Chapter 18

Chapter 18

Barrett

Iwake from the deepest sleep I think I've ever had. I yawn and stretch, loving the blissful ache of muscles I haven't used in too long.

Cedara.

I turn my head and see the empty space in the bed beside me.

She's up before me again. I'm amazed at how she manages to slip away without waking me. I've always been a light sleeper…but last night was different.

Getting up, I pad to the door, heading into the living room. The apartment is comfortable. Nothing like the bare bones of the barracks I'm used to. Probably shouldn't get used to it.

Though if I was mated, a life like this could be mine.

My whole world could change.

It's not something I've ever thought of. I've never been driven to mate the way some of the others have. I like my own company.

Right now, I like hers even more. I stop in the living room when I see her sitting in one of the armchairs, staring out of the window. She has her knees drawn up to her chest, her chin resting on them. Her hair tumbles over her shoulders to the small of her back.

She's a vision.

I stand there, just watching her for a minute. And then she turns her head. I pull in a breath.

"Hey," I say.

"Hey, back at you." Her smile is radiant. "Sleep well?"

"Like a baby." I walk over to her and lean down to kiss the top of her head. "What're you doing up?"

"I like to watch the sunrise." She turns back to the window, which is filtering shards of red and orange through it. Beyond it, gold touches the watered-down blue of the morning sun.

"Magnificent." I'm looking at her as I say it.

"It is, isn't it?"

"I'm talking about you."

She dimples prettily. "You're one to talk. Just look at you, strutting around like some kind of god."

I glance down at myself. "God, huh?" I grin wryly. "First time I've ever been called that before."

"Well, that's what you feel like to me right now." She swivels in her seat, uncurling her legs. My cock twitches at the sight of her bare flesh. It's not lost on her. She reaches out to stroke her fingers down my lower belly, and I stiffen immediately. My breath hisses as her fingers trail further down.

"Keep that up and—" I don't get further. There are footsteps in the hall. I spin, reaching for a throw hanging over the back of one of the couches, and drape it over her shoulders before stalking to the door. My nostrils flare.

Stone.

For fuck's sake.

"Chord!" Casey calls out, confirming my suspicion.

"What the fuck do you want, Stone?" I yank open the door. She doesn't give me a second glance, though I'm butt-naked.

"Jagger wants you." She's not one for formalities. "Said Edirn and I should wait with her while you're gone."

"Gone? I'm not leaving Cedara alone." I cross my arms over my chest.

"I just told you. Edirn and I will be here." Casey steps aside to let her mate through. He dips his head in greeting before heading into the living room.

"Hello, Cedara," he says in that rough rasp of his. "I hope you're settling in?"

She's staring at him wide-eyed, clutching the throw tightly around her.

"I'm not leaving her," I repeat, rocking back on my heels.

"Suit yourself. I'll sit here until Jagger comes in and kicks your ass. At least I'll be doing as I was told." She pushes past me and flops into one of the couches. "Hey." She nods at Cedara. It's as close to a greeting as she's going to give.

"What's this about?" I glare at her.

"Are you gonna put some clothes on, or do I have to have this conversation with your dangling dick in my face?" Casey grimaces. Edirn turns from the window where he's been looking out at where the sun has now risen.

It's too early for this shit.

I growl under my breath and prowl to the bedroom, where I yank on yesterday's T-shirt and jeans. When I get back, Edirn is sitting beside his mate. He looks up at me, and I get the strangest sensation from the intensity of his eyes.

I look back at Casey. "So, will you tell me what the hell's going on now?"

"Ask Jagger." Casey examines her nails, which are trimmed short and neat. "He just told us to send you over, then take care of the girl."

"Cedara," I correct her.

"Sure. Whatever."

Goddammit!

I look over at where Cedara is still crouched under the throw. I don't like how uncomfortable this is making her. The least Casey could do is show a bit of common courtesy.

Not her style.

"And you have no idea what this is about?" I press, looking around for where I kicked my boots off yesterday. I spot them near the bedroom door, head for them, and pull them on.

"Not a clue," says Casey. Although even if she knew, I'm sure she wouldn't tell me. Sometimes, this woman makes my head want to explode. But then again, it's probably why she's so damn good at her job. Tough as nails. Heart as stony as her name.

Except now she's looking over at Edirn, and the tenderness in her expression makes me blink.

Okay.

I walk over to Cedara and lower myself to my haunches beside her. Her eyes look tortured. "I'm not gonna get out of this." I huff out a breath. "But I won't be long. Sit tight, okay?"

She slides a glance past me to where the others are sitting before looking back at me.

"I'll be fine," she says. I'm not convinced, but I stroke her hair, press my lips to her forehead, and then rise again.

I turn to the couple on the couch. "Don't scare her."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Casey has her arms extended along the back of her couch, one ankle over her knee. Her mannerisms are sometimes so masculine it's easy to overlook the fact that the woman's a knockout. Not my type, though.

"She's in good hands, Barrett." Edirn's stare is level. He smiles at Cedara, who relaxes a little.

"Fine." I'm not happy about this. "I'll be right back." My words are directed at Cedara. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can return. My impatience is brewing.

By the time I reach Jagger's office, it's brewed into a storm.

I barge right in. "Yesterday, you told me not to let her out of my sight, and now you're dragging me away from her. What the fuck, Law?"

"Sit down." He nods at the chair across from him. I sink into it, seething. "First off, wind your neck in. I've had enough shit from you lot since I took this role. Just because we served together doesn't mean you get to mouth off whenever you feel like it."

I snap my mouth shut.

Fuck.

"I'm sorry." I don't sound remotely sorry. "Stone said you need to speak to me. What's this about?"

"Where's Cedara?" He leans back in his seat, but his bearing remains tense. Something's up.

"Back at the apartment with Casey and Edirn. Just as you ordered."

"And before that?"

"Before that, she was with me. Also, as you ordered." I want to stick my jaw out, but I've already pushed things too far. I keep my posture rigid in my seat.

"All night?" Jagger tilts his head.

"She was with me all night, Law." I pause, letting my words sink in. "Now, are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"There was a killing out near the western border last night. A camper. Human." He rests his elbows on the arms of his chair and interlaces his fingers in front of him. Still, he seems tense.

"What?"

"A human was mauled to death on our territory, Chord." It's his turn to let his words sink in. "So where was Cedara?"

"I just told you," I almost growl the words. "She was with me. We were together."

"You're sure?"

"Goddammit, Law! We were in the same bed. Do you want me to spell it out?"

A dark eyebrow rises. "No." His features remains carefully schooled. "But if she's been out of your sight at all, there's always a chance that she could have been out there.

I glare at Jagger, feeling my hackles rise. "Are you seriously accusing Cedara of this?"

His jaw tightens, and I can see the muscle flexing along its sharp line. "I'm not accusing anyone, Barrett. I'm just trying to get the facts straight."

"The facts are that she was with me all night." I lean forward, planting my forearms on his desk. "You think I'd lie about something like that?"

Jagger holds up a calming hand. "I'm not saying that at all. But you have to admit, the timing is…suspicious."

"Suspicious?" I bark out a harsh laugh. "She's been through hell, Jagger. Her entire family was captured and locked up like animals. She finally gets them back, and you think she'd risk throwing all that away by killing someone? Fuck, she hasn't even been here long enough to find her way around! She probably couldn't even get out of this place if she wanted to."

He regards me steadily. "I don't know what she's capable of, Barrett. None of us do. She's an outsider."

The words slam into me, and I straighten, a wave of fury cresting over me. "She's not an outsider. She's my mate."

"That's convenient timing as well," he mutters.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I snap, fists clenching.

"It means that she's compromised you. Made you blind to what she really is."

"And what's that?" I snarl. "You think she's some kind of killer?"

Jagger shakes his head slowly. "I think she's more wolf than human right now, Barrett. That's all I'm saying."

I open my mouth to retort, but I'm stopped by the memory of her teeth sinking into my neck, of the way she'd attacked me in the woods. Could Jagger be right? Could her wolf be that strong, that uncontrollable?

No. I refuse to believe it. "She's not a killer, Jagger," I say, keeping my voice low and level now. "I was with her. All night. She never left the apartment."

"Can you be absolutely certain of that?" His eyes bore into mine, searching.

I think of waking up alone, of her sitting in the chair, staring out at the sunrise. Could she have slipped out while I was sleeping? No…I'm a light sleeper. I would have heard her.

Wouldn't I?

"Yes," I say, keeping my tone firm and resolute. "I'm certain."

Jagger studies me a moment longer, then nods slowly. "Alright. I'll take your word for it…for now. Just be aware that this new development could bring a whole world of shit down upon us."

"Of course I'm aware of that."

"Are you? Because this goes beyond your…mate. If this killing brings attention to Steel Lakes, we could be in for a lot of trouble."

I'm silent because I realize how bad this could be for us…for all of us.

He goes on, "Now, I want you to keep an eye on her from here on out. No more wandering around town. Understood?"

I bristle at the implication that I need to be given orders to do something that I'd gladly do regardless, but I force myself to nod tightly. "Understood." I rise, my bearing stiff.

As I turn to leave, Jagger calls after me. "And Barrett? Don't let your feelings blind you to what's really going on here. If she is dangerous…" He leaves the rest unspoken, but his meaning is clear.

I stalk out without responding, my mind whirling. Could Cedara really be capable of such violence? Part of me desperately wants to believe she's not. But another part, a smaller, darker voice, wonders if maybe Jagger is right to be cautious.

One thing I know for certain – I won't let anyone hurt her, no matter what. She's my mate. And I'll protect her with my life.