Without Regret (Pyte/Sentinel #2)(33)

“It’s what she didn’t do that’s the problem,” Ephraim ground out.

“Maybe you should go home and let her take care of that little problem and leave us to handle this,” Chris said, having absolutely no doubt that once his little mate’s skills kicked in that she would be able to hold her own as he took care of the situation that had them all hauling ass into the middle of nowhere.

He didn’t expect Izzy to suddenly become Bruce Lee and be able to kick everyone’s ass with a simple flick of her wrist. That would never happen. Any fighting skills she used would have to be learned and honed to perfection. Her natural abilities were brute strength, enhanced reflexes, and speed. Add those with her enchased senses and she could be turned into a very deadly predator. Tonight though all he cared about was breaking through the mental block that kept her abilities at bay.

After a long pause Ephraim sighed heavily. “Madison would kill me if I left. Besides if they’re determined to do this you’re going to need my help. She may be able to defend herself, but she’ll be no help to you if you have to put them down.”

“I don’t think they’re going to be stupid enough to argue,” Chris said, hoping he was right.

“It’s a full moon and they’re desperate,” Ephraim pointed out as he kicked a small boulder out of his way instead of stepping over it, earning an eye roll from Chris.

“Is this what I have to look forward to for the next nine months?” he asked, hoping like hell it wasn’t. Having to deal with Madison’s hormonal bullshit was more than enough, especially if it was going to be doubled because she was having twins.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Ephraim snapped, breaking a large branch the size of Chris’ leg off a tree for no good reason that Chris could see.

“Your anger management issues,” Chris mused, earning a fiery red eyed glare from his father that he was glad his little mate couldn’t see.

“Asshole,” Ephraim muttered as he turned back around.

Chris chuckled. “Is that really any way to speak to your favorite child?”

“You’re not my favorite,” Ephraim argued, but they both knew that was bullshit. “I don’t have any favorites.”

“Puhlease,” Chris said. “You f**king adore me. I’ll bet when you realized that Madison was pregnant again you sent up a silent prayer that they would be just like me.”

“You really think so?” Ephraim asked, sounding amused and thankfully less pissed off. He was going to have to have a word with Madison about at least giving him a warning if she was sending Ephraim off frustrated. He just knew the man was going to take it all out on the pack they were tracking and leave him with nothing to do but sit on his ass and twiddle his thumbs.

“Without a doubt. We both know that’s what you were hoping for when Marc was born,” he drawled as he made his way up a steep incline as his little mate held onto the waist of his jeans tightly. Did she really think he’d drop her? That was actually kind of insulting.

Ephraim laughed. “I don’t think I could handle two of you.”

Chris sighed heavily. “I’m a pleasure to be around and you damn well know it.”

“Uh huh, just tell your brother that. When I left the house he was still limping and looking for an ice pack for his ass.”

“I had to make my point,” Chris said, chuckling.

“And that was….,” Ephraim prompted even though they both knew the answer already.

This was just bullshit chit chat to kill time until they intercepted the pack. Normally they’d be running through the woods, but right now with his untrained mate they settled for doing it at a clipped pace. Besides, if the pack shifted directions his father would scent it and have them haul ass.

“Not to f**k with my sleep,” Chris informed him as he tried to give his trembling little mate a reassuring pat.

“Stop. Touching. My. Ass,” she bit out from what sounded like clenched teeth.

“Just making sure you’re okay,” he explained as he gave her ass one last rub and nearly groaned. He really needed to figure out how to handle the changes she was bringing out in him.

“I’d be okay if just let me go!” she snapped.

“Really?” he asked, knowing he was irritating her and unable to stop himself. It had been a long time since he’d enjoyed screwing with someone.

“Yes!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! Now let me go, damn it!”

“Sure…wait, nope can’t do that,” he said, chuckling when she let out a frustrated groan and slapped his ass.

“You’re an ass**le, did you know that?” she asked in a huff.

He sighed heavily. “Yes. Yes, I did know that.”

Her cute little frustrated growl earned a laugh from him that she apparently didn’t appreciate if the little punches against his ass were any indication.

“I. Hate. You!” she bit out, punctuating each word with a direct hit that he sadly didn’t really feel, making him wonder how in the hell she survived this long without drawing the attention of a vampire, demon or shifter, anything that would make her abilities kick into gear.

Hell, his abilities started to surface when he was a kid when his mother’s boyfriends and his foster parents started slapping him around and they’d only been human. Something or someone should have triggered the change in her a long time ago instead of leaving her helpless and afraid. Hearing that his mate actually cowered or ran away like a coward when faced with any type of confrontation hadn’t exactly been his favorite moment. The shame of having her as his mate that followed was even worse.