to say. He’d done what he needed to do and kept a woman alive. If that meant facing the alpha’s wrath, so be it. Lilah deserved that much and more.
“Fine,” Trent said with a further narrowing of his eyes. “But no more acting like you’re a free agent. You brought her here, where my mate and cub reside.” He gave a derisive snort. “So much for having shit handled.”
Seth canted his head just enough to take the rebuke, but not enough to signal he backed down entirely. He hated going back on his word, but he’d also made a promise to keep Lilah safe.
Exactly what Trent was doing for his mate.
He took a deep breath and tried to keep hold of the urge to bypass the rest of the others and march straight into his room. The trail of mangoes and lavender had grown too thin in the minutes he’d been away from her. “Her apartment was burned when I arrived, so I took her to a safe house. I thought we were good, but someone tried to snag her again when we stopped for food. Lion, but I didn’t stick around to ask questions before getting back on the road.”
“You were followed?” Trent growled, throwing a glare over his shoulder and down the ranch road.
“Maybe. I didn’t think so, but I don’t know how else they found us so quick.” Seth ground his teeth together. “They’re determined to keep her quiet.”
“Fuck.” Lindley folded his arms over his chest. “Could be any of the fucks who scattered when Jasper was picked up.”
“Got to prove they weren’t cowards when their dear leader was sent up the river,” Trent agreed with a twist of his mouth. Another frustrated growl leaked out of him and he turned to Seth. “We work together.” The alpha stuck out his hand. The moment Seth clasped it, Trent yanked him close. “You take the first patrol.”
“I…” Seth looked away. Shit. Fuck. Damn it all to hell. He didn’t want to admit weakness, but there wasn’t any choice. He’d been backed into a corner. “I can’t. Not the way you intend it.”
Trent’s eyes narrowed and a dangerous edge entered his voice. “What do you mean you can’t? You brought her here. She’s your responsibility.”
His responsibility, sure. And he’d done a shit job of keeping her safe so far. “I can’t shift.”
He braced himself for the recoil. Fuck, he’d just had this conversation. He didn’t want another reminder of how he didn’t measure up to the rest of the lions in the pride.
No one spoke. They didn’t move. They hardly even blinked.
Dash stepped forward. “What my brother is trying to say is—”
“Excuse the fuck outta me.” Trent cranked his head around to stare at Dash. “Did you just say you’re brothers?”
“Half,” he and Dash corrected at the same time.
“Full idiots,” Lindley grunted.
“Fuck me,” the alpha scrubbed a hand down his face. “I can’t handle more than one Ash-hole.”
Dash snorted. “You should be honored to have us both, dickweasel. We could leave you with Broody Hen One and Two.” He shoved a finger at Rhys, then Lindley.
Lindley slapped a palm over his heart and directed a horrified look at the group. “I’m number two?”
“Always the bridesmaid, eh, Lin?” Trent chuckled with a shake of his head.
“Never wanted to be second,” the Crowley second scowled. “Not in the pride. Not in the henhouse.”
Wiping the amusement from his face, Trent folded his arms over his chest and turned his focus back on Seth. “So what are you going to do about her?”
Relief speared through Seth and he worked to keep his face straight. Sweet fuck. He’d been ganged up on and beaten within an inch of his life, shoved to the bottom of the pride, and made to watch his mother suffer for him. He expected the worst reactions because he’d experienced them throughout his childhood.
The Crowley alpha offered him a way to pretend everything was fine, and he was a normal member of the pride. He intended to take it and buy a shit ton of drinks in silent thanks later.
Seth cleared his throat. “Whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
The other man nodded. “Stay close to her and keep watch over the barn if you’re determined to have her stay in your den. Dash, since you’re so eager to jump in, run the fences. We’ll go from there.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Dash snarked with a sloppy salute. Trent glared at him before disappearing into the barn with the others behind him.
“So