He nipped her lip and ran a hand up and down her arm, knowing the source of her fear and hating it.
“I’m not talking about leaving for good,” Derren assured her. “I’m talking about leading the humans on a merry chase.”
“Nick’s not leaving, and neither am I,” Shaya firmly stated with utmost authority, which seemed to amuse everyone in the room. Okay, she could admit she’d sounded every inch the Alpha female, but whatever.
“Then neither are we,” declared Taryn. “We’re sticking around until the court hearing—we need to be sure that Logan doesn’t manage to rile Nick or harm you. There’s strength in numbers.”
Familiar feminine voices outside were quickly followed by the entrance of Nick’s mother, Roni, and Amber. He had to assume that Jesse, Bracken, and Zander had let them pass. Although there was really no letting Kathy Axton do anything.
“We saw the Highlander outside and thought there might be trouble,” said Kathy, eying up the strange newcomers.
Shaya quickly introduced them. “Kathy, this is Taryn and Trey—my old Alpha pair. And these others here are members from their pack. Guys, this is Nick’s mom, Kathy; his sister, Roni; and their pack healer, Amber.” The latter word almost came out a growl.
Everyone froze as Taryn and Amber suddenly walked toward each other, looking like two cowgirls about to have a showdown. Great—a standoff between two healers. It was kind of like “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the most powerful of them all?” Both females considered themselves to be quite powerful healers and had reputations that backed that up. But there was an ongoing debate about which of the two females was the most gifted among wolf shifters.
“Taryn Warner, I presume,” drawled Amber.
The Alpha female studied the other healer from head to toe. “I’m guessing you’re Amber Lyons.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Amber’s smile couldn’t have been more false.
Taryn’s smile was even more unpleasant. “No, the honor’s all mine.”
Shaya exchanged an amused look with Nick.
“Shaya didn’t introduce us all properly, did she?” Greta said to Kathy, coming forward to shake her hand. She was the picture of courtesy. “I’m Trey’s grandmother, Greta.” She said it like it made her the president or something. Kathy shook her hand gladly, totally falling for the gracious act. “And these are two of my other boys here, Tao and Dominic.”
“Oh, so they’re all your grandsons?” asked Kathy, giving both males a sweet smile.
“In my heart they are.” Greta placed a hand over her chest, wearing a proud smile. “I’ve always looked out for them, always been there for them. They think the world of me.” She sighed wistfully. “Of course, I wish Trey and Dante, our Beta, had chosen better mates, but you’ve got to let them make their own mistakes, haven’t you?” Kathy’s smile said, “I know what you mean.”
Taryn rolled her eyes. “If you’re done with the dramatics, Mother Goose, we’ll—”
“Nick,” called Jesse from outside, “there’s someone here to see you.”
“Who is it this time?” Nick growled.
“The Nazi and some of his wolves.”
Nick groaned. “Great.” All he wanted was to be alone with Shaya. Instead of people leaving, more and more kept appearing.
Dominic cocked his head. “Who?”
“The Alpha of the local pack,” replied Nick.
Dominic’s forehead creased. “Why is his nickname the Nazi?”
“Because he’s a Nazi.” Was it really that confusing?
Standing, Shaya took Nick’s hand in hers. “Come on, let’s go deal with this.” She waited for him to tell her to remain inside, to let him speak to the Alpha alone and be extremely overprotective due to her submissive status…but he didn’t. Instead, he walked with her to the door, willing to present a united front despite that his overprotective streak would be screaming at him to do otherwise. That delighted both Shaya and her wolf.