Season of the Witch (Claws Clause 2)

“No. No way. No fucking way.”

Colt bit into his apple, leaning against the wall on the other side of his brother’s living room whil

e keeping him in his sights.

Maddox was pacing in front of the couch. Colt chewed while Mad prowled.

He was careful to keep his gaze down, careful to watch Maddox out of the corner of his eye, careful not to inadvertently challenge his brother’s riled-up wolf.

He, uh, he hadn’t taken the news about Colt’s new job all that well.

Good thing that Colt wasn’t a moron. Before he took the ride out to Wolf’s Creek, he made sure to call home first. Maddox was an alpha—but he wasn’t the Alpha.

Not yet, at least.

Everyone in the pack knew that he’d be taking over for his father sooner or later. Until that time came, Terrence Wolfe was still the most dominant predator in the east. So long as Colt had his Alpha’s blessing, Maddox could rant and snarl all he wanted, but it didn’t change a thing.

“Dad already agreed. For as long as they want me working with the cops to find out who’s slaughtering people around here, I’ve been relieved from most pack duties. Sloane’s been doing such a great job lately, taking lead on the construction blueprints, so they’ve got that part of the business covered. For the next couple of days or so, looks like I get to play Batman.”

“What about Wolfman?” offered up Evangeline, the teasing note an attempt to diffuse the tension that filled the room.

She perched on the edge of the couch, elbow on the couch’s arm, chin tucked in her hand. Every time Maddox passed by her, she reached out with her other hand, her fingers brushing against the back of his jeans as if to say don’t worry, I’m still here.

Maddox scowled. Not at his mate, but at his brother. “Why would he say yes? We just had that meeting. He said he wants to keep the pack tight in case the humans turn on us.”

Colt took another bite. “Don’t know. I guess he’s thinking ahead. Something to do with the pack’s image. It gets out that a shifter is buddying up with the cops to take down a Nightwalker threat, maybe they won’t turn on us.”

“As if they really could,” huffed Maddox.

“Dad’s smart. He knows what he’s doing. Think about it, Mad. At the end of the day, there’s more of them than there are of us. Claws Clause already has our paws tied in so many ways. You want it to get worse? ‘Cause I can almost guaran-fucking-tee that it can get worse.”

A muffled snarl that Maddox cut off with a rough jerk of his broad upper body. Muscles bunched in his biceps, his forearms. Tendons bulged in his neck as he fought the shift.

He didn’t argue back. Maddox might be the official Beta—his father's righthand wolf, and the one who’d eventually succeed him as Alpha of the pack—but Terrence Wolfe’s word was law.

Point, Colt.

Not like he had any delusions that invoking their dad would make Maddox see reason. Colt knew better. His brother wasn’t done. As Colt finished up the last of his apple, twirling the core between his pointer finger and his thumb, Maddox continued to stalk back and forth.

His head snapped over to Colt.

“What about your commissions? Your orders?”

“What about ‘em? They can wait.”

“Yeah?” There was something in the way he growled out the word that had Colt daring a peek up at Mad’s face. His eyes had gone from their usual warm golden color to a bright amber sheen that lit up his face. “What about Shea? Who’s gonna watch her while you’re out fucking around with Wright?”

His brother’s possessive instincts were riding him hard. He got that. There was still no reason to bring the witch into this.

Especially since Colt had spent the last couple of days trying not to obsess over her constantly.

Shea hadn’t called.

She already told him she didn’t want him around. What if she really meant it? What if she got hurt and their strained connection meant she couldn’t heal herself? What if she went after another guy while he was, fuck it, playing Batman?

What if—

His hands closed tightly, smashing the apple core, spraying seeds and pulp all over the living room floor.