Midnight Moonrising (Moonrising #2)(21)

"I'm going to make a quick run to the store, Mena," Katie shouted as she opened the driver's door of the Audi. "I have a serious need for chocolate. I need something to make me feel better until Alex gives me a rematch." She was in the car and backing out before I had the chance to tell her to get me a Snickers. Damn!

Alex chuckled as he waved at the others over his shoulder and then brought those hazel eyes back to focus on me. "They seem nice, but are you sure you will be safe here, Mena? I hate leaving you and knowing that you could be in danger. You are welcome to stay at my apartment. I'll sleep on the couch—"


"That's some protective custody, Alex. Do you offer that to all the girls you meet who are in trouble?"

At his Jeep, he turned to face me, and the hard glint in his eyes made me wince. "You know I don't. But I don't like this." He waved his hands around vaguely at my house and pack members. "I want to protect you. I know I can protect you myself and I don't trust they can." His voice was low and rumbly and I suddenly understood why my wolf liked him so much. This domineering side was a little sexy.

My wolf and I nodded. "I will be fine with them. There will be at least three with me at all times."

He rubbed his eyes, and grunted. "That's what I mean, Mena. You're only confirming that there's more to this than you're telling me." Grasping my shoulders he lowered his face to mine. "That scares the shit out of me." He squeezed once, then released me before taking a step back. He nodded toward the house and Phoenix who was leaning against the doorjamb, staring at us. "How do you know him? He doesn't seem like the type to hang out with a lawyer and his wife."

"Neither do you, but you are here, right?"

He pulled his eyes away from Phoenix's ice-blue glare and looked back at me. He looked like he wanted to ask me if I was interested in or already dating Phoenix, but instead, he closed his mouth and only nodded as he turned and sat behind the wheel of his Jeep. "I'll see you at noon tomorrow at Barley's Bar and Grill."

My wolf smiled. "I'll be there."





V''''V





I watched as Alex drove away and realized that I was back in control of my body.

A sigh of relief passed through my parted lips and I turned and speed-walked back to the house. "We need to talk," I said to Phoenix as I past him. "My bedroom. Now."

"You aren't going to try and eat me again, are you?" he said, and I assumed he didn't think I would or that he could handle me if I tried, because I could hear his footfalls close behind me.

"Mena—" Daryn started.

"I'm fine. I need to talk with Phoenix alone," I said without looking at any of my pack members.

"It isn't you we are worried about. The vamp may need our help." Roel snickered.

"I can handle myself just fine, pup," Phoenix retorted.

"Didn't look like you were doing a very good job of that last night," Daryn said.

Phoenix's jaw flexed, and he turned back around to say something else, but I took his arm and practically threw him into my bedroom.

"Easy there, Superwoman! This is a new shirt."

I had to smile as he checked to make sure I hadn't ripped the material. Leave it to him to worry over a hundred-dollar shirt when both our asses were on the line. I sighed and walked to a lounge chair to sit. "I'm sorry about last night. My wolf thought you were going to kiss me again. She, um… she wants me—no, actually, she wants to be with someone else. That was all her last night. She took over my body, and she just now gave me back control when Alex left."

Phoenix's perfectly arched eyebrows raised and he puckered his lips as he averted his gaze from me. "So… which of your wolves does she want?"

I knew he had been expecting something like this since I told him I had to pick a Beta by the next full moon. I never had intentions of mating with a wolf just because I had to pick a second. Marc hadn't. But I supposed all the men, including Phoenix, thought that's what I would need to do because they didn't think a woman would be an efficient leader. That was bullshit if I'd ever heard it.

Instead of getting mad, I fixed my eyes on him and smiled cunningly. "She doesn't want a wolf."

Those eyebrows drew together as he looked back at me. "I'm sorry. I don't think I understand. She doesn't want you to be with me and she doesn't want a wolf from your pack—but you said—"

"She wants Alex Rhodes, Phoenix."

He gasped and stumbled back against the mattress on the bed. He went ahead and sat on it before his knees gave way and he ended up on the floor. "No, Mena!" His expression turned enraged, his eyes filling with fury as he stared back at me, obviously hoping I was playing a cruel joke on him. "It's impossible!"

I could feel my wolf stirring beneath my skin, and I knew she wasn't happy with Phoenix's reaction or the fact that he thought getting something she wanted was an impossible task. She only saw that as a challenge. "Don't you dare. We had a deal, wolf."

"She doesn't see it that way and there is nothing you, I or anyone else can do to stop her or she will take over my body and Mena will be no more. I had to negotiate," I said, and let my head fall, so I could look at my hands instead of the anger radiating out of him in waves. I had never seen him like this before. It scared me. I didn't want him mad at me, but I honestly couldn't do anything about what my wolf did.