CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

Eyes had been glued to Ally as she made her way to the pack house. Most held hatred and accusation, while others held pity and disappointment. With those emotions battering her, the journey felt like walking through a cold mist. As usual, no one had said a single word to her. It was perfectly clear that, although she was still in the pack, she remained a social outcast.

Ally wondered if Matt had summoned her because Rachelle had laid more accusations at her door. Or maybe her punishment was about to increase. Zeke had told her that Matt didn’t want to banish her, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t change his mind. Well, there was really only one way to find out.

Inside the pack house, she knocked on Matt’s office door, and quickly received a “Come in!”

Refusing to show any panic or anxiety, she straightened her shoulders and entered. And stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of two unfamiliar wolves. She studied the powerfully built male with the short bronze hair and indomitable look and her voice of intuition whispered, merciless. Yeah, Ally could see he was someone to be wary of. The blend of impatience, dubiousness, and distrust that seeped from him caused her scalp to prickle and itch.

Moving her attention to the dark, supremely masculine male beside him, Ally realized he wasn’t so unfamiliar after all. She’d seen him before in a juvenile detention facility long ago. His body had changed since then; he was taller, his shoulders had broadened, and his build was solid and defined. He was currently watchful, tense, and still; those brooding pools of dark velvet stared too hard, saw too much. His sensual mouth was set in a harsh line; it had a cruel edge to it that hadn’t been there years ago.

Back then, the teenage Ally had felt curious when she saw him. Now, a crushing carnal hunger licked over her skin, heated her blood, and pooled low in her stomach—it was instant, elemental, and made no sense.

Unlike his friend, he didn’t radiate emotion. He was so guarded that only brief flashes broke through that cool surface. Those flashes of suspiciousness, rancor, scorn, and confusion were enough to chill her skin. But that chill was eased by the sparks of a sensual hunger that made warmth bloom in places it had no right being.

It was a hunger she could see he resented.

He might be attracted to her, but he didn’t like it. That irritated her wolf, who—also having recognized him—had sat up, rapt by his dominance and self-assurance.

Suddenly his dark eyes slowly raked over her, lingering a little too long on her mouth. She refused to blush under his intense inspection. “He sent you,” she guessed. Cain. She doubted it was pure coincidence that a wolf who served time in juvie with Cain had come here.

A curt nod was all she received in response—the guy clearly wasn’t happy about it. Neither was she. Ally had been hoping that Cain wouldn’t hear about what had happened, given his violent way of handling things. He must have her more closely watched than she’d thought.

“I’m Derren Hudson.” His silky smooth voice slid over her, teasing her senses. “This is Eli Axton. We’re from the Mercury Pack.”

She’d heard a little about the pack—mostly that the Alpha was verypowerful and very dangerous. “How much does . . . our mutual friend . . . know?”

“Everything.”

Shit. “I take it he relayed my story to you?”

Another sharp nod. “I’m here to take you with me.”

Yeah, she’d gathered that. “Where to?”

“My pack. Temporarily.”

And no doubt, Cain would deal with everything when he was released from jail.

Matt cleared his throat. “Ally, I just wanted to say that I always believed you were innocent. And I certainly don’t believe you attacked Rachelle last night.”

“Really?” she drawled, skeptical. Fear wafted from him, sending a crawling sensation down her arms.

“Yes, but I have no proof,” stressed Matt. “Rachelle’s accusation is very serious. As Beta female, she should protect her pack mates. If her accusations are false, she has violated her oath and placed you in danger. She would have to be severely punished, and I would have to replace her as Beta, which would mean Zeke would also have to step down. Without solid proof of her guilt, I cannot justify making such a decision. Just the same, I cannot execute or banish you without solid proof of your guilt. I want to be clear that I am not casting you out.” Matt’s voice was both firm and reassuring. “There is really no need for you to leave. I can guarantee your safety here.”

“No, you can’t,” Derren told him.

The wolf was right; Matt couldn’t. Ally knew that Rachelle wouldn’t stop. The pack was so certain of Ally’s guilt, and she had no supporters. She had no one who would defend her against any future allegations. No one who would ensure there were consequences if her cabin was again vandalized.

Still, leaving with two perfect strangers, neither of whom wanted to be in her company, wasn’t all that appealing either. Sometimes it was a case of “better the devil you know.”

As if Derren sensed her hesitance, he narrowed his eyes. “Matt, could you leave us alone a minute?”

She was kind of surprised that he would ask an Alpha to leave his own office. She was even more surprised when said Alpha did as requested.

Derren stepped forward. “I can’t let you stay here. Cain wants you away from this place.”

And Cain would flip on Derren if he didn’t take her away—yeah, she got that. But . . . “I’ll find a way to contact Cain, explain it’s my decision to remain here.”

“Why would you want to stay? From what I’ve heard, they don’t want you here.”

“And you don’t want me to go with you.”

He inclined his head. “I won’t deny that. But here you’re around people who might physically hurt you. That wouldn’t be the case if you came with me.” When she didn’t speak, he added, “Cain wouldn’t have sent me if he wasn’t positive that you’d come to no harm with me.”

That was true. The fact that he had told Derren of their connection showed just how much he trusted him—or, at least, how much Cain trusted him to maintain his silence on the subject. And she had faith in Cain’s judgment. Still . . . “You say you won’t harm me, but there’s so much bitterness and hostility when you look at me.” It left a sour taste on her tongue. “Why?”

Derren ground his teeth. “I don’t like Seers.”

And she didn’t like being surrounded by prejudice, but, hey, life was full of disappointments. “I’m pretty sure ‘don’t like’ is an understatement.” When he didn’t deny it, she asked, “Yet I’m supposed to trust you?”

“No, you shouldn’t trust me. I’m only loyal to those who’ve earned it. But I will do what Cain’s asked of me.”

“Why?”

“I owe him a favor.”

“Very noble, but I have a feeling my phone battery will last longer than your attempt at tolerance.” She would bet it wasn’t a quality he could ever claim to have. Surprisingly, his mouth twitched in amusement. “Why in the world would Cain send you, of all people, to help me when you so obviously despise Seers?”

“He knows I’ll keep you safe.”

Yeah? Ally wasn’t all that convinced. But the fact was that she didn’t need Derren or anyone else to shield her; she was a strong, dominant female. All she really needed was to get the hell away from the Collingwood wolves. Strong or not, she couldn’t fight an entire pack. Derren was her ticket out. In that sense, the Mercury Pack was the lesser evil.

She sighed, resigned. “I need to get my stuff.”

Derren’s wide shoulders relaxed slightly. “I’ll come with you.”

“That’s really not necessary.”

“I’ve been charged with keeping you safe. That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

And there would be consequences for him if he failed, she knew. “All right.”

When he crossed the room to her, she realized that actually it wasn’t “all right” at all. Because as his delicious scent slithered over her—Brazilian coffee beans, oak bark, and hot sex—Ally’s wolf’s interest was replaced by arousal. And that was just the last thing that Ally needed.

 

It wasn’t often that Derren and his wolf were in accord on things. It wasn’t that their natures were very different, it was that they were so similar—hard, pushy, stubborn, and mostly serious. They both had such strong, forceful personalities that they clashed a lot. But they had one very big difference: their taste in females.

Derren was attracted to confident, bold females who took life as seriously as he did. His wolf, on the other hand, was so easily bored that he tended to like playful, defiant females that would present a challenge.

This difference in tastes could be problematic. His wolf didn’t fight Derren’s choices in females, but he also didn’t invest any interest in the relationships, which the females would sense and resent. Just the same, Derren would find himself grinding his teeth whenever his wolf was driving him to pursue a female that Derren wasn’t attracted to in any sense.

For once, though, they were in total agreement when it came to a woman: Alyssa Marshall was fucking captivating.

Her almond green eyes, framed by thick coal-black lashes, were just as mesmerizing as he remembered. The very second they had met his gaze, it had felt like every ounce of blood in his body had rushed to his cock. Lust had blasted through him with an alarming force, leaving him a little shaken. He wanted to lap at that smooth olive skin. Wanted to cup those high, perky breasts in his hands. Wanted to wrap that sleek mocha-brown curtain around his fist while he ate at that full mouth. And his wolf was urging him on.

Never had Derren had such a visceral reaction to a female. It was unexpected, and he didn’t trust it. Nor did he trust that the attention of his easily distracted wolf was absolutely consumed by her. Was she doing some weird Seer thing? Using her gift to attract him and his wolf?

The truth was that it didn’t truly matter, because never in a million years would he get involved with a Seer. Never. Since she was his friend’s mate, she was off-limits, in any case. Whether Cain intended to claim her or not, it was doubtful he’d like it much if a friend was sniffing around his mate. Derren’s wolf, however, was no more affected by that than he was by Derren’s distrust of her. The animal wanted her. Simple.

Glancing at the female walking beside him, Derren had a hard time believing she was a Seer. He’d been expecting a colorful, loud woman with crimped wavy hair, too much eyeliner, and hippy-like clothes. Instead, he was looking at a slender, self-composed,casually dressed female wearing a minimum amount of makeup.

Even with her dressed in tight-fitting jeans and a simple long-sleeved T-shirt with a scarf loosely hanging around her neck, Derren wanted to back her against one of the trees, strip her naked, and explore every delectable inch of her. He’d let her keep the black midcalf boots on, though.

Cursing inwardly, he shook his head to clear the image from his mind.

Not a lot surprised Derren—maybe because he was simply too jaded. But Ally Marshall . . . she wasn’t at all what he’d expected. Still, whether or not she looked and acted like a Seer, that was exactly what she was. And he’d remember that, because he knew better than most that Seers could be corrupt, self-righteous, and misuse their gifts.

As they traipsed through the woods, heading for her cabin, they saw members of her pack here and there. Most of them ignored her, and she ignored them right back. One or two glared, and she pointedly ignored them too.

“Are you . . . in business with Cain?”

Knowing she was asking if he was part of The Movement too, Derren shook his head. “I’m just an old friend. You remember me.” He’d seen recognition flash across her face in Matt’s office.

“And you remember me.”

A guy didn’t forget eyes like hers.

She pointed at a cabin a few feet away. “We’re here.”

He frowned at the collection of garbage bags and broken furniture on the porch. Paint had been splattered all over the front of the cabin, and one of the windows had weblike cracks running through it. “What happened?” His wolf growled, flexing his claws.

She shrugged. “Kids.”

Kids wouldn’t be inspired to do this kind of damage unless their issue with Ally was extremely personal, or unless . . . “Was the Beta female behind it?”

“So you believe my story?”

She looked pretty surprised that he might believe in her innocence. Understandable, since nobody else had. Although he doubted that she was guilty, he wasn’t convinced she was definitely innocent. His hesitation apparently answered for him, because she sighed, regarding him with disappointment. Like she’d expected more—better—of him. To his total irritation, he found himself strangely feeling both shitty and defensive.

Rather than voice that disappointment, she blanked her expression, shutting him out—which his wolf seriously didn’t like—and turned away. As she headed inside, her heart-shaped ass swayed in a way that seemed unintentionally provocative. “Give me ten minutes.”

The moment Derren stepped inside her small cabin, he knew it was a mistake. It had been bad enough breathing in her enticing scent as they walked. Here, it filled the air and wrapped around him. Fuck, she smelled like wild berries, grapefruit, and sin. The combination was heady.

He was tempted to return outside, but there was always a possibility that someone could sneak in the back door; he needed to cover both entrances. After all, if she truly was being targeted by the Beta female, said female might not appreciate Ally getting away from her.

As he waited, he took in the interior of the cabin. There was none of the quirky, whimsical décor that Seers were known for. In fact, she didn’t seem to have put her own stamp on the place at all. It was plain and basic, like a rental home.

Soon enough, she reappeared with one suitcase and a bag. His wolf wanted to rub up against her, wanted her scent on his fur. This could get annoying real quick. “Why didn’t you foresee how the Beta female would react?” Assuming Ally was telling the truth, of course.

“Seers don’t have visions about their own future, just as healers can’t heal themselves. Our gifts are supposed to help us serve others, not ourselves.”

“But that’s not the way your kind often works.”

“No, it’s not.”

He blinked, startled by her honesty. He’d expected her to bristle, become defensive on behalf of her kind. When he just stared at her, she arched an impatient brow. Abandoning his thoughts, Derren took the suitcase. “You good to go?”

She inhaled deeply. “I’m ready.”

As they strode through the woods, they again passed the occasional shifter. Spotting Ally’s luggage, the wolves snickered, sending her good riddance looks. They obviously thought she’d been banished and that Derren was escorting her off the land. Ally seemed indifferent to it all, but he wasn’t buying it. He decided it was more likely that she was refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing how much it hurt.

Derren found Eli waiting near their SUV, talking with a still-nervous Matt.

The Alpha turned to Ally with a shaky smile. “It feels wrong to watch you go. Stay, Ally.”

Derren stiffened. “She’s not safe here.” Cain had been right about that. Derren had seen how these wolves were giving her an ice-cold shoulder, and he didn’t like it. It made him remember a time when he too had been isolated, cast aside, and then betrayed by those he should have been able to trust.

Seer or not, guilty or not, she was now under Derren’s protection. He wasn’t happy about it, and he didn’t welcome yet another responsibility. But he’d take it as seriously as he took his Beta duties, because that was who he was.

Movement in his peripheral vision made Derren’s head whip to the side. A tall male was fast approaching, tension in every line of his body.Zeke.When his eyes slid to Ally and then down to her luggage, a series of emotions flickered across his face—predominantly rage.

“What’s going on?” Zeke demanded.

Matt took a step toward his Beta. “Ally’s leaving the pack.”

“What? Why?”

As the Beta and Alpha proceeded to argue, Eli looked at Ally. “Now that you’re packed, we can go.” He took her suitcase and bag and put them in the trunk of the SUV.

When Derren began to lead Ally to the backseat, Zeke made a beeline for her. “Ally, wait.”

Instinctively, Derren obstructed his path. “Don’t even think it.” His wolf curled back his upper lip in a fierce snarl as the animal dropped into a fighting stance, rearing to pounce. His wolf had a black, vicious temper. Right then, he was eager to rake his claws across the Beta’s abdomen, to warn the male away from Ally.

Zeke said through his teeth, “I want to talk to Ally.”

The expectation of obedience in his tone rubbed Derren’s fur the wrong way. “You can do it from here. Though you should probably make it quick.”

“Ally, you don’t have to go.”

“You believe I attacked your mate,” she said. “Surely you’d feel a whole lot better knowing she’s safe from my evil clutches.”

A muscle in Zeke’s jaw ticked. Again he moved toward her, and again Derren blocked his path. “What the fuck is your problem, Derren?” Zeke growled.

Simple: like his wolf, Derren didn’t want Zeke within reach of Ally. “She’s under my protection.”

Fury flared in Zeke’s eyes. “No, she’s under my protection. I’m her Beta.”

Hearing the heavy dose of possessiveness in that statement, it was clear to Derren just how close Zeke had come to imprinting on Ally. Bonding with his mate would naturally have dulled his feelings for any other female, but it was apparent that Zeke still hadn’t quite let go of Ally.

“Not anymore,” Derren firmly stated, a slight taunt in his tone.

“Ally, you don’t need to leave.”

“Zeke?” asked a new voice filled with uncertainty. Then a blonde sidled up to Zeke, taking in the scene with a perplexed expression.

“They want to take Ally,” Zeke told her.

The blonde’s eyes bulged in anger as she glared at Derren. “You can’t do that! She’s ours! Ally, do not get in that SUV!”

Totally straight-faced, Ally replied, “Sorry, I don’t take orders unless I’m naked.”

Derren was not going to entertain the thoughts and images that her comment sent raging through his mind.

“Get over here now!” shouted Rachelle. But Ally just blinked at her. Rachelle’s voice dropped a level as she growled, “You need to seriously rethink defying me.”

“And guys need to stop shoving their hands down their pants to play with their balls in public.” Ally shook her head. “Some things will never change.”

If Derren hadn’t been so preoccupied keeping Zeke back, he might have been able to stop Rachelle before she got anywhere near Ally. As it was, he barely reached her in time . . . but by then, Ally was slamming Rachelle facedown over the bonnet of the car next to the SUV, her hand gripping Rachelle’s nape, dominant vibes radiating from her . . . which had his wolf falling head over heels in lust.

“This, here, is why you never challenged me, Rachelle. You knew you couldn’t take me. You knew I’d humiliate you in front of the entire pack and put your suitability as Beta under question. Embarrassment-wise, this has to rank high.”

“Ally . . .” It was a plea from Zeke to release his mate.

After a long moment, Ally pushed away from her. “She’s all yours, Zeke. I can only pity you.”

Dismissing the Beta pair, Derren opened the rear door of the SUV while Eli jumped into the front passenger seat. “Get in, Ally.” Once she was inside the vehicle, his wolf settled a little. Without another look at the pathetic excuses for shifters, Derren hopped into the driver’s seat and drove off.

Ignoring the sound of Zeke calling her name once more, Ally settled into the backseat while the Mercury males sat up front. As the SUV crossed the border of Collingwood Pack territory, some of the tension left her. She was now away from Rachelle, from the wolves that had betrayed her, and from the danger that the false accusations presented. And it was hopefully the last Ally would ever see of Zeke, Rachelle, and Matt.

Switching on her iPod and inserting her earbuds, she smiled inwardly at how satisfying it had been to watch their reactions as they realized that, hey, they couldn’t keep her trapped there; she wasn’t all alone in the world, despite Rachelle’s best efforts; and there was someone out there who would look out for her. If Matt told the Beta couple about Ally’s mysterious protector, they might even become as nervous as their Alpha. How grand.

But as much as Ally found the idea of their anxiety rather amusing, she very much doubted she’d find Cain’s reaction fun. Although she was pissed with the Collingwood wolves, she didn’t want them all badly hurt. She could never predict what Cain would do, only that it would be bad. He hadn’t always been so angry and detached, hadn’t always been so violent. But the longer he’d stayed in juvie, the more he’d lost of himself—she’d seen it each time she’d visited him there.

Cain’s reaction wasn’t the only thing she worried about. Despite Eli accompanying Derren to collect her, it was clear that he was just as distrustful of her as Derren. As such, it was likely that the rest of his pack felt the same. There was a lot of prejudice against Seers, thanks to the misdeeds of some.

In any case, no pack would welcome the eyes and ears of an outsider—particularly if said outsider “saw” more than others.

Yeah, her time with the Mercury wolves wasn’t going to be easy or peaceful. Particularly since her wolf was most fascinated by Derren, despite his dislike of her. The animal was drawn to his strength, his scent, and how sure and confident he was. Not that, in spite of how uncomfortable Ally was around Derren, she blamed her wolf for that. No, Derren wouldn’t be an easy guy for any woman to resist.

As it was, Ally wouldn’t have to worry about resisting him, sincehe resented her very presence. And that was an extremely goodthing, because Ally had never been good at resisting temptation. And the very last thing she wanted right now was to get involvedwith another wolf after her disastrous experience with Zeke.

It was beginning to darken when they finally crossed the border of Mercury Pack territory. Still, her night vision allowed her to see her surroundings clearly. Leaves littered the dirt path that lay amid a forest of regal, towering trees—many of which displayed typical territorial animal markings.

There was an impressive hunting lodge in the near distance; while the base of the lodge was constructed of large stone, the upper levels had timber frames. The place was illuminated by fairy lights that decorated the trees surrounding it, making it seem cozy and almost magical.

Derren pulled to a stop in the center of a row of all-terrain vehicles, a Winnebago, and a Mercedes. Well, someone had varied tastes. Returning her iPod and earbuds to her pocket, Ally was out of the SUV before Derren could open her door, which seemed to aggravate him for some reason. Her wolf was enjoying the scents of sun-warmed earth, moss, and pine; basking in the peaceful yet untamed atmosphere.

Carrying her suitcase, Derren tipped his chin toward Eli, indicating for her to follow him into the lodge. Inside the living area, three wolves waited on the luxurious sofas, while an adorable pup was playing with some toys on an oval rug. There was a real rustic tone to the homey, spacious lodge, which was complemented by the stone fireplace.

Two of the wolves got to their feet. Mates, Ally sensed.

The ethereally beautiful redhead was, to Ally’s total surprise, smiling in welcome. The imposing blond male at her side, however, was making his suspiciousness of Ally perfectly open in his piercing eyes—it was a look she’d seen many times before. Yep, prejudice against Seers existed in this pack all right. Great.

“Ally,” began Derren, “these are my Alphas, Nick and Shaya.”

Ally knew that although it was important that she was respectful, despite being there under sufferance, it was also important that she didn’t appear weak. That meant not cowering under the force of the Alpha male’s disapproval and vexation, even though it felt like hundreds of wasps were stinging her body. Head held high, voice steady and strong, she said, “Ally Marshall. I appreciate you giving me sanctuary.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ally,” said Shaya. Both Ally and her wolf could sense that, although the Alpha female was submissive, she was strong in her own way.

When Nick didn’t greet Ally, Shaya rolled her eyes. “Don’t take it personally. He’s one of the most antisocial people you’ll ever meet. Over there is Nick’s mom, Kathy.”

The small brunette just stared, her dislike of Ally evident in both her expression and the distaste that was like the slash of a razor on Ally’s flesh.

“And this . . .” Shaya picked up the infant. “This is my baby girl, Willow.”

Ally smiled at the pup. “Good Lord, aren’t you just adorable.”

For a short moment, Willow looked at Ally . . . almost as if assessing her. Then she flashed her a wide smile, reaching out to touch her cheek.

“And obviously you’ve met Derren and Eli, our Beta and Head Enforcer.” Shaya cocked her head. “Should I call you Alyssa or Ally?”

“Ally’s fine.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“Well, if you get a little hungry, there’s some food in the guest lodge you’ll be using.”

They were putting her in a guest lodge? Ally had been expecting them to order her to stay with Derren, given how unwelcome she was here. This was a huge relief. Ally liked space and privacy, and she certainly didn’t want to constantly be in close proximity to him all the time.

“You can meet the rest of the pack in the morning when you come here for breakfast. After that, I’ll give you a tour, since it’s a little too late for that now.” Shaya turned to Derren. “We’ve put Ally in the guest lodge nearest to yours. Can you escort her there?”

He gave Shaya a nod before signaling for Ally to follow. Giving the Mercury wolves a brief good night, she followed him through an archway that led to a dining area and kitchen, liking that it was all one open space. Outside, a Labrador was wagging his tail excitedly.

“That’s Bruce,” said Derren, watching as the dog rubbed his body all over Ally’s legs and butted her hand for a stroke. His wolf was jealous, wanted the same attention, which was just plain pathetic. “Let’s go.” Bruce stayed at her side as Derren escorted her to the guest lodge, irritating his wolf and pricking at his jealousy. Pitiful.

Feeling his negative emotions slap at her as they walked in silence, Ally wondered how she could possibly be attracted to someone who not only disliked her so much but caused her such physical discomfort. Yet, the hunger was there all the same, taunting her and making her feel edgy. Her wolf’s fascination with him wasn’t helping matters at all. Nor were his flashes of raw need that were like fingers teasingly trailing down the length of her spine.

Oh, help.

As the lodge came into view, Ally halted with a gasp. She hadn’t envisioned this at all. It was just . . . beautiful. The timber L-shaped lodge had a wraparound porch, which would no doubt overlook the lake she could see just beyond the building. The front of the lodge was glazed glass, allowing plenty of natural light to fill the space. Situated on a rise, it was perfectly positioned for her to spot anyone approaching. “It’s . . . Wow. Just wow.”

Derren smiled a little. “If you like the outside, you’ll love the inside.”

It turned out that he was right. The two-story den was gorgeous with its stone fireplace, corner sofa, chest-like coffee table, and a massive TV on the wall. From there, it was easy to see the lofted bedroom, which was located above the small dining area and kitchen, overlooking the den.

The oak flooring continued through the entire space, matching the oak kitchen. At the rear of the lodge was a staircase that led to the bedroom and bathroom. The right wall of the bedroom was all glass, giving the space plenty of light. But . . . “This glass is reflective, right?” she asked Derren, who was placing her luggage at the foot of her bed.

Amused, Derren assured her, “Yes. No one can see inside.” He pointed to his own lodge, which was bigger than hers but simpler in its design. “I live across the lake.” Then he found himself blurting out, “Why was your childhood pack assassinated?” Just like that, her expression shuttered. “Don’t do that,” he said. For some reason, the idea of her closing down on him . . . it offended him.

Memories smacked into Ally. Screaming. Howling. Her nails snapping as she clawed at the—

Ally slammed a door on the memories. When she finally spoke, her tone was flat. “I don’t talk about it. Ever.”

As she headed for the stairs, Derren realized he’d been effectively dismissed. He didn’t like that. And if she thought he was so easily handled, she was in for a big surprise. He followed her into the kitchen, where she switched on the coffeepot. “I won’t press you on that.” For now. “But there is something else I need to know.”

Finally finding the cupboard where mugs were kept, she grabbed only one to make a statement to the persistent asshole that he wasn’t welcome to stay. Annoyingly, that seemed to amuse him. “What’s that?” she said.

He leaned against the counter, intensely aware of this female in a way that unnerved him. His eyes settled on her luscious mouth; images of just what he could do with that mouth flickered through his brain. “What really happened in the Collingwood Pack? I’ve heard a little from Cain, and I’ve heard Matt’s version, but I haven’t heard yours.” And when he’d watched her overpower Rachelle, it had become blindingly clear that Ally wouldn’t have needed to attack her from behind. So just maybe Ally had been wrongly accused after all.

“You know all you need to know. She said I tried to kill her. I didn’t.”

“There’s more.” Cain had said the pack had been giving her a hard time. “I’ve been charged with protecting you. I can’t do that if I don’t know everything.” And, yeah, he was being nosy too. His smile widened as he watched her pour more milk in her mug than coffee.

Turning away, she headed outside with her drink. “I’m away from the Collingwood wolves now—that’s all that matters.” Seeing a hammock on the porch, Ally knew she’d be spending a lot of time out here, relaxing.

Derren followed her, coming to stand in front of where she sat on the porch step. Bruce settled beside her, his wagging tail tapping the deck. “You really think they’ll leave you alone? Obviously you didn’t see the possessiveness on Zeke’s face when he looked at you.” Derren’s wolf growled at the memory. “He still considers you his, and neither he nor his wolf is going to like that someone took you away.”

She believed Zeke still cared for her, but not that he’d had any trouble letting go—particularly since he’d bought Rachelle’s lies and refused to get Ally a transfer. “If that were true, he wouldn’t have turned on me the way he did.”

“Trust me, he hasn’t let you go yet. As for his mate, she was genuinely angry that you left.” He took a single step toward Ally, compelled by the wicked urge to touch her that he very barely resisted. It didn’t help that he took her enticing scent inside him on every inhale. “Tell me.”

Caught in the power of his dark gaze, Ally did. She gave him the entire story, beginning when Zeke met Rachelle and ending with the things Zeke had said after the interrogation. “I think she wanted me executed eventually. But not yet. What she was doing wasn’t really much different from someone physically torturing their captive as they lead up to the main event.” She sighed, getting to her feet. “Well, it’s late. Good night.”

Dismissed again. Derren went to grab her wrist but she jerked away, avoiding his touch like it was a poisonous snake. It shouldn’t have bothered him. Not a tiny, little bit. But a growl seeped out of him just as his wolf tugged at the reins, offended and angered by the rejection. “Problem?” he rumbled.

“There won’t be as long as you don’t touch me.”

He stepped right into her personal space, leaving only inches between them. “Oh? And why is that?” And why did he care?

“It’ll hurt.”

Both he and his wolf stilled. “My touch will hurt you?”

“If someone’s emotions are strong enough, they can bleed into my system through touch. You’re so angry at me, so bitter. It’s uncomfortable enough to just be around you. If you touch me while those emotions are running through you, it’ll hurt.” And having his need pour through her body, adding to her own, would have Ally so turned on she’d be shaking with it. But he didn’t need to know that.

Derren had heard that picking up the emotions of others caused physical sensations for Seers, but he hadn’t known it could be painful. “I’ll keep my hands to myself.” Why a part of him balked at that idea, he didn’t know. His wolf viciously clawed at his gut, enraged by it. “One last thing. Don’t think about running.”

Startled that he’d suspect she would do anything of the sort, she asked, “Why would I run?”

“I think you may have figured out that not everyone here is going to be as welcoming as Shaya. I don’t want you fleeing.”

Affronted, she sniped, “I don’t flee. And I may not trust you, and I may not be convinced you have any interest in whether or not I’m safe, but I do trust Cain and his judgment.”

The faith and affection in the latter words added to the jealousy that was already riding his wolf. Not a jealous person, Derren had always been able to roll his eyes at his wolf’s envy. But right now, he shared it. This female messed with his fucking head just as much as she messed with his senses.

“If you both trust and care for each other so damn much, why hasn’t he claimed you? Why would he overlook his mate dating other guys? And why would youwantto?” An emotion flickered across her face, but it was gone too quickly for Derren to identify it.

“Why do you have so much rage and pain inside you that it’s a total wonder you haven’t gone insane with it?” she shot back. As she’d known he would, he closed down. Her laugh was empty of humor. “Unless you’re willing to share your own business, don’t ask me about mine.”

Perversely, her defiance entertained him as much as it did his wolf. This was a female who could hold her own, who brooked no bullshit. Derren could respect that, even as it irritated him that he had no answers to his questions. “Remember: don’t think about running. You wouldn’t get far anyway. I have your scent.” A scent that seemed designed to fucking tantalize him, his cock, and his wolf.

Her voice hardened. “Let me assure you that if at any point I do decide to leave here, that’s exactly what I’ll do. But I won’t run. I’ll walk right on out of here while you watch.”

“I’d stop you before you got anywhere near the border.”

Ally knew her smile was a little feral. “You could try.”

Derren’s mouth curved. “You should know better than to challenge a Beta.” With that, he spun on his heel and strode away, taking Bruce with him.

Once he was out of sight, Ally exhaled a heavy sigh. Being so close to Derren was hard on her composure. Not just because his emotions battered at her, but because he pulled sexual reactions from her body that alarmed her.

She hadn’t realized that he assumed Cain was her mate, though she supposed it was an easy leap for him to make since Cain was so protective. For a single moment, she’d thought of correcting him. But instinct had made her stop. While the Mercury wolves thought Cain was her mate, they would be more inclined to let her be. After all, shifters would launch full-scale wars over their mates.

She didn’t like to lie, but this was just a teeny-weeny lie of omission that wouldn’t hurt anyone but might keep her safe from these people who didn’t like outsiders, didn’t like Seers, and didn’t want her here.

Sure, it was hiding behind Cain, in a sense. Her pride—as strong as that of any dominant female wolf—bristled at that. But her pride had also balked when she’d considered leaving the Collingwood Pack months ago, and look where that had gotten her. So if hiding behind Cain’s reputation would keep her safe, so be it.