at me as he carried her to the back of the vehicle. There was a small bedroom there, and when he didn’t return, I presumed he’d lain down with her.
My oldest brother opened his eyes. If he could dish out death in that moment, he would. I knew the look well. Mostly Preston had been on the other end of that glare when we’d been kids, but there it was just the same.
Isaac pulled the RV out, and our journey began, the other Alpha was with us whether Rainer liked it or not. Of course, he could demand we stop and put her out on the side of the road. But he was a Southern man, and our mother, for all her flaws, had taught us better than that. He wasn’t going to put a woman out on the road.
Banging hit the side of the motorhome, and we all turned. She sighed. “Stop, please. It’s one of my mates.”
I should have known. I’d never have let my mate go without one of us, too. Isaac sighed but stopped. He opened the door, and the tallest of Miranda’s men strode on. He was out of breath. Her guys tended to be silent, but unlike me, they actually could speak and didn’t. Maybe that was a quality she looked for in a mate. Silent and deadly.
He shot his mate a look and strode to the back, where he could watch her but not overwhelm her. I’d do the same for MacKenzie if she were here and needed it, except I might sit right next to her, since I wasn’t sure I could be separated from her ever again. I might have to live glued to her side.
She made my heart beat. She made my blood flow. She made it so I could breathe. MacKenzie Harper was my entire world, and I loved her completely. What was amazing was that she loved me like that, too. Understood me, somehow.
MacKenzie was my heart.
My hands itched. I wanted to write, but I didn’t have my laptop, So I ignored the inclination.
“You have to listen to me.”
Rainer stared at Miranda. I shifted in my seat. Were we going to fight her? Yes, she was an Alpha, but she was also a woman. I’d never fought a female. Still, I’d have Rainer’s back, now and always. Otherwise, I’d be going into the bedroom and lying down with Jarret and MacKenzie.
My oldest brother tilted his head. “Okay. Talk. Since you’ve busted your way on here.”
She ignored his jibe, which was impressive because he probably deserved to get called out on that. “You can’t be Alpha of everyone. Yes, this is your battle. I am the one who insisted on it. But, Rainer, I see how they’re all starting to fawn around you. They think you’re going to be their Alpha. You can’t be. The Omega’s mates just have to concentrate on her.”
I leaned forward. What did she think we were doing?
A spike of amusement hit me from Rainer. He thought this was funny?
“You know what I’m sick of?” He ran a hand over his chin. This was the most unshaved I’d ever seen Rainer. I touched my own cheeks. Come to think of it, I also hadn’t shaved. We were all going to be going for the bearded look soon.
I didn’t know what he was sick of, but I was excited to hear it. There were about a million things I was sick of.
Miranda sighed. “What’s that?”
“People telling us what we should and shouldn’t do. As far as I’m concerned, the way it was done before was wrong. Maybe if the Omegas hadn’t been so isolated, so completely consumed by just their own mates, then everyone could have noticed when things started to go badly for them. Maybe their mates could have gotten them help earlier and they wouldn’t have died.” All of his amusement was gone. My wolf prowled to the surface. This wasn’t an ideal place to have a fight, but I was up for it if that was what was going to happen.
Miranda’s mate growled, and I shot him a look. I could take him. Funny how I knew that. It was like even though my wolf wasn’t currently shifted or dominant, he knew instinctively who we were capable of handling. I was a lot stronger than most people realized, and that suited me fine. Let them underestimate me to their own peril.
Rainer held up his hand. “We’re just talking here.”
Miranda breathed hard. “I assure