“Would y’all like something to drink?” I ask. My ingrained southern hospitality at work.

“You got any sweet tea, Sophie? You make the best sweet tea,” Sniffer asks hopefully.

“Let me see what I can do. How about you two? I’m Sophia, by the way. I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself earlier.” I give Masen the stink eye.

One of the men says, “Tea sounds good, Sophia. Thank you.”

Masen moves to stand in front of me blocking the others from seeing me. “Stop taking care of them. I want tea,” he pouts. I lean around him and look at Sniffer making a big deal of rolling my eyes.

I pat Masen’s back. “Okay, Big Guy, you get the first glass,” I offer. I just know he has a smug smile on his face.

After I make tea and Masen introduces the men to me, they start discussing what happened at the mall. Sid tells Masen that neither of the scents were familiar to him either, and they were only able to track them through the mall to the other side where they must have parked. Masen fills them in on what we found at my house. “It’s a little strange. We’ve never had a report of such behavior. Do you think it’s someone from our pack?” Sid asks. “Gavin reported that the rogues were closer than we last suspected. Maybe, they breached the territory lines, and Sophia was the first to spot them. She probably wouldn’t know if they were rogues or not. No offense, Sophia,” Sid adds kindly.

I wave him off. “None taken. You’re right. I wouldn’t know. Is there some way to tell the difference?”

Masen’s hands haven’t left my body, finding some way to touch me. He rubs my back and answers, “Well, apart from having to meet each of them a time or two, so their names or even faces become familiar, there’s a feeling like being connected when you’re both part of the pack. I know you sense it with me, maybe even Cass, but you, Little One, are kind of a hard sell.” He squeezes me. “You are quite guarded. Not many have felt you. Only the few you’ve met that you like.” He laughs a little.

Oh shit, have I been giving the magical cold shoulder and not even knowing it? “Yeah okay, so that’s not weird or creepy or anything,” I say being sarcastic.

“Ah, Little One, I think it’s fantastic. It’s like you have to let them become part of your own little pack.” He smiles, proud of my craziness.

I shake my head. “Whatever you say, Big Guy.”

His smile turns mischievous. “Oh, I know, baby. That’s what you were screaming earlier.”

My mouth falls open in horror.

He leans in close to my ear. “Close your mouth, baby. I know how well you use it. I might be tempted to fill it.”

My face heats red from a blush and a little bit of anger. Even though he’s embarrassing me, I’m still turned on by his filthy mouth. Snapping my mouth closed, I say through clenched teeth, “Masen Black, you better stop announcing what I’ve done or what you plan on doing right, this minute.”