beat, Rick caught her under her arms and tossed her up into the air to her utter delight.
Eyes wide, Robson turned back to Kai and saw another person standing just behind him, a teenage girl with long, straight brown hair. She was eyeing him warily, then looking at the little girl giggling in Rick’s arms. Robson had a feeling it was his being so close to the child that was worrying her, so he took a couple steps back as subtly as he could.
“Samantha’s very protective,” Rick said, not even looking at Robson. Apparently, you couldn’t do anything subtly around shifters. “But she’ll warm up to you.”
“Garrick Kincaid,” Kai said, voice stern. “Did you send me out of the room so you could threaten our guest?”
Perching the adorable little blonde on his hip, Rick gave his mate a wink and a smile. “I didn’t threaten him. Not really.”
Robson raised a finger in the air. “I guess saying you could have had a witch erase my memory isn’t technically a threat, though it was said very threateningly.”
Kai handed the youngest child over to Samantha and stomped across the room. “You said we were just going to get to know Robson.”
Rick handed over the little girl when Kai reached for her but then just pulled Kai into his arms anyway, squishing her between them. Her giggle said she was perfectly fine with it. “I am getting to know him. You can tell a lot about someone by how they react to a snarling shifter threatening them.”
Rick tried to kiss Kai, but Kai wiggled a hand up between them and put it on Rick’s face, pushing him back. “I thought you said you didn’t threaten him?”
At that point, Robson couldn’t help but start chuckling, drawing the attention of both of them. “Oh sorry, go ahead and continue talking about me like I’m not here. It’s extremely entertaining for me.”
Rick grunted and turned back to Kai. “You see that attitude? Pup, how am I supposed to put up with that?”
Kai cackled.
Robson pounded on the door again. “Open up, Marcus!”
After an entertaining but long dinner at the manor, Robson was simmering at the fact that Marcus had been the only Enforcer not in attendance. When he’d mentioned it to Kai, there’d been an awkward pause, then Kai had delicately said that Marcus had run an errand but hopefully he’d return soon.
Two hours later, Robson had left and there had still been no sign of his supposed mate.
Instead of driving home like he should have, he’d sped toward Marcus’s house to demand some answers. Like about why Marcus hadn’t been the one to tell him that they were fucking mates.
“Marcus!”
He whipped around when he heard a loud bark and glared at the wolf standing at the bottom of the porch steps. Planting his hands on his hips, he said, “Being cute and fluffy won’t save you. We have to talk.”
If anything, that seemed to make Marcus happier. He dropped his front to the ground and wagged his tail.
“Marcus, I’m serious.”
Barking once more, Marcus darted away, running around the corner of the house. His dark brown fur blended easily with the shadows, so Robson had to hustle to keep up and not lose him in the dark.
“Where are we going?” He wasn’t sure why he asked—it wasn’t like Marcus could respond—but as they went deeper into the wooded area behind Marcus’s house, he felt like he should say something. Just in case he was being led to his death or something equally sinister.
After a few minutes, he started to slow down, frustrated at himself and at Marcus. Eventually, he stopped and crossed his arms, waiting to see if Marcus even noticed Robson wasn’t following him anymore.
Marcus paused immediately, turning and barking at Robson.
“No. I’m not traipsing through the damn woods any longer. If there is something you want to say to me or show me, then just do it. Otherwise…” He sighed and scrubbed at his stubbled cheeks, wondering why he was bothering. “You know what, whatever. I guess everyone was wrong.”
He turned to leave but didn’t even get a step before he heard that soft, seductive voice.
“Robson, wait. Please.”
Huffing, he whipped back around, prepared to give Marcus a piece of his mind, but froze at the sight before him. Marcus had somehow moved closer without Robson hearing him, so he was only a few feet away… and completely naked.
A long, lean body wrapped in beautiful pale white skin that seemed to glow in the moonlight. His