Duncan swore softly. Neva's father couldn't have chosen a worse time to come visiting. The smell of lust and sex sat heavily on the warm air, and Neva's warm skin still glowed with the aftermath of their lovemaking. It wasn't something either of them could deny and would only further fuel the old man's anger.
Not that Duncan was worried about himself--just Neva. She loved her parents, and he didn't want the situation to get any messier than it already was, but he had a feeling it would.
She whirled and grabbed his jeans and shorts, thrusting them into his hands. Go into the kitchen and get dressed, she ordered. Sit at the table and make like nothing is happening.
He gently brushed a sweaty strand of hair from her cheek. He's not stupid. It's very evident what we've been doing.
Her eyes flashed at him. I know, but I don't intend to rub his face in it.
Neither did he. Not this time. But he didn't intend to leave her alone to face her father's wrath, either.
Especially when that wrath was mostly his making. He threw on his clothes but didn't retreat, and she made an exasperated sound before moving to turn on the light and open the door .
'So it's true.' Though Levon's voice was soft, it was filled with anger. Rich with contempt. 'You didn't leave Ripple Creek after all. You lied to me, and you lied to your mother.'
Her hurt swirled through Duncan, as bright as a flame. Yet none of it showed in her voice as she said, 'Would you have felt any better if I'd told the truth?' She stepped back, opening the door wider. 'Are you coming in, or are we going to discuss this on the doorstop for all the neighbors to hear?'
Levon's gaze ran past her, meeting Duncan's. 'Oh, I'm coming in all right.' He stepped inside and thrust a hand deep into his pocket.
Duncan saw the bulge. Knew a weapon was hidden there. And while he had the strength to wrest the gun from the older wolf's grip, he wasn't about to risk it with Neva standing so close. Accidents happened, and he didn't want it happening to her.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, feigning indifference as she closed the door. ' I never figured you for a man of violence, Levon.'
She shot him a quick, confused look, then her gaze darted to her father, and she made an exasperated sound. 'Do you really think he's worth going to jail over?' Even though Duncan had half expected her to say something like that, her words still cut. But declarations of caring, after everything he'd done to her, weren't in the cards right now. Maybe they never would be. 'I'd keep that gun in your pocket,' he drawled softly. 'Because I know from experience you wouldn't enjoy jail.' A muscle in the old man's jaw throbbed. 'Do you know what they're saying about her in the hospital?'
'Don't talk about me like I'm not here,' she cut in. 'And what does it matter what people are saying about me?'
Levon shot her a furious look. 'It matters to me. It matters to your mother.'
'And my feelings and needs don't?'
'You're my daughter,' Levon said fiercely. 'And I will not have your reputation sullied by a man like this.' Neva's expression was an endearing mix of anger and amusement. 'Duncan's not the first man I've danced with, Dad, and he probably won't be the last.'
'He will be if I have anything to say about it.' Levon drew the gun out of his pocket and, with a trembling hand, pointed it at Duncan.
Duncan didn't move. Just tensed, ready to dive away should the older man's finger so much as twitch on the trigger.
Neva swore and stepped between them. 'Don't be so damned ridiculous.' She hesitated, sniffing the air.
'You've been drinking.'
Damn it, Neva, Duncan said. Step out of the line of fire.
No. He won't shoot me.
That was a risk Duncan wasn't willing to let her take.
He reached for the power of the binding. I order you to step away.
She shot him a furious look and clenched her fists, her whole body trembling. But she didn't move.
Duncan wasn't sure whether to admire her courage or be angry at her stubbornness.
'I'm not drunk,' Levon said into the silence 'No, you're just insane. How's threatening Duncan going to help me or my reputation?'
For someone who wanted to avoid this confrontation at all costs, she was doing a fine job of fighting it without help. He very much suspected this battle had been building for some time now, and his actions had just made it happen sooner rather than later.
'He leaves.' Levon's voice was sharp. 'Now. Tonight.'
'And as I asked before, how is that supposed to help my reputation?'
'One moon dance is an aberration that will quickly be forgotten, as long as he leaves quickly.' Neva raised an eyebrow. 'And if it's not an aberration?' Levon shot her a furious look. 'It is. You deserve far better than a man of his ilk.'
'Yeah, right,' Neva said, voice flat. 'It's not for me you're demanding this, is it? You're here to protect your reputation and your image.'
Levon glared at her . 'I'm not--'
'Aren't you? So why haven't you stopped to ask if this is what I want? Why haven't you bothered to ask how I feel about Duncan? Did you ever stop to consider that this might be more than just a dance?'
Levon's gaze darted between the two of them, and his face went pale. Duncan wasn't sure if it was the shock of having his daughter finally standing up to him or the horror of possibly having him as a permanent member of the pack.
'You can't be serious,' Levon muttered. 'Surely you know what sort of reputation--'
'I do. And right now, I don't care.'
'But…but…' Levon stopped and scrubbed a hand across his rough jaw. 'You can't be serious about a man like him.'
She reached out, wrapping a hand around the barrel of the gun and wresting it easily from her father's grip. 'Right now, I'm not sure that I am. But I have the right to discover what I do and don't feel. I'm not a teenager any more, so please don't treat me like one.'
'I'm only trying to protect you.'
'I know, but right now, you're smothering me.' Levon's gaze met Duncan's again, and in the rich green depths he saw both anger and fear. 'You deserve better than scum like--'
Even from where he stood, Duncan felt the flash of her fury. 'You will not call him scum in my house,' she said, her voice soft but shaking with anger. 'Get out.'
'I'm only trying-'
'Until you--and Mom--are willing to listen to what I have to say, I don't want to talk to you.' She strode past him and opened the door. 'I said get out.'
'Your sister--'
'Was willing to listen to me and understands what I've done. You and Mom aren't even willing to listen.'
'It's just that we're disappointed--'
'Yeah? Well, so am I. In you. Where are all those pretty words of tolerance now?' She waved her hand at the open door. 'I mean it, Dad. If you want to stay, you apologize to Duncan. If not, leave.'
Levon turned around and walked to the door. There he hesitated, meeting Neva's gaze for several seconds. Duncan saw her face go pale and found himself clenching his fists again, ready to step in and defend her even though he had no idea what Levon had just said to her. 'I mean it, Neva,' Levon said out loud.
'I know you do,' she replied and slammed the door shut behind her father. It was a sound that echoed through the sudden silence.
She remained where she was, staring at the door and breathing deeply. He wanted to go to her and wrap his arms around her, but he knew she wouldn't appreciate it. 'What did he say to you?'
'Nothing.' Though her voice was carefully controlled, he could feel the pain in her.
'Then why are you so upset?'
'It's pack business,' she shot back. 'And none of your concern.'
