Page 6

RAY

“ L et’s go,” Raul snaps, tossing the command over his shoulder like I’m still some reckless pup.

He doesn’t look back—he knows I’ll follow, no matter how much it makes me bristle.

“Where?” I ask, wiping grease off my hands with a rag.

“Move,” he says, his voice dropping so low it’s almost a growl.

He slams the garage door open, letting it crash shut behind him like a warning shot.

Shit. That look in his eyes—something’s wrong. What now?

Reluctant or not, I follow. Outside he’s waiting in his truck, revving the engine to the redline, gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles are white.

Last thing I want is to sit in a truck with him, going who-knows-where for who-knows-how-long, but he’s my brother and my Alpha to boot, so no matter what I want, I’m going to.

I climb in the truck and before I shut the door he throws it in gear, smoking the tires as he reverses. Silent, I put on my seatbelt. I don’t care for the damn things, but when he’s in this kind of mood… better to be safe than sorry.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

He growls so I shut up and wait, watching the scenery slide by outside the window. We’re not going to the city, but what our destination is I don’t know and he’s not in the mood to talk about it. When the city sign comes into view I grunt, looking over.

“New Haven?” I glance at him. “What the hell is in New Haven?”

He gives me a dark look. Tension fills the cab and I feel his wolf, barely contained.

“My mate,” he says.

“Huh?” I ask, confused.

Anyone within two city blocks heard that fight earlier, but how that led to us driving out of Dawson doesn’t make sense.

He shakes his head, clearly too pissed to speak.

I get it. He’s struggling to contain the wolf.

Been there myself a time or two and it’s not easy.

I can only imagine how hard it must be for him, being all Alpha and shit.

He picks up his phone, glances at the screen then takes a turn, driving through the town. At least he’s slowed down enough we’re not going to get pulled over for hot rodding. This is a rich person’s retreat. The last thing we need is scrutiny from the local cops.

I wait, letting him drive and work to keep himself under control.

Finally we’re parked across the street from a goddamn mansion that’s lit up like a movie set.

Music pulses so loud that dull thumps rattle the windshield like a heartbeat that I don’t want to sync with.

This is exactly how I wanted to spend my Tuesday night, getting involved in his personal life. Not .

The house—no, the estate—is surrounded by tall shrubbery and a sandstone looking wall. It’s crawling with rich humans. Expensive cologne, laughter that sounds more like bragging, stilettos clicking against stone paths. The kind of crowd that makes my skin crawl. All flash and no substance.

And in contrast to the extravagance is Raul. Brooding, tapping out a rhythm on the steering wheel with his fingers that doesn’t match the music. Glaring at the party, the guests we can see, the lights. It’s as if he’s willing it all to stop. All because he had a fight with Monica.

Sammy and I couldn’t not hear it. Forty straight minutes of Monica screaming about how she deserves to do things too. I know she’d mentioned a party, but Sammy and I had been trying to not listen, as impossible as she was making it.

“She’s in there?” I ask.

“Not just her,” he says, his hands spasming tightly around the steering well.

I frown, trying to think of who else would have him this worked up, but I’m coming up blank.

“Who?”

“Jack fucking Donahue is in there,” he spits the name.

Oh. Fuck.

Jack Donahue. The name alone is enough to make Raul's blood boil—and mine freeze. Monica’s ex-husband that dared to lay hands on Monica.

Once because Raul saw it happen and had lost control and shifted.

That was the event that preceded him crashing through Monica’s window.

That time Jack got away with a broken wrist and a silent promise from Raul that next time there would be no mercy and no restraint.

I know my brother and he meant it.

Hell, I’ve seen him shift in rage before. Bones cracking, skin splitting like wet paper, his eyes glowing that demonic red just before the shift hits. If Jack’s dumb enough to show up tonight, there won’t be a third chance. Raul will destroy him. And not quietly.

Which is why he brought me. It’s on me to keep this quiet. My job’s to keep him from blowing our cover. One shift in front of this crowd, and it's not just Raul—we’re all exposed. Last thing we need is these rich fucks looking into why a giant wolf crashed their party.

“Helena would’ve lost her marbles around here,” Raul mutters, breaking the silence. “Some of these houses are bigger than our whole damn neighborhood.”

I shrug, keeping my eyes locked on the glove compartment. I can’t let him go in there. If Jack is at this party…I have no idea how I’m going to keep Raul from killing him.

“Yeah, I guess.”

He glances over, narrowing his eyes and almost growling.

“What? What are you thinking?”

“How do you know she’s here?” I ask, shifting in my seat to face him. “Maybe she went for a drive to clear her head. You two were going at it pretty hard.”

“She left Dawson!” he growls, gripping the steering wheel so tight I’m surprised it doesn’t break. “An hour before we left she went to Stacy’s place and a limo picked them up.”

That name slams into me like a punch. My head jerks so fast it almost wrenches my neck.

“What? Them?” I ask, my voice cracking.

“Yeah,” he says, narrowing his eyes. “That got your attention? Stacy is with her at this party.”

“Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” I ask, my voice raising.

“Would it change anything?” Raul growls, still staring at the party, like he could burn it down with a look. “You’re within spitting distance of her, but we’re still outside. Unless you want to crash a mansion full of rich assholes?”

I can’t deny that the urge is there. I inhale sharply and hold it.

“It’s not about her. What if you catch Jack’s scent? What if he is here?” I ask, trying to clear my head by distracting him.

“I’ll handle him,” he says, clenching his jaw.

“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of,” I bite out. “You lose control in there, and we’re done.”

“Relax,” Raul says, patting my wrist like that’s supposed to soothe me. “If he’s there, I’ll have Monica lure him out. Plenty of dark corners around here.”

“You think she’ll suddenly forgive you and help lure her ex to you?” I ask. “Fuck.”

I lean my head against the seat right as the bass line hits hard enough to rattle the glass. The bass is so deep it vibrates my teeth. The whole house thrums like it’s about to crack open.

“We didn’t even need the address,” I mutter. “Could’ve followed the noise and we’d find it.”

Raul smirks, glaring at the river of taillights stretching down the block from us. Dozens more cars waiting to get in. Must be the party of the goddamn century.

“We have to keep this chill,” Raul says, breathing steadily.

“You think?” I ask, shaking my head. “I’m not the one we have to worry about. It’s not my mate in there.”

But Raul isn’t snarling. He’s watching me with something softer. Almost... pity? No. That’s worse.

“Right, well you’re here. Captain Calm,” he says.

I roll my eyes as I shake my head.

“We’re too far back,” I say, hand on the door handle. “Doubt we’ll smell anything except gas fumes.”

“Let’s go,” Raul agrees with a nod.

As soon as I step out of the truck the scent of chlorine stings my nose.

Carefully curated palm trees line the curb, casting shadows over manicured lawns.

The mansion looms like a goddamn temple.

Warm light spills from arched windows, casting golden halos over rich idiots.

A buzzing chatter of dozens of humans, blended with drunken laughter, fills the night air, competing with the thundering music.

This isn’t a home, it’s a goddamn kingdom.

“I’m never going to complain about our loudness again,” Raul mutters, walking at my side.

I scan the darkness taking note of the shrubs, the gaps in the wall, looking for an opening. I spot a break between a thick bit of growth. A metal gate, partially obscured behind shrubs.

“There,” I say pointing and veering off the sidewalk.

“Good catch,” Raul says. He sniffs the air. “Wait. Do you smell that?”

I sniff, wrinkling my nose.

“Dog.”

“Yeah, leave him to me.”

The earth slopes down toward the wall. We push through the bushes and find the gate. It has three bars on either side but before I can test the lock I hear the approach of heavy paws. A black-and-brown blur lunges at the iron gate, jaws snapping inches from Raul’s face. A Rottweiler.

“Easy, doggie…” Raul says stepping forward.

He keeps his voice low as he puts his hands on the gate. His eyes flare red, the wolf slithering just under his skin like heat lightning. He leans in, aggressively. The dog yips and retreats, tail between its legs.

“Rottweilers,” Raul whispers.

“Hey! You!” A suited man shouts, striding towards the gate while shining a bright light on us. He was probably drawn by the stupid dog. “You got a death wish?”

Raul grins and shakes the bars.

“What? What if I do? You gonna set the dog on me?”

“Stupid asshole…”

The man comes too close and I don’t hesitate. I lunge forward, grab the back of his neck, and slam him into the bars. He drops like dead weight. Two key fobs hit the ground with a soft chink . I scoop them up, toss them to Raul, and step back. The gate creaks as it opens and we step inside.

The backyard’s a glitter-wrapped circus—music pounding, lights flashing, people half-dressed and fully drunk. A lit-up pool is the centerpiece with dozens of people crowding around it with drinks in hand. The music pounds loudly, competing against the raucous laughter.

I scan the crowd and smell the air until I spot Monica. She’s near another portion of the surrounding wall chatting with two women. At least she looks safe, no sign of her ex. Then I see her . Stacy.

She’s walking next to some six-foot clown in an expensive white suit. He affecting a Miami Vice vibe, with his five o’clock shadow, pink shirt, and expensive ass loafers. His hand snakes around her waist like she belongs to him.

My wolf snarls. No. She’s mine .

The thought roars, as the wolf wakes, fast and angry. I’m moving. There’s no thought behind it. I’m acting before I even know it.

“Ray—!” Raul’s voice cuts through the chaos—then drowns in it as I bolt.

No hesitation. No thought. Just fury.

One guy topples into the pool, flailing his arms. Laughter erupts in my wake. I don’t care. My focus is on Stacy but I see two guards clock me. They are closing in so I speed up, breaking into a run. They’re not going to be fast enough.

Stacy and Miami Vice wannabe haven’t seen me yet despite the commotion in my wake.

The music is loud enough to cover my approach.

I drop my shoulder and drive into him, full speed.

He flies back, gasping—breath gone, balance shattered.

He flies back, yelping in surprise as the air is knocked out of his lungs.

Stacy whirls. Her eyes go wide, lips parting in a shocked gasp. Hands fly to her mouth. Frozen. She looks stunning in a low cut dress with a V neck that dives down.

“Ray?” she screeches. “Ray, what in the hell are you doing?”

I open my mouth, but before I speak arms wrap around my waist and lift me off my feet. One of the damn guards has me.

I twist in his arms as he spins with me. The other guard is closing in, one clenched fist swinging at my face. I drive my boot into his chest, knocking him back gasping. Shifting, I drive an elbow into the stomach of the one holding me.

He barks in pain, loosening his grip. When I strike with my other elbow he lets go. I drop as he doubles over. Spinning I land a one-two punch across his jaw.

“Who the fuck is that?” the white suit groans from the ground.

“Stay down, rich boy,” I growl as I whirl around. I loom over him and point at Stacy. “She’s mine.”

“What?” Stacy gasps. “Wh-who…?”

“We’re out of here,” I snap, grabbing her wrist.

She stumbles as I drag her away.

“You’d better have a damn good explanation—! I know that man!”

“Yeah, I bet. He seemed real friendly.”

“Not like that ,” she hisses. “He’s a client at the bank!”

“Move.”

Her heels click on the concrete as I pull her towards the gate we came through. We’re almost there when Monica’s voice cuts through the mess.

“Are you two completely brain-dead?! You just ruined a perfectly normal party!”

She continues screaming but I ignore her. She’s Raul’s problem, not mine. Glancing over my shoulder Raul looks like he’s about to say something stupid. Like I was supposed to keep him calm or some shit.

“Shut it,” I bark.

And I drag Stacy through the gate.