Spotting him, she gave him a smile that never failed to make his cock begin to stand to attention. “Coffee?”
“Do you really need to ask?” Pulling her close, Derren gently mashed his lips with hers. He thrust his tongue inside, tasting and teasing. Wanting that unique scent that was all Ally settled in his system, he buried his face in the crook of her neck. “You smell too good. Exotic and tasty and mine.” Her blush made him smile. She could take an insult with a bored snort, could take a hit without a flinch, but a compliment? Too much for his little Seer to process.
“You smell better. Like oak bark, Brazilian coffee beans, and seriously hot sex.”
Chuckling, he slid his hands down to cup that ass he loved. “Perfect.” She winced slightly. “A little sore?” When he’d bent her over the sofa the night before, he’d spanked her a couple of times. Of course, his little Seer hadn’t been too pleased about that—she’d cursed and clawed him. So he’d spanked her again.
She narrowed eyes that were glinting with amusement. “No need to look smug. And get your hands off my ass.”
“How many times have I gotta tell you, baby? It’s my ass.” He let one finger slip gently between her ass cheeks, hating that her jeans acted as a barrier. “Has anyone had you here, baby?”
The question had a whisper of menace in it, and Ally knew it would have pissed him off big-time if she hadn’t saved that for her mate like most shifters did. As it was, she had saved it for him. “No, they haven’t.”
Gratified, Derren swiped his tongue over her bottom lip. “Good girl. One day, I’m going to take this ass.” He was rock hard just imagining it.
Ally wasn’t afraid to admit to herself that she wanted him to do it. She was curious, and, like her wolf, she wanted him to claim her every way a shifter could. But Ally would still make him work for it. She sniffed. “Maybe.”
Hearing the challenge in that one word, Derren smiled, rubbing his nose against hers. “You are the most—” Cutting himself off when he heard his cell chiming, he gave her ass a gentle pat before going to retrieve the phone from the coffee table in the den. Seeing that it was Marcus, he answered, “Yeah?”
“We have ourselves some visitors,” drawled Marcus.
Derren stiffened. “Who?” If it was any of the Collingwood wolves, he was going to—
“Miranda and two of her enforcers.” There was a wealth of agitation in Marcus’s voice. “They’ve all been checked for weapons and bombs, although she didn’t like it much. They’re all clear.”
“Okay, well, call me when she’s gone. I have no desire whatsoever to be in her company.” Derren’s comment made Ally shoot him a quizzical look from the kitchen. He held up one finger.
“She wants you to come. According to her, you’re going to want to hear this.” The line went dead.
Growling low in his throat, Derren looked at his mate, who, mug in hand, was crossing the room. “I have to go to the main lodge. I won’t be long.”
“Who’s here?”
“Miranda and two of her enforcers.”
“Huh.” Ally placed the mug on the table. “Let’s go then.”
Not liking that idea at all, Derren scowled as his hand involuntarily tightened around the phone. For as long as the mating bond was incomplete, he would find it difficult to have others around Ally—particularly outsiders—as it created a lingering insecurity, making him more possessive and protective than ever. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, take any chances with her safety.
In honesty, he didn’t believe Miranda was actually a real physical threat to Ally. After all, to attack Ally here would be the height of stupidity. Miranda was many things, but stupid wasn’t one of them. Still, Derren didn’t want outsiders around his mate right now. If that meant he was being irrational and paranoid due to their mating bond not being fully developed, fine. “Baby, you don’t need to come.”
“Probably not. But I am.”
“Ally.”
“Derren.”
“I want you to stay here.”
That Beta tone made Ally bristle, as usual. “And I want Rachelle to die a slow, horrible, excruciating death—preferably soon and in full view of me. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always give us what we want.” She almost smiled at Derren’s exasperated growl.
“Miranda’s a sly, cunning bitch, Ally.”
“Of course she is. But she won’t hurt me, and you know that, so stop being so dramatic.” She cocked her head, her smile one of pity. “You know, you’d be a lot less stressed if you just accepted that I don’t need you to protect me, since I’m no damsel in distress and all.”
Derren cupped her jaw, his eyes flashing wolf as the animal wanted to make his simmering anger clear. “I know it pisses you off that I’m trying to protect you. I get it. You can protect yourself. I know that too. But, baby, there’s been a lot of danger around our pack recently, and our mating bond is only partially developed. Give me a little room to be paranoid here.”
Feeling her irritation slip away at his anxiety, Ally pressed a kiss to his chin, wanting to soothe both Derren and his wolf. “I’m glad you care so much, and I understand why you’re worried. But don’t you think I’m worried too? I know exactly how sneaky that bitch is, I know how much she wants you, and I know she thinks she’s therefore entitled to have you. But both me and my wolf need her to understand that it isn’t gonna happen.” The bitch needed to see he was mated and off-limits. “You’d do the same thing in my position.”
Unable to deny that, he ground his teeth. “I just want you safe.”
“So do I, so I’m hardly going to put myself in danger, am I?”
Derren sighed, still opposed to the idea of her accompanying him but knowing she wasn’t going to back down from this. Backing down was one thing Ally never did. That strength of will he admired and adored could also be a pain in his ass at times. “Fine. Let’s go.” His wolf raked his claws at Derren, unhappy with his capitulation even as the animal understood it.
Entering the living area of the main lodge a few minutes later, they found the Alpha pair and Eli, Roni, Marcus, and Zander scattered around the room. Miranda was lounging in an armchair, her two enforcers standing behind her. She smiled at Derren. “Glad you could join us, Derren.”
She didn’t acknowledge Ally, effectively dismissing her as unimportant—which wasn’t at all surprising. Her jealousy and contempt scalded Ally’s skin, almost causing a hiss of pain to slip through her gritted teeth. Seemingly just the mere fact that Ally breathed was enough to piss off Miranda. It was rather satisfying.
Derren led Ally to the spare spot at the end of a sofa and then stood alert beside her, his stance protective—a stance Miranda didn’t appear to like. “What’s this about?”
Nick replied, “Our neighbor says she has some info we should hear.”
Derren arched a brow. “Really?” He wouldn’t have expected Miranda, of all people, to have sought out information about Kerrie on their behalf. She wasn’t the type to give a shit about other people’s problems. Of course, it was highly likely that she wanted something in return.
“She believes you should be present for this, Derren,” added Shaya, her suspicious gaze locked on the other Alpha female. He could understand Shaya’s apprehension. There was just something not quite right here. His wolf was similarly uneasy, wanting this female away from his mate, despite his confidence that Ally could take her in a fight.
“Would you not prefer outsiders to be excluded from the conversation?” Miranda asked Shaya, shooting a meaningful—and disdainful—glance at Ally.
“Miranda, get on with it,” urged Nick, waving his hand impatiently.
Bristling, she objected, “But it’s your pack’s business and—”
“You’re trying my patience in a big way,” Nick growled. “You asked for permission to cross the border, I granted it. You asked me to summon Derren, and I have. He’s here. Now talk.”
Miranda straightened, her flawless face hardening. “As you wish. I appreci
ate that what happens within your pack and on your territory is of no one’s concern but your own. However, I discovered a shocking fact and felt it was something you should know. Especially since there were attacks on your pack not so long ago. As neighbors, we should always look out for each other.”
Nick narrowed his eyes. “And what is this discovery of yours?”
“You have no idea who you have in your midst. But I do.” Again Miranda fleetingly glanced at Ally. “If you knew who she was, you wouldn’t have her on your territory.”
Wait, what? That was pretty much the last thing Derren had expected her to say. No, it was something that Derren hadn’t at all expected her to say. His pacing wolf halted, peeling back his upper lip to expose his teeth and gums. Miranda was a hot button to the animal’s vicious temper.
Miranda looked at Derren, eyes diamond hard. “And you certainly wouldn’t have her in your bed if you knew the truth.”
Derren couldn’t help but growl at the insult, which made Miranda flinch in surprise. Through his mating link with Ally, he could sense that she was just as taken aback by Miranda’s words, but her expression gave nothing away.
Miranda spoke to Ally then. “When we met here, I knew I’d seen you somewhere before, but I couldn’t place you. It was only later that I remembered. You’re the Holts’ foster pup, aren’t you?” Miranda nodded a few times, an ugly smile growing with each nod. “That’s right, I know who you are.”
The scorn coating every word pissed off Ally’s wolf, who unsheathed her claws and took a swipe at Miranda. She wanted at the bitch who not only offended her but coveted her mate. Even though Ally didn’t think it was a bad idea at all, she didn’t give in to the urge to lunge at her. No, Ally wanted to see where the Alpha female was going with this.
When Ally gave her no reaction, Miranda turned back to Nick. “She may go by a different name, but she is—for all intents and purposes—a Holt, a Brookwell wolf. And we all know what that means. So, out of concern for your pack, I did some digging. Since becoming an adult, she’s gone from pack to pack. Most likely acting as a spy, getting inside information to pass on to her criminal family. And now she has inside information about your pack. I’m sorry to say it, to be the one to tell you, but it’s true. She’s been fooling you all.”
Miranda shot Derren a particularly sympathetic smile, though there was an element of smugness to it. And going by the expression on her face, she expected eternal gratitude from the Mercury wolves for her big reveal. Clearly she was under the impression that they now wouldn’t want Ally here.
For a moment, there was complete silence. Derren broke it, his voice dry and cold. “Are you done?”
Miranda’s face went slack. “You don’t believe me? Or perhaps you haven’t heard of the Holts, is that it?”
Shaya sighed, flicking her hand in a very regal movement. “You can go now, Miranda.”
The other Alpha female shook her head. “You don’t understand—”
“You’re right, I don’t understand,” said Shaya. “I don’t understand why you’re trying to make trouble.”
“Make trouble? That is the last thing I want. We’re neighbors, not enemies. I have no wish to change that.”
“Then why come here today?” demanded Nick, having gone from bored to angry. The male would take offense to anyone, even a close neighbor, insulting one of his wolves.
“Because the Holts cannot be trusted. Add in that she’s a Seer, and, well, this female is naturally untrustworthy.” Miranda’s distaste clawed its way down Ally’s arms. “I’m simply concerned about what this means for your pack.”
“Well, your concerns have all been noted. And dismissed.” Shaya turned to Roni, Marcus, and Zander. “Please escort our visitors to the border.”
The three Mercury enforcers rose, but Miranda didn’t move. “She could be a plant, learning your weaknesses!” Realization suddenly dawned on her. “You already knew who she was, didn’t you? Does she have you fooled into believing she’s not like the Holts?” Miranda looked to Derren. “You cannot possibly wish to have one of them in your bed!”
Before Ally could jump to her defense, Derren was talking—well, growling—with his eyes flashing wolf.
“Watch how you speak of my mate.” His sentence ended with a snap of his teeth. His wolf backed him up with a lengthy growl.
Miranda gaped. “Your mate?”
“My mate,” he confirmed proudly, possessively playing with Ally’s hair.
“You know, Miranda,” began Ally, “I don’t think you’re really in a position to judge Derren, considering you once did all you could to get into my uncle’s bed.”
A smile curved Shaya’s mouth. “Really?”
Ally nodded. “Dan told me.” Dan was the playboy of the family, and a guy known for having no standards whatsoever when it came to women. But he turned Miranda down, recognizing her for the twisted puppeteer of males that she was. The female retaliated by spreading false, insulting rumors about him.
“You think I wanted Dan?” Miranda scoffed. “It was the other way around. I have more pride than to jump into the bed of a Holt.”
“Insulting my family really isn’t wise. Unless, of course, you’re trying to goad me into challenging you. I guess dueling with you could be fun.” Ally’s wolf seriously loved that idea.
Miranda laughed. “I’m an Alpha. You’re a Beta.”
“Do you have a point?”
“I can easily take you,” sneered Miranda.
“You could if you were a born alpha. But you’re not. I’d wipe the floor with you, and we both know it.”
Miranda’s eyes narrowed. “Are you threatening me?”
“I don’t make threats. They’re boring. I’m stating a fact. If you wish to challenge my belief, feel free to do so.” Ally felt Derren tense beside her, and she understood that he wouldn’t want her fighting with anyone whether he believed she could take them or not. Even though his unnecessary protectiveness annoyed her, it was nice to have someone who cared so much.
“You’d love that, wouldn’t you? You’d love it if I challenged you here and now. Because then I’d have made an enemy of my closest neighbor.” She shook her finger. “I’m not falling for that.”
“Nice way to save face.”
Roni nodded at Ally. “It is, isn’t it?”
Casting a withering glance at Ally, Miranda turned her attention to Derren. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you? You’ve sentenced your entire pack to death. Once the Holts’ enemies realize their foster pup is here, they’ll come for her. They’ll use her against them—and if that means fighting their way through all of you to reach her, that’s exactly what they’ll do.”
And Ally would bet that Miranda would take delight in ensuring those enemies became aware of her whereabouts. But there was something Miranda hadn’t considered. Ally smiled at her. “You won’t tell.”
One overplucked brow slid up. “I won’t? And why is that?”
Ally shrugged as she said simply, “Because you’ll die if you do. I have a mate and a pack that will avenge anything done to me. Of course . . . that’s assuming my family doesn’t beat them to it.”
Eyes flaring, Miranda made a derisive sound. “You think I’m scared of the Holts?”
“Yes, I do. And you should be. Because Cain would do everything he could to get to you first.” That comment put a tint of fear in Miranda’s eyes, just as Ally had expected. “If you think your pack could protect you from him, you’re wrong. He wouldn’t attack your wolves, because it would be you he wanted. You wouldn’t even know he was there until his hand wrapped around your throat and snapped your neck.”
Face flushed with rage, Miranda shot to her feet and glanced at her enforcers over her shoulder. “I think it’s time we left.”
“I think it’s long past the time you should have left,” said Roni, earning her a smile from her mate.
Spine straight, Miranda spoke to Nick and Shaya. “If you wish to have her as part of yo
ur pack, that’s your business and I shall respect it. But I still believe you’re making a grave mistake.” Then she and her enforcers marched out while Zander, Roni, and Marcus acted as escorts.
Eli scratched the back of his head. “Well . . . I didn’t see that coming.”
“Do you truly think she won’t tell anyone where you are?” Shaya asked Ally.
“I think Miranda loves her throne, and she won’t do anything to risk losing it,” replied Ally.
“That’s a good point,” conceded Eli.
Standing, Ally turned to Derren. “Come on, we’ve got Beta stuff to do.”
“Actually,” began Nick, “we were all thinking of going on a pack run. You game?”
Derren nodded, rolling his shoulders back to shake away his tension. “My wolf could do with a run.”
“My dad will stay here and keep a look out for intruders,” said Shaya. Stone was refusing to leave until all the danger to the pack was over. “If he sees anyone, he’ll shoot once to signal.”
As a thought occurred to her, Ally told Derren, “I doubt it’s a good idea if I shift.”
“Why?” he asked as he curled his arms loosely around her.
“Your wolf’s even more possessive than you. I’m not sure he’d be rational seeing my wolf around the other males of the pack.”
Derren sighed as he realized she could have a point. Rubbing his nose against hers, he coaxed, “At least come with us.” If she stayed behind, he’d remain with her.
She thought about it for a moment. “All right. I’ll carry Willow around so she can come along too.”
After walking deep into their territory, the pack—with the exception of Ally and Willow, who wouldn’t be able to shift until puberty—shifted into their wolf forms. Holding Willow in her arms, Ally kept pace with the wolves as they loped around, both playful and watchful. Her mate stayed close to her, repeatedly rubbing against her or licking her hand. His power, strength, and level of dominance were evident in his stature and the vibes he exuded.