I stilled, my heart even skipping a beat. Rob’s concern that I’d be found instilled chaos in my world. No one found an enforcer. Not unless someone on the council talked. My identity was supposed to be secret even from my own goddamn family. If the council called in an enforcer to take action, the task was sanctioned. There were no repercussions from the outcome on the enforcer. It was also pack law. Everyone knew that, even Sal and Donald.
“Well, I didn’t drop my fucking ID on the ground when I finished the asshole. I’m not that bad at my job.”
“No, but I hear they’re asking around. Trying to figure out which enforcer’s signature is the bullet behind the left ear.”
“Fuck.” I popped to my feet. “Becky.” I stared at Rob in horror. His lips tightened, evidence of his own concern. “Holy fuck. I’ve brought shit right to her. This… this is the exact reason I tried to stay away from her even after I realized she was mine.”
Rob rasped a hand over his jaw. “With a pup on the way?”
“Before I knew about the pup. She’s married and—”
“Excuse me?” Rob leaned forward.
It was my turn to frown, rub my eyes. I explained the situation with her ex and what I’d learned from the data-digger’s online search.
“You get Selena involved, too?”
“Yesterday. We’re staying at my parents’ place in town. The ex won’t find her there.”
“Good. Explain to me how you’re going to stay away from her to protect her from enforcer shit when she’s got an ex fucking with her.”
I gave him a dark stare. “Fuck you.”
He stood, came around the desk. “Glad to see it’s my best friend’s turn to be mauled by Fate and a female.”
“Again, fuck you,” I grumbled.
He leaned against the side of his desk. “Selena can help with her ex.”
He lifted his head, listened. Knew he was taking a moment to check on the ladies. With my wolf hearing, I picked up their laughter. They were fine, and that soothed my wolf. Now that I had a mate to protect, I could see how hard it was for Rob to always be listening and watching, protecting not just Willow but the entire pack. Everyone in the house fell under his rule and protection.
It made me thankful to only be an enforcer, a job I could quit. Rob had his role for life.
“As for Donald Brown, let’s talk about what we’re going to do. I’ll call the council and tell them you have a mate now, and there’s more at stake than just a threat to an enforcer. This guy might show up on pack land. We need a plan.”
I nodded and we got to work coming up with one.
15
BECKY
“So… you and Clint?” Audrey prodded, with a waggle of her eyebrows and a grin. “Girlfriend, you’ve been keeping secrets.”
We sat in the great room in the big comfy couches that shaped a U and faced the massive river rock fireplace. Beside it, built into the wall, was a TV with the first Twilight movie playing. Delicious hors d’oeuvres Marina had baked were on the coffee table in front of us. Marina and Willow had wine, Audrey lemon tea. When the ladies said they had happy hour together like this at least once a week, I experienced a pang of jealousy. I wanted to be part of their tribe, too. Which I guessed I could be, if Clint and I became a fixture.
They were all comfortable in leggings, soft sweaters and thick socks. Audrey had a cozy blanket tucked around her.
The three of them lived on the ranch—Audrey up in the hills in a cute cabin, Marina and Colton finally settling into one of their own as well, and Willow here in the family house—so it was easy for them to do so. In fact, there wasn’t much else to do out here, especially in the winter.
I flushed at Audrey’s words, only because she knew about my divorce efforts. Namely, the fact that it wasn’t finalized, and I was getting it on with Clint. I still had that religious shame ingrained in me by my parents. Marriage was a sacrament. One that shouldn’t be broken even if it sucked.
Even if the guy broke you. And your car tire. And emptied your bank account. And...
“It’s nothing serious,” I replied, finally. It wasn’t a total lie. I’d told Clint I couldn’t enter into a relationship with him. He knew where I stood. Of course, the fact that we were having a child together might be considered serious to some. Some might also think the fact that we’d slept together the night before… sex and actual sleeping, plus what he’d just done to me in the stable, constituted us being together.
Hell, I’d had lunch with his parents. That was a big deal.