It was 11 p.m., an empty bottle of wine, six pots of tea, and thirty-five rambling stories about Margaret’s various late husbands before we finally had the place to ourselves again. The moment Rosa and I shared earlier had well and truly passed.

I didn’t want it to pass. I’d had one taste of her, and I wanted more. All evening, I’d had to keep a magazine open in my lap so Margaret wouldn’t notice just how much I wanted more of Rosa. Those ruby lips slid so forcefully over mine. Her skin against me made my whole body surge with energy. I’d never felt like that about any woman before, ever.

You kissed me, I tried to send my questions to her. Why did you change your mind? It can’t have been the kiss. That was one damn impressive kiss. Was it because of whatever happened back in your old village?

The door clattered shut. Rosa was back from brushing her teeth in the bathroom. She rearranged her toiletries on the windowsill to make more room for mine. I decided to just come out and ask her. “Rosa—”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” She kept her face down, deliberately not looking at me. A lock of her hair flopped over her face, and my fingers itched to brush it away and feel the electricity of her skin once more.

“But—”

“Please.” Rosa looked up then, and I could see her eyes were filled with pain. “Just let’s go to sleep and forget it ever happened.”

Why? Why do we have to forget? I don’t want to ever forget anything about you, Rosa Parker. But I could tell something had her freaked, and that now was not the time to ask, so I shrugged and gave her my best attempt at a smile. “Sure. Whatever.”

Rosa crawled into bed and made a big show of pulling off her clothes and putting on an old t-shirt while under the covers. My cock throbbed as I finished the washing up and pretended I wasn’t watching her.

Fine. She said she wanted to forget it. Well, I’d give her something to forget. Grinning at her, I peeled my clothes off, giving her a full view of exactly how much I wanted her. “This is how much I don’t want to forget,” I growled.

“Goodnight, Caleb,” she said, flicking out the light. Her eyes gleamed at me through the darkness, reflecting the light of the moon. “Thanks for everything.”

“Babe, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” I transformed into my wolf, and went to take up my spot by the door.

It wasn’t long before Rosa was making adorable snoring sounds. I sat on the kitchen bench, looking out into the forest, at the dappled moonlight splashed across the porch. I could see why Margaret liked to walk around at night, although I’d have to talk to her in the morning about not doing that in future, lest one of my stepbrothers decide they need a snack.

Something moved at the edge of the trees. I sat up, scanning the area, my nose prickling. I couldn’t smell much through the window, but I pressed my nose against the glass, and the faintest scent wafted across my nose.

Robbie.

I’d recognise my youngest stepbrother’s scent anywhere. Growing up, I’d always tried to befriend Robbie, but he idolised Angus, even though Angus was mean to him about his learning difficulties. He followed his brother everywhere, fetching whatever Angus wanted, bringing him the choicest cuts of meat, giving Angus his favourite toys even though Angus would just break them. Robbie always took Angus’ side, always, even when I could tell he disagreed. Later, as Angus got deeper into the family business, Robbie became his errand boy, always putting his ass on the line to help Angus score his next deal or win turf from the Bairds.

Now he was here, watching me for Angus, still doing the dirty work.

I know you’re out there, I sent the thought out. Werewolves communicated telepathically with each other while we were in wolf form. It enabled us to still articulate human thoughts along with our wolf signals and body language. I’m not going to let you take her, so you might as well go home.

Caleb. Robbie’s thought appeared in my mind, the words dripping with malice. Come outside, and we can talk.

We can talk just fine right here. What do you want, Robbie? Why did you come all the way to Crookshollow and try to kidnap Rosa?

You have to come back to us. Dad needs you.

No, he doesn’t.

Dad doesn’t want us to take no for an answer. He told Angus to use whatever force was necessary. Things will be easier for you if you just come with us. We won’t hurt the girl, we promise.

No can do.

She’s your fated mate, isn’t she? There’s this really intense smell from her that—

That’s none of your business. I’m no longer part of your pack.

You haven’t yet claimed her. Angus wants her. He wants to claim her for his own.

Rage bubbled inside me. Angus would be able to sense my connection to Rosa, but clearly he didn’t care. It was considered highly offensive in shifter society to attempt to go after another wolf’s mate, especially a fated mate. Granted, I’d done it to Luke in the beginning, when I’d first smelt Anna’s scent. She wasn’t my type at all, but I was so desperate to establish a pack and I didn’t exactly have much to lose. I gave up as soon as I figured out Luke was family.

Granted, I hadn’t claimed Rosa as my own yet, but that shouldn’t matter. If anyone else in the Maclean pack tried to take another’s fated mate, they’d feel the sting of Douglas’ teeth in their back. Even gangsters have their standards.

But Douglas had said by any means necessary, and it seemed Angus was taking that to heart. Angus had to have the best of everything. If my mother gave me a treat, or a special toy, Angus would make me give it to him, or break it or hide it. I was never allowed to have anything of my own. And now he was trying to take Rosa, the one bright spark that had come into my life.

I damn well wasn’t giving up Rosa to these pricks.

She’s mine, I growled, baring my teeth.

Not for much longer, was his reply.

Is this what you’re stooping to, now? Is Douglas really so desperate he’d let Angus piss all over his rules just to get me to return? Why does he need me so much, anyway? I’m only one wolf. What possible difference can I make?

The Bairds have taken your mother.

I sucked in a breath. Shit. My mother Maria – Aberdeen university librarian and matriarch of the Maclean clan – was one powerful hostage. I hoped like hell she was all right. The whole thing sounded very odd. I’d had dealings with Irvine Baird, the young alpha in charge of the Baird clan, and kidnapping seemed out of character. He was shrewd and level-headed, and this seemed like a move of desperation more than anything.

At least I knew the Bairds would pay for this. Douglas may have been a scoundrel with no love for me, but he did love my mother with all the ferocity he possessed, and he would make them bleed for this offence.

So go and fight them and get her back. I still don’t see why he needs me.

They want an exchange. You for her.

That made no sense whatsoever. What on earth did the Bairds want with me? I was nobody important – the forgotten adopted child of their biggest rival. I wasn’t an heir, nor did I have a particular knack for being a criminal mastermind, nor was I privy to any of the secret details of Douglas’ crime empire. And if they really wanted me, why didn’t Irvine Baird just come and get me himself? Something didn’t add up here.

Why? Why do they want me? They’ve never shown any interest in me before.

Dunno. Robbie pawed the ground. Dad has no idea, either. But he doesn’t have any choice. We either show up with you, or they’re gonna start sending chunks of her back to us until we comply. He can’t just go in and get her. You leaving has destabilised his power. Wolves Dad thought he could count on are nowhere to be found. He doesn’t think he has the numbers to stand up to the Bairds.

I had no idea my leaving would have such a huge impact.

It’s the precedent you set. Now everyone thinks it’s okay to walk out on Douglas Maclean, or kidnap his mate. Dad has to show them all it's not okay.

Has he ever thought about not treating his pack like shit? That might get the desired effect and I’d never have to see his face again.

This isn’t time for jokes. Your mother’s life is at stake here.

Oh, no, I completely agree. We passed the jokes portion the moment you threatened Rosa. My mother will be fine. She’s tough, and the Bairds won’t hurt her if they need something from me. Irvine know me better than that. Tell him to come down here if he wants to talk to me so badly.

He says that’s not an option.

Then you’re on your own. Douglas needs to sort his own shit out. When I left, I left for good.

Robbie sighed. I know you don’t believe this, but I’m not actually here to fight you. I’m giving you this one chance, Caleb. Come back to your family, and we’ll leave the girl in one piece.

You want me to go back to committing all manner of crimes in Douglas’ name, and Rosa becomes Angus’ broodmare? That’s not a deal, Robbie. It is a fucking joke.

Robbie sighed, a strange sound coming from a wolf. Have it your way. Don’t say I didn’t try.

With that, he turned and stalked off into the night.

I stayed by the window, staring after him, replaying the conversation over in my head. Something about it was very odd – odder than the fact the Bairds had taken my mother in order to get to me – and it took me a few minutes to realise what it was.

Robbie had come here alone, and tried to bargain with me. Clearly, he was shit at it, but the fact was that he’d tried to solve this thing without bloodshed. Angus would never have bothered trying. His motto was, “Bite first, ask questions never.”

Everything Robbie had said … “I’m giving you this chance … “ implied that he was offering me this boon of his own accord. That meant Angus didn’t know he was here. Which was … odd.

Robbie never did anything unless his father or Angus told him to. He wasn’t exactly known for his lateral thinking skills. The fact that he was here, bargaining with me, was completely out of character.

Was my younger stepbrother finally stepping out on his own? Did he have a different idea of how a pack should be run?

More importantly, was my mother okay? And what in the world did the Baird clan want with me?