“No. She’s not. I was there with the Ohio pack two years ago. Remember when the Alpha went crazy and killed all but two of the females in the pack? He’d been using his power to get other people to do the killing for him. It was sick what he did to those Weres.” I shuddered as I thought about it. “And the Florida pack?” Donovan winced. “Yeah. I saw that happen. That human he dismembered? I talked to him just before he murdered that guy. I know what being mad is. They always trip up. You can always find some reason to call the tribunal.” There were differences in each case, but at their core, mad wolves were always the same. “Do you think maybe you’re too close to the situation to see a way through?”

“I don’t think so, but I can’t rule it out.” He leaned into me. “You sure you want to be my mate. Mess and all?”

“Yup. I’m in.” I pressed my forehead against his. “I can help. Trust me. It’s going to be okay.”

“I’m worried for you. Cosette gave you that bloody coin—” his fingers brushed my wrist and the chain that held the coin in place “—and I know that I have to protect you from all of this.”

“Don’t worry so much.”

His eyes glowed blue. “It’s my job.”

“You need fewer jobs.”

He collapsed back on the bed, pulling me down on top of him. “Yes, but I happen to enjoy this particular one.”

He was changing the subject, and I let him. It was enough for now. But I wasn’t giving up on lightening his workload. The Irish pack promised to be as much fun as Cosette had warned me.

The feel of his lips against mine made me lose all thought, and I surrendered. If we didn’t take moments like these—when all was calm—we’d regret it later. He moved his hands down my back, and tingles followed in their wake.

This. I’d never get enough of this.

I woke to the sound of a phone ringing and Donovan cursing.

After talking some more, we’d had some food, turned on a movie, and fallen asleep. Dad was going to be annoyed about that, but he wouldn’t say anything. At least not to Donovan.

“Aye.” Donovan’s voice was thick with sleep, making his accent even richer as he answered the call.

“John’s dead.” A firm, feminine voice spoke on the other end of the line.

Pain rippled through our bond, and I sat up, placing my hand on Donovan’s arm. He turned away from me as he tried to control the wave of emotions rushing into me. Hurt. Pain. Guilt.

Guilt? Why…

John. Oh shit. That John. His second. His best friend.

“Christ Jesus. I don’t understand. How? Who’s done this?”

“It’s nothing like I’ve seen before, Don.”

I swallowed at the use of a nickname for Donovan. Something about this woman was setting me on edge. I scooted closer to Donovan, pressing my stomach against his back as I pulled him toward me. He twined his fingers with mine with one hand, while gripping the phone with the other. He wasn’t crying on the outside, but his pain burned through me.