Shadow Mate - Jen L. Grey Page 0,63

Bree but leaned over so he could see Kai.

"Yeah, that's the plan." Kai shrugged. "It'll happen when it happens."

"You don't seem all that excited." Max shook his head. "I honestly thought I had a chance at getting in with Dad being a pack alpha and with me being involved with our community and football. I'd give anything to have your opportunity."

"It's not what it seems." Kai frowned. "There's a lot of politics at play."

"That's what Bree says too." Nate shook his head. "But it can't be that bad."

It was almost as if he had to say those words to ruin the night. Two brand new Cadillac Escalades pulled right into the yard, making their own parking spots.

"Shit!" Bree jumped to her feet and shook her head.

"What's wrong?" Max stood and turned toward the vehicles.

Despite never seeing what he drove, I knew it was Liam and his friends. The sharp tug inside me alerted me to that very fact.

The front driver door opened, and Liam jumped out. His eyes immediately went to the arm that was around me.

It took a second for me to realize he had been in the vehicle alone.

Three doors to the other Escalade opened with the other heirs getting out of the vehicle.

"What the fuck, Liam?" Simon glared at him. "You just left our asses back there."

Liam ignored them and came marching up to us. His blue eyes were so dark they appeared navy. "Get your hands off of her."

"Shit, this isn't good." Tripp set his beer down and looked at Bree. "Do something?"

"Wait, he isn't here for you?" Nate's brow furrowed as he glanced at his mate.

"No, not this time." Her face was a mask of indifference.

"I said stop touching her." It was like Liam hadn't heard any of the conversation. He was now standing directly over us, staring us down. His sole focus was on making Kai move.

I refused to be looked down upon. I jumped to my feet and met his eyes. "You don't get to tell us what to do?" I was so tired of being talked down to as if I was nothing. At this point, damn all the consequences.

"Mia..." Max's voice was low, a warning.

"You've forgotten how this works." He took a menacing step toward me. "I get to tell everyone what to do … including you."

"Liam." Kai stood and stepped a little in front of me as if he was protecting me. "You're being unreasonable."

"You're about to see unreasonable." Liam reared back and punched Kai right in the face.

"What the hell?" I turned my attention to Kai as blood poured out his nose.

"It's not broken." Kai lifted a hand in the air as his other hand grabbed his nose. "I'm fine."

"Oh, really? You won't be when I get done with you." Liam took another step toward Kai when I jumped in front of Kai and pushed Liam in the chest.

"You need to stop." As my fingers lingered on his chest, his breathing seemed to calm down a little.

Micah cleared the distance between his car and Max, yanking my brother by the arm and wrapping his arm around Max's neck. "What did we tell you? If you cause problems, your brother would pay the price."

Were they being serious right now? "I haven't done a damn thing. I've stayed away. Have you already forgotten who showed up here uninvited?"

"We make the rules, not you." Simon's grin was malicious, full of hunger. "Your existence is causing problems. Maybe you should go back to wherever you crawled out from."

"You can go fuck yourself." I was so tired of this. They weren't fucking gods even though everyone acted like they were. They were supposed to be leaders, not bullies.

"Let him go." Evan hurried over to the group and stared Micah down. "He hasn't done anything to deserve that."

"Since when do we care about that?" Micah lifted his chin, challenging him. "You were the one who made the suggestion."

"Well, I've changed my mind." Evan's hands clenched into fists. "He's not involved."

"Damn straight he's involved." Micah squeezed his arm around my brother's neck, making Max's face turn red.

“Is she getting to you too?” Simon bared his teeth and then glared at me.

I was so tired of all of this. They thought they were dictators, but they weren't. Someone had to teach them their place.

Raw power flooded me like never before, and something seemed to snap inside my chest. If I didn't do something, things would get even worse. Liam was focused on Kai, and the rest of