The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,48

just don’t like the idea of you alone with him. What if he attacked you?”

She laughed loudly. “Please. He knows I could give his testicles gangrene before he even drew his knife.”

Marcus choked on his tea, his nose burning as he wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Wow, Tash.”

Her dark brown eyes twinkled as she delicately sipped her own tea. “Now, what are you doing here? I heard that delicious deputy of yours was going to dinner at the manor tonight.”

Sighing, he set his cup down and leaned back on the plush chaise he’d chosen. “I’m not sure… Nico suggested you might be able to help clear up something for me.”

“You know I will if I can.” She set aside her own cup and crossed her legs, leaning forward and bracing an elbow on her knee. “Is this about whoever killed Agnes or mating a human?”

His stomach clenched at the reminder of the unknown foe stalking their pack with the intent of destroying them. He should be focused on protecting the pack instead of mooning over Robson. Fuck, he was a terrible Enforcer. The pack was under threat from multiple directions, and he couldn’t stop obsessing over whether or not Robson would ever let Marcus claim him the way his wolf yearned to.

Tash’s light laughter broke into his spiraling thoughts. He sucked in a breath and shook his head, trying to dispel his agitation. “Sorry. Lately, I’ve seemed… I’m not sure. I’ve gotten so much better about disrupting intrusive thoughts and preventing my panic from spiraling, but lately I feel so… out of control.”

Sobering, Tash extended her hand, and he took it, scooting forward on the chaise so he could more easily reach her. “I know that must be scary to someone like yourself who craves control, but that’s normal. You have an unclaimed mate running around, and you have… doubts about your mating as well. It’s normal to regress when life throws you for a loop.”

Her smile was gentle and comforting, something he’d noticed about her as soon as he’d joined the pack. Then, she hadn’t been the head of the coven, but she was the one all of them trusted. No matter what your troubles were, a trip to Tash’s house—or the shop now that she ran it—usually helped clear things up.

“Is it so obvious?” He knew the other Enforcers knew about Robson being his mate, but it was expected. They all spent a lot of time together, and they had highly developed senses. He wasn’t sure if Patrick had figured it out on his own or if he’d heard Carter’s words when Marcus had been half-shifted and ready to attack Teresa’s brother.

“I suspected, but the way you growled at me when he was injured at the shop confirmed things.” She squeezed his hand when he grimaced. “I know you are also worried about the pack and the Council and Drake and…”

She raised her brows but didn’t continue, and he chuckled harshly.

“So you’re saying having the occasional panic attack is to be expected?” He had to work to keep the scowl off his face, the muscles around his mouth and eyes tightening. “I can’t afford to be weak again right now, Tash.”

“You were never weak,” she said fiercely, standing and tugging on his hand until he was on his feet as well. She wrapped him in a tight hug, her head only reaching his collarbone but still feeling so strong and powerful. “You were injured. There is a difference, sweetie.”

He took a shuddery breath and slowly raised his arms, wrapping them around her and embracing the calming feeling enveloping him. Nico was right—what he needed was more of this. He needed to strengthen his bonds with his packmates rather than stay farther away because he was feeling fragile.

“Can humans really understand what it means to mate a shifter?” he whispered into her wild curls.

She snorted but didn’t pull back, instinctively knowing he still needed the contact. “You know dozens of humans in this pack who are mated to shifters.”

“Yes, but…” He sighed heavily. “They don’t carry their mate’s bonding bite.”

“Oh.” She sounded a little surprised, but also like she should have expected the observation. She pulled back a little and reached up to cup his face. “Is that what your wolf wants?”

He made himself hold her gaze as he nodded, reminding himself that claiming his mate wasn’t something to be ashamed of.

“That makes sense. You and your wolf are extremely powerful because you’re an Enforcer