Chapter Twelve
Exiting the brewery the following day, Ripper idly scanned his surroundings . . . and noticed Kerr walking along the sidewalk toward him. Something about his sober expression made Ripper tense.
‘Heard you were here,’ said Kerr. ‘I was hoping to catch you before you left.’
Ripper turned to fully face him. ‘What’s going on?’
Kerr rubbed at his nape. ‘I didn’t want you to hear this through gossip, and I figured it’d be best to warn you that Logan is probably going to track you down, raging.’
‘Raging about what?’
Kerr hesitated, his expression careful. ‘Neal’s dad mentioned that CeCe has finally agreed to give his son a shot.’
Ripper went very still, his gut clenching. ‘That makes no sense. Neal’s not her type.’ She only ever went for highly dominant males, aware that – being so strong-willed – she bulldozed over others if they didn’t push back.
‘No, he’s not,’ Kerr agreed. ‘It’s why she turned him down time and time again over the years. But apparently something’s changed.’ He side-eyed Ripper. ‘What are you going to do if it is true?’
At his friend’s uncertain tone, Ripper felt his brow furrow. ‘You ask that as if you think I might beat the shit out of Neal.’
‘It wouldn’t surprise me.’
Did Ripper want to see her cozied up with another guy? No. But . . . ‘I knew when I turned down the triad suggestion that she’d eventually end up with someone else. What the hell is she supposed to do?’
Kerr narrowed his eyes. ‘You’re pissed.’
‘I’m pissed because she could do better than Neal.’
‘You’re pissed because you’re thinking what I’m thinking,’ Kerr contradicted, stepping closer. ‘You’re thinking this is a stunt; that she’s trying to spur you to come around to the triad idea.’
Ripper felt his teeth clench. He had been thinking that. Neal had crushed on her since they were teens. If she’d ever wanted him, she could have acted on it way before now. She’d always told Ripper she never would; that she’d only ever see Neal as a friend.
Kerr went on, ‘She gave you time. She was patient. She thought you’d come round, but you haven’t. So now she feels you slipping away. Alpha werewolves are extremely territorial. What better way to push you into finally claiming her than to show you that you’ll be replaced in her affections?’
‘No game or stunt or play is going to make me change my mind. She should know me well enough to know that.’
‘I think she’ll try anything at this point.
She’s not devious by nature, but that doesn’t mean she can’t be devious on occasion.
Even the nicest person can become a nightmare when they’re not getting something they badly want.
If she’s been imagining a triad for years, she’s now being forced to let that dream go.
It isn’t odd that she won’t do it without a fight.
And do I think she’d resort to manipulation if it meant being able to have both you and Logan? Yeah, I do. And so do you.’
Ripper wished he could argue, aggrieved that someone he held a lot of affection for would play him this way.
He cursed. ‘I don’t have time for this right now.
I’ve got to get to Emberlyn’s place,’ he explained, walking toward his truck.
‘Her friend wants to go through the Change and join our clan. I said I’d speak to her. ’
‘Friend?’ echoed Kerr, keeping pace with him. ‘Has to be Paisley. I don’t think Emberlyn really considers anyone other than the twins a friend – just coworkers, customers and allies. Like you, she doesn’t easily let people close.’ Kerr eyed him. ‘You really gonna keep your hands off her?’
That was the plan. But Ripper could feel it steadily crumbling. Which was why he repeatedly reminded himself . . . ‘It was only a year ago that she broke the mating tie.’
Kerr shrugged. ‘So?’
Ripper pulled open the driver’s door of his truck. ‘So some part of her might still feel mated.’
‘Yeah, but some part of her might not. You could just be making assumptions. Even if she does still have some feelings for Michael, it ain’t much different from you having lingering feelings for CeCe. Maybe you can both help the other fully move on, if nothing else. At least think about it.’
Like Ripper would be able to do anything else.
He jumped into his truck and closed the door. All things considered, with all that was going on with CeCe, his head should have been too fucked to have room for anyone else. But Emberlyn intrigued him beyond measure.
She also had some hold over his cock. It hadn’t been CeCe’s face he saw when he fisted his dick in the shower that morning, it had been Emberlyn’s.
She flitted in and out of his mind often throughout the day like a roaming butterfly. He’d push thoughts of her back out . . . but they’d return.
Ripper switched on the engine and pulled out onto the road. He didn’t drive straight to the manor. He stopped off at the bakery along the way, needing to stock up on a few things.
When he arrived at her house, he noticed an additional car parked there. It had to be her friend’s vehicle.
Shortly after he’d knocked on the door, it swung open to reveal Emberlyn. As always, she was the image of class, her peach belted jumpsuit both casual and elegant. She looked entirely too edible.
His body tightened in response, and sexual awareness pulsed between them. He knew she felt it by the way her pupils dilated.
She cleared her throat. ‘Hey.’ Her eyes dipped to the recyclable cup carrier tray he held and then to the brown paper bag he clasped with his free hand. He’d left his other purchases in the car.
Ripper stepped into the manor. ‘Coffee for me. Herbal tea for you.’ He gave her the paper bag. ‘Custard Danish. The she-wolves at the bakery said it was your favorite.’
She double-blinked. ‘Um, thanks. Didn’t you bring anything for Paisley?’
‘She’s not mine to feed.’
‘Werewolf logic,’ Emberlyn uttered beneath her breath, closing the door.
‘Werewolf logic?’
‘You all tend to have great manners, but you discount the wants and needs of people who aren’t under your protection.’
‘Do you go around feeding people who aren’t part of your circle?’
‘I take your point.’ Emberlyn carefully plucked her takeout cup out of the holder, spun on her heel and then walked down the hallway. ‘Paisley and Kage are in the living room. Luckily, they already have tea and snickerdoodles, or they’d be feeling left out.’
Trailing behind Emberlyn, he had no way to stop his gaze from dropping to her ass. It was right there, high and tight and utter perfection.
Ripper caught movement in his peripheral vision. He glanced to the side . . . and did a double-take as the outline of a person faded from view. His muscles went taut as he stopped dead. Either he’d briefly seen a spirit or he’d imagined it. He wasn’t sure which scenario would bother him more.
‘You coming or not?’ asked Emberlyn, pausing at a doorway.
Shoving the little incident aside, he cleared his throat as he walked toward her in answer. Following her into the living room, he saw Paisley sitting on one of the sofas while her brother hung over the back of it. Both straightened as he entered.
‘Ripper,’ Kage greeted.
‘I’m Paisley,’ his sister announced. ‘Which I’m guessing you already know, since this is a small town.’
Well, yeah, although . . . ‘We haven’t spoken much over the years.’
‘I don’t run in werewolf circles. I’m hoping that will change, though.’
As Emberlyn lowered herself onto an armchair, Ripper took the sofa opposite her friend.
Paisley scooted forward a little. ‘I want you to know that this isn’t a snap decision on my part. I’ve thought about it a lot.’
Ripper removed his coffee cup from the holder. ‘So this isn’t just because your brother became a werewolf?’
Paisley’s lips flattened. ‘No. It was my intention way before that rat bastard allowed the Change to take him.’
‘Rat bastard?’ echoed Kage, his brows flying up in affront.
Paisley cast him a quick glance. ‘Hey, I’m just calling the situation as I see it.’
‘Why have you got to be so mean?’ demanded Kage. ‘I’m your brother. You should adore me.’
‘And yet . . .’
Her eyes dancing, Emberlyn sipped from her drink.
Ripper shifted slightly, bringing Paisley’s attention back to him. ‘Why is it you’d like to take the Change?’
She rested her hands on her thighs. ‘The thought of it always appealed to me, even when I was little. I think maybe it’s because clans are so tight and the weak are protected. It doesn’t work like that in a coven.’
He frowned. ‘You consider yourself weak?’
‘Not as a person, no. But my magick isn’t strong, so most of the coven consider me a runt.
It made me ripe for bullying at school. Of course, they stopped targeting me for their own amusement when Emberlyn became my bestie – she only had to smile at them and they’d slink away like thieves in the night. ’ Paisley snickered.
He cut his gaze to Emberlyn, who was sipping her herbal tea again. She was a protector just as much as she was an avenger, he thought. Returning his attention to Paisley, he asked, ‘Is your family aware that you wish to take the Change?’
‘Yes. My parents are not pleased about it. Far from it. But as Emberlyn said, I can’t live my life trying to keep other people happy.
My mom and dad should want me to put my happiness before their own.
It hurts that they don’t, but it is what it is.
My hope is that they’ll eventually come round to the idea. ’
‘And if they don’t? Because this isn’t something you could take back. Once done, it can’t be undone.’
‘If they don’t come round, they don’t come round. I’ll have no regrets,’ Paisley stated with such certainty that he believed her.
‘I take it you would prefer to join my clan because your twin is part of it.’
Her nose wrinkled. ‘No, it’s not a factor here. If anything, I’d prefer to be away from him – he’s a fucking idiot.’
Kage narrowed his eyes at her. ‘I despise you,’ he said matter-of-factly.