The Deputy and His Enforcer (Kincaid Pack #3) - Kiki Clark Page 0,6

if Rick knew Patrick’s mate was related to the deputy harassing them.

“I see” was all he said, running his eyes over Medina once more, then turning back to Teresa. “I’ll see you next week?”

“Definitely!” Teresa surprised him by darting forward and hugging him tightly, her belly bumping into him first, but she made it work. Her head barely reached his pecs she was so tiny, but her hug was fierce. “Thank you for this. With Patrick’s family not speaking to him, we were worried about the baby.”

She’d spoken so softly he knew her brother couldn’t have heard her. His heart clenched at her words, and he lightly embraced her in return. Traditional shifter families, like Patrick’s, often disowned family members who took humans as mates, but he hadn’t realized the two of them were anxious about the pup.

“If you have specific questions, you are always welcome to call or email me or any of the other… um.” He glanced at Medina as Teresa stepped back and winked at him, letting him know she knew he meant the other pack Enforcers. “Or Dr. Bell.”

That seemed to grab Medina’s attention from where he was frowning at his car’s engine. He stepped forward, eyes a little wide and worry filling his scent, making it a little acidic. “Doctor? Are you and the baby okay?”

“We’re fine. Dr. Bell isn’t that kind of doctor.” She grinned at Marcus, then turned to her brother and threaded her arm through his and led him back to his car. “What seems to be the problem here?”

Medina looked back at Marcus, but he couldn’t read the other man’s expression. Slowly, he breathed in through his nose, trying to pick apart his scent to get clues as to why the deputy had suddenly decided to abandon his covert tactics.

He closed his eyes and parsed through the many layers of smells surrounding him, trying to ignore the other people around and focus solely on Medina. There was… frustration at the top with hints of arousal and confusion, but underneath… Marcus opened his eyes and met Medina’s fierce gaze.

Fear.

Medina was afraid of Marcus for some reason.

“You need help, Robson?” Patrick asked as he moved forward, having finished his discussion with V and the others. He threw a thankful look at Marcus as he passed, pushing up his sleeves as he went. Patrick was a mechanic and worked at the garage where the manor vehicles—SUVs owned by the pack and used by Alpha Kincaid and his Enforcers, and sometimes betas, and his mate, Kai—were taken.

“No, thanks,” Medina muttered, barely sparing Patrick a glance. “Oof.”

Marcus had to work harder than normal to suppress his laughter as Medina turned a glare on his sister, who’d elbowed him in the gut.

Suddenly, Tash’s words from earlier that day came back to him. Her instructions to get to know Medina rang in his ears. Stopping himself from clearing his throat, he butted into the family squabble happening at the car’s hood.

“Deputy Medina, may I have a word, please?”

Teresa narrowed her eyes and looked between him and her brother. “Wait, how do you even know he’s a deputy?”

Marcus remained silent, unsure what her brother would want her to know.

“Marcus, we should head out,” V said softly from his elbow.

He nodded but didn’t take his eyes off Medina.

“We’ve… met. In an official capacity,” Medina finally said, voice hesitant.

Patrick’s head popped up from where he’d been leaning over the engine so fast he hit his head on the hood. Teresa fussed over him, momentarily forgetting her suspicions.

Medina stared him down for several long seconds, and Marcus admitted to himself that he was impressed. Even when humans didn’t know about shifters, their primal instincts would warn them against challenging them. Marcus’s wolf growled softly, not sure how it felt about Medina trying to assert dominance over them, but Marcus hushed him with practiced ease.

“Yeah, okay. Lead the way.” Medina lifted his chin a little, large muscular arms crossing over his chest.

“Marcus…” V was annoyed with him, but she’d get it if he explained about Tashmica. They all took her guidance seriously.

“It’s okay. You can go to the manor,” he murmured, giving her a brief look. She rolled her eyes, but after brushing her hand down his arm to lightly scent him, she strolled toward where her motorcycle was since she hadn’t been to the manor yet to grab a pack vehicle.

He wanted to smile at the way she’d touched his arm but didn’t. Scenting was important to shifters—especially canines—but not all packs