Hell, she needs me.
The bear from the complex passes her the phone. “It’s the alpha, Aric Connor,” he tells her.
Emme grips the phone tight, taking a moment before speaking. I hurry forward, only for Houndstooth jacket and the Polo boys from the Watering Hole to shove their way forward.
“What the hell was that, man?” Orange Polo asks. “A wereoctopus?”
“No. It was something else,” I answer.
I scowl when the cougar from the complex adjusts the blanket covering Emme’s shoulders. She’s talking to Shayna. I recognize Shayna’s excited tone right away.
“Sure was something else,” Houndstooth agrees. He jerks his head in the direction of the fish and mouse. “Just like them.”
The cougar nods, his hardening gaze fixing on the younger weres. “When you talk to Bren Cooper, you call him alpha. Show some respect, dawg.”
The other weres nod in agreement, eyeing fish girl and the president of the mouse club with disgust. The witches didn’t cast Mirror under the laws and safety of their coven, and they’re not weres or humans our weres are obliged to protect. They’re abominations, results from the evil we guard against. If left on their own, the fish and mouse would be eviscerated by the pack.
“What do you want me to do with them, alpha?” the bear asks.
In other words, kill them now, or later?
“Don’t know,” I say. “Still waiting to hear.”
I take the beach towel he offers me and wipe down. The witches inch away from the weres and closer to Emme. She’s talking to Shayna now. I recognize the perk to her tone. A hiss from a werelynx warns the witches against getting too close to Emme.
“You promised to speak to Genevieve,” mouse girls calls to Emme. “You said if we helped you, you would help us.” She veers on me. “Emme was drowning. Farrah dove into the water and brought her to the dock.”
“It’s true. The current was carrying her away,” fish girl replies.
Fish face looks up at me hopefully, her bulging eyes spinning with worry. Like the rest of us, she took a beating. I can’t believe she made it out and I gotta give her props for helping Emme.
“Is the Head Witch nice, like Emme says, wolf?” she asks me. “Do you think the Great Genevieve will spare us?”
“Are you kidding?” I reply. “Genevieve’s a bitch. She’ll skin you alive and use your hide for dinner napkins.”
Emme gasps. “Bren!” She speaks through her teeth. “I’m on the phone with her now and she can hear you.”
“Oh.” I scratch my beard. “Waddup, girlfriend?” I ask into the phone.
“Burn in hell, mongrel,” Genevieve replies.
Like always, Genevieve keeps her voice calm and maintains her composure. I chuckle and finish drying off. I have to give it to Genevieve. I only saw her lose her shit once. It was all Taran’s fault and it was fuckin’ glorious.
Emme turns away, apologizing for my “actions, crass, and rudeness.” I don’t get it. I asked how she was doing.
When their conversation ends, Emme’s features soften and she addresses the witches. “The weres are to escort you to the Head Witch’s compound. There, you’ll be granted an audience with her and her council.”
“But will she kill us?” the mouse squeaks.
Emme isn’t one to lie. She also isn’t one to offer false hope. “Genevieve is not pleased with your actions, but she’s willing to hear your side. I explained how you helped us, for that she is thankful.” She smiles. “So is my brother-in-law, Aric. He promised to speak to Genevieve on your behalf.”
The mouse addresses the vampire. “What about you? Did you tell your master how we helped you and Emme?”
The vamp scoffs. “Hell no. The master doesn’t care.”
I make a face. “He really doesn’t,” I agree.
Man, Emme is seriously cute, even when she’s shooting us dirty looks and all but smacking us upside the head. She pauses as she catches everything south of my waist, blushing when she sees me notice.
I do her a solid and tie the towel around my waist. She clears her throat, after another glance my way and speaks quietly to the witches. “I will talk to Misha as well. But it’s Genevieve you’re obliged to meet with first.” She hands the cougar back his phone. “My brother-in-law, Miakoda Lightfoot, and my sister, his mate, Shayna, will meet you and the witches outside Genevieve’s compound. They’re en route now. I apologize, but my family are the only ones permitted onto the premises. Are you available to take Farrah and Merche?”
The cougar grins. “Anything for you,” he says.
Anything for you, I repeat in my head. Asshole.
I shove my way between them, grinning all the while baring my teeth. It’s a rare talent. Feel free to envy me at any time.
I clasp his shoulder, hard enough to almost knock him to the ground. “Looks like you have everything squared away. Great job.” I clamp down again when he starts to rise, making a point to pretend to look around. “Good job team. Way to be heroes.”
The weres collectively nod and grunt, seemingly proud and feeling good about themselves. You know who can hype up a crowd? This guy. Right here.
I sling my arm around Emme and lead her toward the walkway, pulling her close when the breeze pics up and she shivers. “Are Shayna and Koda coming for you after they’re done at Vieve’s? Or do you need me to take you back to your place?”
Emme pauses at the end of the dock. She lifts her chin to better see me, her demeanor changing from someone who’s had one hell of a night to someone who doesn’t want her night to end.
“I don’t want to go home to my family,” she tells me. “Bren…I want to go home with you.”
Chapter Sixteen
Bren
I know that look. I see it all the time at the end of last call. It usually comes from a were who was eyeing me up all night, or on a rare occasion, a human who isn’t
