Bee's Enraged Beast - Lacey Thorn Page 0,27
look at it. Alone. If my mate wants it, then I’ll get it for her.”
Bastion rumbled at Hannibal’s words, and my mate growled right back.
“Let’s get something straight, James. Belinda is my mate, and I’ll be the one taking care of her from now on. She loves you and would like to remain a part of this pack, and I want to give her everything she desires. I can bring a lot to the pack, or I can sleep here and keep doing my own thing. That choice is yours. I’ll abide by whatever you decide. What I won’t do is make Belinda choose between the brother she loves and the mate she’s been waiting for. I love your sister. She’s my priority.”
Bastion lowered his head for a moment and forcefully blew out his breath. “I know she’s been waiting for you, but I don’t know how to let her go. I don’t…” He swallowed and glanced up at the ceiling.
“Then don’t let me go,” I whispered, coming to my feet and crossing to him. “I’m right here. I want to stay right here. But I need you to accept Hannibal. I need him to be welcome here. I need that.”
Bastion pulled me close and hugged me tight. His cheek rested atop my head for a long moment, and I felt the press of his lips before he let me go and shooed me back toward Hannibal.
“First off, you’re welcome here, Hannibal. You’re family. I’d like to go with you to look at the property, as well as having Anthony go with us. I’ll want him to check out the layout from a defense standpoint. If her kidnapping has taught me anything, it’s that there are those who aren’t afraid to use her to try and get to me.”
I recognized it for the olive branch it was and held my breath as I waited to see how Hannibal would respond.
“Makes sense. Protecting her is essential, especially if I have to head out for a job. I need to know she’s safe.”
“Wait. I’ll be going with you,” I interrupted.
“What exactly is it you do?” Bastion asked.
“I hunt down rogue wolves and bring them back to face the consequences of their actions,” Hannibal answered.
“By yourself?” Bas asked.
“That’s generally the idea. Where is my sister, by the way?”
“Cici took off for your mom’s.” Bastion cleared his throat. “Simon went after her to make sure she arrived safely.”
Oh, that was interesting and explained Simon’s absence. Had Bastion done it because she was my mate’s sister? Maybe, as a way of showing Hannibal he belonged? God, I hoped so.
“We’ve been looking at ways to diversify and bring in more income since our numbers have grown,” Bastion continued. “Would you be interested in letting the pack help on your cases? We can work out a cut on whatever your fee is.”
“We can do that. I have no problem contributing to the pack. I’ll need to remain the point of contact, for now. I’ve made a name for myself among the packs. They know me. Know I’ll get the job done. I’ve proven I deserve the fee I charge.”
“I want to be involved,” I said again since neither of them had responded earlier. “I want to go with you.”
Hannibal nodded and linked our finger together, bringing my hand to his mouth and placing a soft kiss on the back.
“My mate goes where I go.”
“Then we’ll get some of the others trained to takeover. Let you oversee things from here. Unless you want to be on the road a lot,” Bastion offered.
“No, I can oversee most of it from here. Unless it’s a job that requires traveling to the pack first, so I can get a feel for the situation. I’ve been called to locate a few runaways, who needed to remain gone. You can’t always know that through email or a phone call.”
“Understood,” Bastion agreed. “What about your family? Do you think your mother and her mate will want to move closer with their kids here?”
“Their kids? I doubt Cici will stay here,” Hannibal said with a laugh.
Bastion paused for a moment. Opened his mouth then shook his head with a sigh. “Do you think she’ll let you out of her sight that easily? Cici followed you here to begin with.”
Hannibal laughed. “You might want to rethink it if she stays. Cici has a way of stepping in and taking over. She’s a bit of a mother hen that way.”
Bastion swallowed and shook his head. “Then we’ll