His eyes turn icy. “As long as none of them think about touching you or try to get too close,” he says loud enough that they all take one step back.

I give a small wave before saying, “Hey, I’m going in now. Why don’t y’all grab a football? That’s better than beating the snot out of each other.” A few look at each other, one man jogs to his truck and pulls out a ball.

Masen squeezes me and says, “Thank you.”

I shrug my shoulders. “Sure. I love football, and I’m always exhausted when I get done playing.”

He cocks one eyebrow. “You play football?” he questions skeptically.

“Yup,” I pop. “If you hadn’t noticed, I’m pretty quick,” I say while brushing my knuckles along my chest, bragging.

“Oh, I noticed.” He laughs as he opens the door for me, and we enter the hall. All the light banter disappears as I scent the fear and distrust in the air. Masen’s smile fades as we walk down the hall to the same large room he was in the other day. The room is empty save for two males standing on either side of a heavy door. They nod their heads as we approach.

“You sure you want to be in here, Little One?”

I can feel his worry. I clasp his arm harder. “Yes, let’s get this done.”

He nods and reaches forward to open the door.

CHAPTER 25

The door opens soundlessly as we enter a large square room. The two shifters from the mall sit at a table in the center of the room. Michael and Sid are positioned in chairs in front of them. The floors are rough cement, and the walls are bare. There is a camera in one corner, seeming to record the entire room with its small lens. This is an interrogation room, just being in here is intimidating.

Sid’s head turns to the door when it opens, but Michael never takes his eyes off the men in front of him. Masen’s body seems to swell the further into the room we go. The door clicks closed behind us, and Michael says, “Alpha, Luna,” in greeting.

“Hi Michael,” I return.

Sid and Michael both stand from the seats. Michael holds his out for me to sit. Masen guides me forward with a hand at my back as we near the table. Michael steps back and let’s Masen seat me. Masen sits next to me and pulls my chair so close that he has to lift his arm and wrap it around my shoulder. “I will give you both only one warning, any move I consider a threat to my Luna, and you die. I won’t promise to make it quick, but I will promise it will hurt.” His face is dead serious. One of the men swallows with an audible gulp. I rest my hand on his thigh under the table. I’m not sure if I should speak, but the tension in the room is so thick I don’t think either man is willing to open their mouths in fear of reprisal.