“You know you’re gonna have to tell me eventually, right? If we dance all night, you’re gonna cave.” Julian slid into his seat with his eyes narrowed on her.

Kate frowned and sank into a chair with a sigh. “I can’t tell you. My pack…it’s just not that simple. If my grandfather knew what I was trying to do—” She shook her head. “The alpha bond isn’t something you can run from. I have to get a job and pledge to a new alpha and I—”

“Have to do it all without him knowing?”

Kate nodded again. Fear slithered down her spine, erasing all the good the dancing had done at distracting her from what lay ahead. Everyone at home thought she was the perfect dutiful granddaughter who was willing to take one for the pack. “No one knows why I’m here, not really. It needs to stay that way.”

“I can’t imagine Phillip hurting you. Wolves leave packs from time to time, just like people decide to move.”

“No,” Kate said. “No one leaves El Paso. Ever. He would hurt me.”

“Why doesn’t your pack stand up to him? Choose another alpha?”

“They would all have to agree. And while not all of them are bastards who need to be kicked in the nuts, enough of them are that there would never be a unanimous vote.” She rolled her neck and sniffed. Something had changed inside the bar.

Julian reached for her hand across the table and squeezed. “I’m gonna help you figure this out. Adam is on his way. You talk to him about the horse and then we’ll go from there.”

Kate gave him a weak smile and continued to scan the bar. Dancing made everything better. She thought better. Felt better. Stress just melted away with each beat of the song.

But that wasn’t it…

The air prickled with magick, and it wasn’t from Julian’s hands tugging her back onto the dance floor. Kate glanced at the door again, looking for the source of the magick. Looking for…Ryan. Not that he’d done her any favors. She would’ve been crawling the walls tonight if not for Julian.

“Look who’s here,” Julian said, pointing at the door. A tall man in wranglers and a gray T-shirt strolled in—a VonBrandt, from the looks of him, and much more of a typical rancher type. Adam. Her blood warmed and she scrunched her eyebrows. Ryan Travis walked in right beside him. No wonder she’d felt magick in the air. Damn mate bond. She was angrier than a hornet whose nest had just been smashed, but she could deal with the soon-to-be-alpha asshole in a bit. First on the docket was getting Adam to sell her Black Guardian.

“You okay?” Julian asked.

“Yeah, that’s just the guy who…”

“Told you I was Adam?”

“Yeah,” she sighed and leaned against Julian’s side as they waited for Adam to approach. Ryan had broken away from Adam and circled around the dance floor to join Dee at the bar.

Kate felt the exact moment his gaze landed on her. His discomfort was palpable, even from across the large room. Julian had his arm wrapped tightly around her shoulder in a big brother sorta way. Of course, she couldn’t remember the last time her brother had given her a hug or stood up for her against anyone. Daniel had been Grandfather’s pet project since he was born. He thought his alpha walked on the moon and anyone who said differently was lying. No ifs ands or buts about it. And she was one of those people foolish enough to make her opinions loud enough to be heard. That was why she stuck so close to her female cousins. That was why their mantra was anywhere is better than home.

Kate leaned against Julian and sighed, relaxing into his comforting hug. She really liked him. He started off pretty standoffish, and he was clearly smarter than anyone in the room, but he was just a big softy underneath.

“He looks pissed,” said her new friend.

“Probably because you’re touching me. Serves him right.” She turned and gave Julian a little peck on the cheek. “Thank you for listening to me ramble all night. I know that’s probably not what you had in mind for a night out on the town.”

“I don’t do nights out on the town,” he mumbled. “You’ve made it tolerable for me, too.”

“Dude,” Adam said, approaching their table. “Who’s the pretty girl you’ve got cozied up next you? Never thought I’d see the day. This guy doesn’t get out much.” He held out his hand and Kate shook it. “Adam VonBrandt.”

“This is Kate Quade,” Julian said, ignoring the jab.

“The girl who wants to see me about a horse?” Adam quirked an eyebrow. “The Quades aren’t usually interested in the stock I breed. Phillip has his own people he likes to use.” He gestured to the empty table they’d just vacated and they all sat down. Kate flicked a quick glance over to the bar, locating Ryan’s stiff shoulders and tight-lipped expression. That’s right pal. You just thought you could derail me.

“Actually, I’m here on behalf of someone else. Bracken Trewitt wants—”

“Black Guardian,” Adam snorted. “Why do they have you asking me? I already told them no once.”

Kate’s hopes fell like a shot of whiskey on an empty stomach. They’d sent her to get a horse he didn’t want to sell. Maybe she’d gotten it wrong. Maybe Bracken and Ryan were both assholes.

She tried to paste on a smile. “Call it a job interview slash desperately needed pack transfer.” She wasn’t quite ready to explain all her problems in this moment, but she needed this to go through. She needed this job. It was the only way out without flat out running.

“The horse?” Adam asked. “Damn assholes. They should hire you or not. Sending you after my best stud horse as an ultimatum for getting hired isn’t fair to you, especially since they know I don’t want to sell him for at least a couple more years.” Adam released a long breath and shook his head. “I have plans for that horse, but I’ve also heard shit about the Quade pack. I believe you when you say you need out.” He ran his hand over his chin stubble and met her gaze solidly.

“I do need out. And with the money Bracken is willing to pay you, you could easily get a new stud.” Please. Please. Please.

“The Quades breed cattle. What do you know about rodeo stock?”

“Not a lot, to be honest,” Kate said, sitting up a little straighter. She needed this and there had to be a way. There had to be something Adam wanted more than Black Guardian. “But I know there’s got to be another stallion who could fill Black Guardian’s shoes.”

“That’s not the problem, honey,” Adam said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Tell me something, is there a particular reason Ryan Travis is standing by the bar about to come out of his skin next to the woman I’ve been looking for all night?”

Kate flipped her hair over her shoulder and leaned back against her chair. Her would-be mate was practically vibrating in place beside his spy-cousin, who was also on Kate’s shit list for the time being. “Ryan Travis is a stick-up-his-ass rodeo cowboy with a chip on his shoulder. He doesn’t want me to work for their pack because we have a mate pull. And Dee’s been helping derail me.”

“No, shit! Well, his outburst back at the ranch makes more sense now.” The handsome man chuckled. “What do you think, Julian?”

“Ryan told her I was you,” Julian said.

“Fuck.” Adam shook his head and slid his hand across the table, covering hers and smiling devilishly. “So he’s probably pissed as hell that we’re even talking at all.”

Kate nodded, not daring to look in Ryan’s direction. Adam’s hand on hers didn’t affect her in the least, but she hoped to hell that it was affecting her potential mate. An outburst would be good. That would indicate his attempt to ignore their mate pull was failing.

When she finally chanced another glance at the bar, his whole body was tensing, and Dee was practically physically restraining him. Good. He deserved a little torture after what he’d put her through.

“You think it would piss him off more if I give you a hug before I leave? ’Cause I really feel the need to piss him off for putting you in such lose-lose situation.”

She stifled a laugh. Ryan was about as piss-off-able as they came. “I’m sure it would.”

“Look, I can’t stand to see a woman in trouble, and if it takes my stud to get you out of it, then you can have him. I’ve heard enough rumors about your alpha to know you’re not kiddin’ about this shit.”

Kate’s heart leapt in her chest. Have the horse? “Are you serious?”

Adam ran a hand over his stubbly chin and nodded. “Of course. Aaron would flip his lid if he knew Phillip was treating you badly. Are you sure you don’t want to stay here instead?”

“No, I want to go with the Trewitts. Eventually Ryan will come around…I hope.”

Adam stood, pulling her up from the table with him. “Well, Julian and I can help with Ryan.” He winked at his cousin over her shoulder and Julian laughed quietly. Adam pulled her closer, squeezing her shoulders, then kissed the top of her head and pulled her in for a bear hug. He smelled like grass and horse and spicy male. No sexual interest perked up in her at all, but his arms were as warm and comforting as Julian’s had been. “I’m going to hold you for just a few seconds longer. Travis is turning red.”

Kate muffled a half-sob-half-giggle into his chest. He was on her side. They both were. She’d succeeded in obtaining the horse without compromising herself, and now the VonBrandts were going to help her torture some sense into her would-be mate.

“I’ve got a few things to do tonight, but let Bracken know the horse is his for a fair price. See you both later.” He released her and gave Julian a half nod. “Give him hell, cuz,” he whispered. “I’m pretty sure Ryan Travis is starting to breathe smoke over there by the bar.”

The two men exchanged a smirk and Adam turned on his heel and walked away.

“No more dancing tonight for me,” Julian said, still with a hint of the smirk on his face. “You should find another partner while I go instigate a little trouble.”

“Make it painful. I know just the guy,” she said, scanning the room for her original dance partner of the night. She located him and smiled. With Julian working on Ryan and that handsome cowboy working on her…well, it was the recipe for a perfect storm. The kind of storm where he carried her off the dance floor over his shoulder and then claimed her like a mate should.

She nonchalantly flicked her gaze toward the bar again. Ryan was still watching her. Only her. And he still looked pissed or constipated. She giggled a little and gave him a wink just to make it worse. Let him stew in his worry for as long as possible. He certainly deserved it after what he and Dee had done.

“Game on.” She leaned against Julian and gave him another quick peck on the cheek. “For good luck.”

He strolled toward her mate, a wicked look on his face. “It’s my pleasure.”