Jetta pack of misfits bo.., p.21
Jetta (Pack of Misfits Book 3), page 21
“And I’m saying you shouldn’t jump to conclusions just because you think they go good together,” I retort. “Maybe Reese isn’t ready for that kind of commitment.”
I shove open the door to my room, and Addie follows after me. Thankfully, the sheets have been stripped and Jericho’s clothes are all gone, so the boar cleaned up like he said he would.
She stands in my doorway with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face. “What—” Her words cut off abruptly, and then she lifts her nose into the air. Her blue eyes go wide, and her mouth pops open in an O shape. “Holy guacamole! You had sex!”
She exclaims it loudly enough to fucking echo, and I glare at her. “Shut up!”
I stomp over to the window and yank it open to air out the room, even though it’s really too late for that. She obviously smelled it. Probably just announced it to the whole damn warehouse too.
“Sorry,” Addie quickly whispers, as if that does anything. She closes the door behind her and moves further into the room. “So that’s what this is all about. You’re not biting my head off about Reese. It’s about you.”
I scowl at her, but I can’t exactly argue, because she’s right.
“So what happened? Who’d you do the deed with? Was he hot? Or was it a she?” she asks, waggling her eyebrows.
I sigh. “Tell me why you think it’s any of your business,” I say, leaning against the wall with a brow cocked.
She ignores that, excitement dancing in her blue eyes. “Is that why you didn’t want to go to the beach? You wanted to get down and dirty here while your roommate was gone? Naughty, naughty,” she teases.
I rub my fingers across my brows. “God, you’re giving me a headache.”
She claps. “This is exciting! You’re really not gonna tell me who it was?”
“No,” I reply. “Now go hang out with your mates and get out of my room. I hate it when you get all smiley and excited.”
She pouts, somehow still smiling through it. “Come on, just tell me! I can keep a secret.”
That makes me snort. “Please. You’d tell your mates in a second.”
“Secrets don’t count with mates.”
Rolling my eyes, I decide to leave, since it’s clear I’m going to get hounded by Addie until I escape her. Unfortunately, the duck follows me down the stairs.
“Is it someone in the warehouse? Is it two someones in the warehouse? Is it someone from each warehouse?”
“Oh my God, stop talking,” I say, as I quickly make my way across the room and to the front door, purposely keeping my strides long to try to outpace her.
The minute I swing the door open, I nearly run right into an enforcer heading in, and he stops in his tracks. “Hey, just the person I was looking for.”
I arch a brow in question. “Me?”
“Yeah, Alpha Hugo wants to see you.”
Perfect timing.
“Gotta go,” I call to Addie. “Alpha business.”
Looking disappointed, she sighs. “Fine. But this conversation isn’t over,” she says, pointing at me as I start walking with the enforcer.
“Yes, it is,” I say without looking back.
“No, it’s not!” she calls. “We are totally gonna girl talk about this.”
“Ugh, puke,” I mutter.
“I heard that!”
Fucking shifter hearing.
The enforcer beside me chuckles, and I dart a glance over to him. “You think it’s funny? Girl talk is the worst. They always want to sit around in a circle in pink pajamas while they paint each other’s nails and gossip about sex with romcoms in the background.”
“I heard that too!” Addie shouts. “And you’re exactly right! That is what we’ll be doing!”
I sigh.
By the time the enforcer leads me to Hugo’s office, nervousness has taken over. I’ve successfully avoided seeing the alpha unless it was to try getting my collar off or get an update that he’s still searching for the conjurer. Other than that, he’s given me my space. But I know his patience with me is thinning, and I don’t blame him. I can’t just mooch off him and his pack indefinitely. I have to make a decision.
Except...now things are even more complicated than before.
As if I wasn’t indecisive enough, now I went and got myself all tangled up with a boar. A very sexy boar.
As we approach Hugo’s office, I see a group of enforcers standing out front, talking in a circle, and my eyes immediately land on Jericho. The moment he looks up and sees me, his whole face softens, and he shoots me a wink. My ears heat up. Thankfully, my hair is still down to cover them, because I know he’d notice and tease me mercilessly.
“You can go on in,” the enforcer at my side says before walking off to join the others.
I take a breath and head inside Hugo’s office, dreading the meeting. As soon as the office door swings shut behind me, I’m slammed with an overwhelming rush of alpha power.
My steps falter for a moment on the threshold, the sting of angry scent in the air. My eyes immediately swing past the entryway and through the open door that leads to his office.
Hugo is sitting behind a large wooden desk, his forearm braced on the top while his other hand holds his phone to his ear.
“Yeah, and it’s that sanction that’s bullshit, Lutzo.”
My black brows arch up in surprise at the anger in his voice. I stay where I am, because I don’t know the rules here. Should I go back outside and wait? Or walk into his office and announce my presence? I don’t want to stand out here like an idiot and eavesdrop.
Of course, Hugo’s eyes swing over to me, because the alpha knew I was here the moment I opened the door. He surprises me by lifting his hand and waving me forward while he continues to talk.
“So put a new campaign out,” he says as I walk forward and take a seat on the chair across from his desk. His office is full of little wood carvings of different animals propped up on the shelves and windowsill.
Hugo makes a noise of frustration, more alpha power pulsing out of him like he’s a live wire ready to snap. My fingers and toes curl at the onslaught. I’m not in his pack, which means I don’t share an alpha bond with him, so any sort of threatening power grates against me, making my animal cower. If that power was directed at me? I have no doubt that he’d be able to take me to my knees without even having to fight.
I’ve been around thousands of alpha leaders, but never one that’s felt as powerful as he does.
“Fine,” Hugo bites out, his word more growl than voice. “Yeah,” he sighs. “Tell Marlene I said hi.”
He clicks the phone off and sighs, running a scarred hand down his grizzled face.
“Nice chat?”
He snorts and sits back in his chair, and I notice for the first time how tired he looks. There are circles under his eyes and tense lines around his mouth.
“That was Alpha Leader Lutzo,” he surprises me by saying. Not just because he’s choosing to tell me his business, but also because... “Alpha Leader Lutzo? As in, the alpha leader over all shifter pack alpha leaders in the country?”
“That’s the one. Surprised you know of him, considering you’ve been a rogue all your life.”
I lift a shoulder. “Master Kaazu always stayed apprised of all Cane politics, especially shifters.”
Hugo nods thoughtfully. “Makes sense. Since his bread and butter is the fact that he’s taking shifters and enslaving them for profit.”
“Yep.”
Hugo sighs. “That’s what we were talking about, actually. I’ve been talking to Lutzo these past few weeks about trying to get him to campaign to the Canes’ council to eradicate the law and make it illegal to collar a shifter.”
“Kaazu is collaring non-shifters too,” I reply.
The alpha curses under his breath. “I’d like to wring this prick’s neck.”
“No, you wouldn’t,” I tell him seriously. “Don’t get me wrong, your power packs a punch, and I have no doubt you could beat him in a physical fight, but Kaazu would make sure it never got to that. He’d bring you down with his power.”
Hugo lets a smile cross his face—but it’s not a nice smile. It’s wolfish and deadly. “I look forward to seeing him try.”
“Don’t underestimate him,” I warn.
“It’s the world who usually underestimates us,” he tells me. “Speaking of...it’s time to talk about that.”
“What?” I play dumb.
“Us.”
I smirk. “Relationship talk?”
“Don’t be a smartass,” he reprimands, but amusement dances in his eyes. “You’ve been here for a while now. It’s time you took your place in the pack.”
My haunches rise. “Is that an order?”
Hugo studies me for so long that he sets my nerves on edge, but I don’t fidget or break eye contact, even though it’s probably disrespectful.
“You need to decide. Stop straddling the toilet—shit or get off the pot.”
“I deferred to a master my whole life. I won’t do it again,” I reply, knowing full well he has every right to kick me out on my ass.
“Good, because I’m no one’s master,” he counters. “I’m an Alpha pack leader. You’d be joining a family, not a troupe. The choice is yours, but you’re gonna have to decide soon.”
I nod tersely. “Got it.”
“And there’s also something else I want you to consider.”
Oh, great. More decisions to weigh on my shoulders.
“What?”
“If you stayed, I’d want you to consider becoming a pack enforcer.”
I blink at him in surprise. “You’d trust me to guard this place?”
“An enforcer does more than just guard, but yes. I do trust you.”
Not I would trust you. But I do trust you. Like he already does. Right now. Even without the alpha bond. Even without really knowing me. This dude trusts me to protect the pack. I don’t know why. I certainly don’t deserve that kind of faith.
“Why would you offer something like that to me?”
“Why not?” he shoots back casually.
“Uh, because I’m a self-centered dick?”
A raspy chuckle escapes him. “Kid, you sure play that role, but I see right through you,” he says, steady eyes watching me. “Besides, we need more female enforcers. And from what I hear from Igor, you’re one of the best fighters he’s ever seen in his life. You impressed my second, and that’s a near impossible feat.”
Uncomfortable with the praise, I just stare boredly at him. That’s usually my go-to response to compliments. Well, either this or I insult them until they decide they don’t like me and therefore won’t compliment me anymore. It usually works out. But even I’m not idiot enough to insult him.
Hugo keeps staring at me, undeterred, and I realize he’s waiting for me to answer. “Uhh, noted,” I finally say.
“Good,” he nods. “And—”
His phone rings suddenly, and he brings up a finger to hold his thought as he answers. “Hugo.” I watch his face grow stony at whatever he hears on the other end, and then he’s on his feet faster than a blink. “Where.”
It’s not a question. It’s a demand for information, and I’m suddenly blasted with so much alpha aggression that it steals the breath right out of my chest.
“What about Luca and Reese?”
My spine straightens at his question, and I strain to listen to what the person is saying on the other end, but I can’t hear anything other than muffled words.
“Tell me the second you know. We go in together.”
Hugo hangs up, his arms tensed and his face full of fury.
Before I can ask what’s wrong and what it has to do with my roommate, I hear the office door swing open and then stomping footsteps precede Jericho into the room. “Alpha, she’s here.”
My brow wrinkles in confusion. Who’s here? Reese?
“Good,” Hugo says, clearly not lost in this conversation like I am. “Because we have a problem.”
Three more male enforcers walk in, obviously having heard him. They all take on defensive, focused expressions.
“What happened?” Jericho asks.
“Stinger just called. He and Igor got run off the road.”
“What?” all four of the enforcers say at the same time.
Hugo nods grimly. “They took Reese.”
I’m on my feet before I even realize I’ve moved. “Who fucking took Reese?” I demand.
“Stinger confirmed mongoose scent,” Hugo says, still speaking to the enforcers.
They all share a look. “What do you want us to do, Alpha?”
Hugo doesn’t hesitate. His eyes flick over to Jericho. “You said we found her?”
Jericho nods. “She’s here. Joseph brought her in.”
“Good. Then she can come with us. I’ll explain things on the way.”
“We’re going in now?” one of the other enforcers asks.
“As soon as Igor contacts me with a location. Mobilize all the enforcers, except leave a few to stay behind to watch the perimeter, just in case this is a diversion tactic.”
The male nods and rushes out, apparently to go issue orders. The others part for Hugo to pass, and then follow behind him as he goes outside, his phone already ringing again.
“I want everyone ready to go on my order. The second I get the call with a location, we’re rolling.”
“Got it,” someone else says before rushing over to the compound’s gate, where the enforcer building is.
“Wait, what’s happening?” I ask, hurrying to catch up.
One of the males turns. I don’t know his name. “You’re Reese’s roommate, and the word mongoose doesn’t mean anything to you?”
I blink over at him, taking in the clear disapproval on his face.
You ever have a moment of clarity—of seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes, without all your excuses and perceptions, and realize, wow, I’m a really fucking shitty person? Yeah, I’m having that enlightening moment right now.
“No, it doesn’t,” I admit, feeling contrite.
He and the others shake their heads and scoff, clearly unimpressed.
“Yeah, okay, so Jetta’s not Miss Goddamn Susie Sunshine Talks-A-Lot,” Jericho suddenly cuts in, moving to walk beside me. “Don’t be dicks.”
They all look at him with surprise. Hell, I’m looking at him with surprise. I’m not used to people defending me. That’s something Cliff could never do in front of the other troupers or Kaazu without giving us away, and I’m too much of a bitch to earn loyalty like that from anyone else.
The enforcer mumbles an awkward apology as they all branch off, leaving Jericho and I alone.
I give him the side-eye. “Susie Sunshine?”
He shrugs. “It’s the most opposite thing from you I could think of.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile. “Hmm,” I say, all too aware of other enforcers looking at us curiously as we walk together. I switch back to the topic at hand. “Alright, tell me what’s happening.”
Jericho goes straight into enforcer mode. “Stinger and Igor brought Reese to sniff around the place she was kept in captivity to pick up any scents. Her old alpha is a mongoose,” he says with emphasis. “Apparently after they left, their car was run off the road and Reese was taken. Igor and the others are tracking her. We have to be ready to leave the second we hear word on her whereabouts.”
God, I am so shitty.
All those times Reese tried to talk to me, to relate with me by sharing stories of her circumstances, and I just shut her down. All because I was selfish enough to justify all the reasons I needed to stay disconnected.
“So...all of you are leaving to go get her back?” I ask.
“Of course.”
Of course, he says. As if this is the norm. I’ve been around plenty of shifter packs over the years to know that it’s not. A prey pack rat being taken? That’s not something a normal alpha would use pack resources on to get back.
“I’m coming,” I say firmly.
Jericho’s black brows draw together. “Jetta…”
“I’m coming,” I repeat, leaving no room for argument.
Jericho sighs. “Goddamn it, female, why are you so difficult? You’re not a pack enforcer.”
“Don’t care,” I reply. “Reese is my roommate, and I’m one of the best fighters here. So I’m fucking going, and I don’t need anyone’s permission.”
His arm shoots out, his fingers hooking around my arm as I’m suddenly pulled in chest-to-chest with him. My breath catches before I can stop myself from reacting, and my stupid, needy vagina starts palpitating like a faulty heart.
Jericho looks down at me, his dark eyes smoldering as he leans in, brushing his sharp jaw and stubble against my cheek. “It makes me hard when you get all fucking ornery like that.”
His rumbled words are going to send me into a full-fledged V-attack. “Sounds like a health issue.”
He nips at my ear at the same time that he presses his hard length into me just to prove his words, making me remember exactly how it feels inside of me. “Keep that mouth of yours running. I’ll be stuffing it full after this.”
If my ears don’t burn to a crisp, my vagina might just flood my pants instead, and the only arc I have is the one my spine will be making when he slams into me later.
I shove his chest, but he doesn’t let go. “People are looking,” I say between my teeth.
“So?”
“So I don’t want some announcement that we’re fucking.”
He leans back and chuckles like I’ve said something hilarious, before stuffing a hand in the back pocket of my jeans and pulling me toward the line of cars parked next to the enforcer building. I try to slap him away, but he just squeezes my ass in response. “We aren’t just fucking.”
“Yes, we are.”
That gets me another ass squeeze. “No, we aren’t. But you’ll catch up soon enough.”
“Fuck you,” I retort.
“That mouth of yours,” he says with an amused shake of his head. “You must really need my cock to be acting up so much. Don’t worry, Fighter Jet. I’ll be able to take care of that for you later.”
A growl escapes me. “I will fucking rip your dick off.”
