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NeNe was sure she should be freaked out at how easily Coti read her and how much she wanted to let him take all her troubles away. That alone made her straighten her spine and head toward the exit instead of the bar where her old friends sat. She’d rather sit out in the sun and get a tan than have idle chit chat with the girls who no longer wanted to hang out with her.

“Where you going, little girl?”

She closed her eyes, hating how all the men seemed to walk on a damn cloud or some shit. “I’m going outside to get some fresh air. Is that okay with you?” Instantly, she felt bad for getting snarky with Wyck, when the man had never been anything but nice to her.

Wyck held the door open. “I’ll just go with you then, if you don’t mind.” It wasn’t a question, more like an announcement.

Knowing, even if she’d told him she did mind, he’d still meander out with her, which was why NeNe didn’t agree or disagree. Once she was outside, she could breathe without feeling as though she needed to check in with Coti. Lord, what the hell was happening to her? She wasn’t one of those women who had to be with her guy of the moment constantly. Actually, she’d never had relationships, which was kind of sad, but she’d accepted it and moved on. She called them her twelve-step programs, only she would admit her issues like a good stepper, then move the fuck on. NeNe excelled at step one and twelve, it was the stupid steps in-between she skipped.  Her first boyfriend had said she was a first-class bitch, which was echoed by her next. Just because she couldn’t give two shits if they didn’t call or want to hang out all the time didn’t make her a bitch, in her opinion. She’d seen what happened when one person in a relationship clung, while the other didn’t. Nope, she wasn’t ever going there.

“You look pensive. Something on your mind?” Wyck asked.

NeNe looked over her shoulder to see the man leaning against the wall, one booted foot resting on the building, the other on the ground. How men could look casual, yet dangerous at the same time she had no clue. “Wow, that’s quite the observation. You’ve known me for like—a minute,” she snarked.

Wyck looked toward the road, then back at her. “Yep.”

She rolled her eyes. Men were frustrating in general, but the men of the club took it to a whole other level. It was like they didn’t listen, unless it was what they wanted to hear. NeNe looked back toward the closed door, promising herself if Coti didn’t come out in the next fifteen minutes, she was out of there. Before she could start the mental countdown clock, the door opened, letting out a gust of cool air and loud music. The petite form of Joz was followed by Lyric and Syn. The very last thing she envisioned herself doing was having a come to Jesus moment with these three women who looked gorgeous, while she had two black eyes and more bruises than she could count. Although, for all the colorful skin she was sporting, it was shocking she wasn’t hurting more.

Not waiting to hear what they had to say, she took off toward the road. The distinct sound of an irritated male growl, which sounded deeper than she’d have thought, made her grin.

“We got this Wyck, go on inside.”

Ah, if the man believed Joz, he was a fool, but she wasn’t sticking around to hear more of their bullshit. Nope, her mama didn’t raise no fool.

“NeNe, get your scrawny ass back here this instant,” Lyric yelled.

She lifted her right hand in the air, extended her middle finger. “Go fuck yourselves,” she called out.

“Goddammit, let me go. I promise I won’t bite her, hard.”

Syn’s tacked on last word made her want to laugh. She shimmied through the gate, silently cursing that it wasn’t still open like it had been when they’d driven through. A hiss of pain escaped her closed lips, looking down she grimaced at the piece of metal that had sliced into her side. “Son of a biscuit fucker.”

Hearing her friends argue made her move down the road quickly. For months they’d forgotten about her while they got on with their lives. She wasn’t mad, exactly. More hurt that they’d thought she wasn’t good enough for whatever they had going with their men. Okay, yeah, she was pissed. Just because she didn’t have super smarts like Joz or grow up in their backyards, didn’t mean she was trash.

Her heart sped up at the sound of a vehicle coming behind her. The deep rumble didn’t sound like that of Coti’s so she didn’t look up or slow down her pace. The vehicle’s engine sounded closer, the driver clearly shifting down as he got closer to her. She looked around the deserted street, kicking herself for not thinking first before acting. “Damn, too late to turn back now,” she muttered. Keeping her head down, she worked out her options for running. To the right was the road, to the left closed up shops. Sundays before noon, most businesses weren’t open yet. If she ran straight, whoever was meandering in the car would likely follow. However, if she turned around, they could easily jump out and grab her. “Think girl,” she mumbled.

“You gonna keep talking to yourself, or you gonna acknowledge you know we’re here?”

Fuck! Acknowledge we meant there was more than one. She chanced a glance over her shoulder, squinting as the sun kept her from getting a good view. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

A deep sigh floated out of the driver’s window. “Why do all the women forget me, Ace?”

The mention of Ace had her pausing at the corner. “Um, you’re Coti’s friends?”

“My name’s Dalton. I know, you’ve blanked me out of your mind because I’m gorgeous, and you didn’t want thoughts of me to mess up your thing with Coti. I understand.” He tapped the side of the door, nodding.

Ace groaned. “Ignore him. We met briefly. So, why you walking all alone?”

She didn’t know why he was asking her stupid questions. “Thank you for bringing me these clothes, Ace. I can pay you once I get my purse.”

“Don’t worry about it, girl. Come and get in, we’ll take you back to Coti.”

She heard Ace’s voice as he spoke, yet she didn’t want to go anywhere with the men. “Nah, I’m good. Thanks, though. You guys have a good day.”

She began walking again, hoping they’d take the hint. The sound of another vehicle coming from the opposite direction had her groaning. Of course, it couldn’t be Coti since it was coming from town. “You better move out of the middle of the road,” she cautioned.

The truck heading straight toward the muscle car idling in the road didn’t seem to be slowing. NeNe moved back, worried if one or the other didn’t get out of the way there was going to be an accident. Shit! The crazy fools in the muscle car revved their engine, laughing as the passenger tapped the hood, a yell of yeehaw floated out as they jerked forward. “This is not going to end well,” she whispered.

Two arms banded around her from behind. “Sure it is. How you doing, babe? You look like you had a rough night last night.”

NeNe gasped and tried to twist out of Mac’s arms. “What the hell’s going on?”

Mac nodded at the road. “My boys are just having some fun. Wanna stick around and watch?”

She shuddered at the feel of his warm breath on her neck. The man was a grade A asshole, who didn’t seem to understand the word no. “I don’t think so, thanks. I was just on my way back to my boyfriend’s.” The lie slipped out easily.

“Don’t fucking lie to me, bitch. I know when someone lies, and you stink to high heaven right now. Let me explain a few things to you, just to give you a fighting chance. One, don’t ever fucking lie to me. Two, do as I say when I say it, and you’ll live a little longer. Three, remember the first two things.” He jerked her to him. “Let’s go.” He looked up and down the road.

“Listen, Mac, I’m not sure what game you’re playing, but I’m not going anywhere with you. Last night was my last. I’m done working for you. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding someone to replace me.” Her words rushed out while she tried to get free. Damn, what did the man eat, steel Wheaties?

Mac laughed, the sound anything but pleasant. “I always did like the ones who fought.”

While she was trying to work out his meaning, she was lifted and tossed over his shoulder, her ribs, which were still slightly sore, protested the treatment.

The two racing vehicles barely missed colliding into one another. Her only chance at being saved spun in a circle, Dalton and Ace whooping loudly, only to be side-swiped by one of Mac’s other trucks. The huge vehicle had the image of devil horns and the HM written in the middle, his crew of Hell Makers loved to make sure everyone knew who they were.

Coti glared at Wyck. “What do you mean you left her outside with the girls?”

Wyck shrugged. “They looked like they had some shit to handle. You know as well as I do them women can take care of themselves. Besides, they’re right outside.”

His phone rang, the caller ID showing him it was Ace. Shit, he’d already told the man thanks for the use of his car. What the hell else did he want, his first born? He let the call go to voicemail, focusing on Wyck. “What do you make of her bomb about the council members being in Mac’s pocket?”

Kellen sat in his chair, rubbing at his jaw. “Rowan’s doing some checking. I’ll have more info on all of them within a couple hours.”

He glared at his alpha. “By all of them, do you mean NeNe, too?”

With a nod, Kellen leaned back and took a sip of Makers. “This is my pack, Coti. Like she said, we all have families now. I ain’t risking any of them because some prick thinks to move into my territory.”

He rocked back on his heels. “She’s mine,” he growled. He may not have claimed her completely, but she was his. With his fucked up heritage, he didn’t want to bring her into his world not knowing which side she’d land on, but with the threat looming, he’d do it and damn the consequences.

“I’m aware she’s yours, but you ain’t claimed her. I knew she was yours months ago, yet you didn’t claim her. Why is that, Ulric?”

Coti stared at Kellen, shocked to hear his given name come out of his mouth. “Because she needs to know what she’s getting into beforehand. I’m not going to force a mating on her without her full consent.” Every shifter in the room would be able to tell he was speaking the truth. Although it wasn’t the complete truth, it was the truth.

“Are you ever going to trust me?” Kellen asked.

He tilted his head to the side. “I do trust you.” And he did. He wouldn’t have given his loyalty and oath to Kellen and the Iron Wolves if he hadn’t.

Kellen sat the glass back down, then stood. “There’s more to you than what you’ve told me, but I haven’t pushed. One day, you’re gonna have to come clean. I hope that day won’t be too late for you or your unclaimed mate.”

His phone rang again, the irritating ringtone had him jerking it out of his pocket. “What the fuck?” Seeing Ace’s number again, he pressed the talk button. “What’s up?” he growled.

“You need to get your ass to moving. Your girl’s been taken by that fucker, Mac.” Coti registered pain in the other man’s voice and the sound of metal creaking in the background.

“Where are you?” He was moving toward the door as he spoke, knowing the men in the room could hear what was being said. Turo stood by the door with Kellen’s son in his arms, the little boy a miniature version of his father but with an intelligence that no toddler should have, held his hand out. Coti gave the boy a high-five, thinking the cute kid wanted one. Coti jolted as his hand jerked back as if shocked.

“You not bad,” Kellen’s son said. At almost eighteen months old, the quadruplets were already speaking in full sentences and acted more like three or four year olds. They all assumed it had something to do with the fact they were conceived in the Fey Realm.

Which twin boy said it he wasn’t sure since Jagger and Jaxon looked identical, but the alpha blue eyes held him in his enthrall. He wanted to ruffle the little one’s hair and pretend the kid didn’t freak him out a little. The phone in his hand beeped, reminding him he had places to go and a mate to see to. “Thanks, kid.”

An image of a couple blocks away with what appeared to be a crashed muscle car alerted him to where Ace was. He typed in a quick question, wondering why NeNe was with them and not at the club.

Lyric came in, frowning. “What the hell is wrong with NeNe?”

Coti pulled up short. The last thing he should do is yell at the petite female who just so happened to be the second to the alpha’s baby sister, but damn if he didn’t want to shake the little thing. None of the females had thought what their desertion would do to NeNe. The tough as nails act was just that, an act. His mate was hurting long before last night. He’d sensed her pain and didn’t step in. That was on him. “How about the fact her best friends turned their backs on her without so much as a fuckoff party, making her think she wasn’t good enough.”

Laikyn, Joz, and Syn gasped behind Lyric, but his give a fuck meter was empty.

“Brother, don’t piss me off by insulting our women.”

Coti looked to see that Turo had handed the boy back to his mama. “I’m stating facts, brother. I’m out.” He brushed by the other man, ignoring the people he’d called pack for the past twenty years. His priority lay with NeNe.

“His mate’s in trouble. Let’s go,” Kellen said.

The need to shift and chase her scent nearly had him allowing his wolf to take over, but Ace’s image had shown him a vehicle, which meant his female was being driven. “Fuck, I should’ve chipped her ass.”

Xan strode out the door, keeping stride with him. “I tried that with Breezy, but Laikyn said they’d just fall out the first time they shifted.”

His steps faltered at the matter-of-fact tone. “I’m not even gonna ask if you’re serious.” He pressed the unlock button on his truck, climbed inside, and shut the door. The passenger side opened, allowing Xan to haul himself inside.

“You’d think they could come up with something that wouldn’t fall out, especially with all these babies,” Xan said, sitting back.

Coti shook his head, knowing the other man was being completely serious. “You going to buckle up?”

Xan looked at him with a raised brow. “Just drive, dickhead.”