I casually hooked my arm over Lilah’s shoulder as we walked to the car, more to wind Knox up than anything, we always found ways to wind each up as a friend group it was just the way we were, so I though some light teasing here would be funny, he may have been trying to hide it but I’d noticed him looking her up and down more than a few times tonight, not to mention the cheeky exchanges between them, and he was definitely showing off to her when he flung her over his shoulder earlier as much as it made us all laugh., But I knew this couldn’t be his mate or else we’d have known about that by now, they’d have felt that the minute they touched when they sat down with each other like Indie and Dan did, so some teasing by chucking my arm round her shoulder should make him laugh knowing he’d know what I was doing, yet I heard a shallow small growl from Knox’s direction as we walked away, only short like he stopped himself but still I heard it, YOU OK BOSS? I mindlinked him, f**k OFF GABE he instantly linked back DON’T BE OVERSTEPPING THE MARK, SHE’S OBVIOUSLY VULNERABLE AND SHE’S DAN’S NEW MATE’S BEST FRIEND he boomed through the link., What sort of d**k did he think I was? He think I was gonna jump on the poor girl? I was being friendly is all, no different to how I was with any of the other she-wolves we know, that don’t normally bother him. I’m not changing how I act cos it pissed him off I thought., Not moving my arm as we approached the car, I am tempted to make it obvious I was checking her a*s out as she stepped into the car knowing Knox would be watching just to piss him off some more after him implying I was going to jump on her. He’d be fg jumping in the car with us if there was enough room I bet!, Though the low growl had sounded pissed off I thought back to a few moments earlier, yeah I don’t fancy a black eye tomorrow, he was acting all possessive over some chick that isn’t even his mate….. or maybe it was just him being the protective Alpha he is…….weird I thought as I slammed the door shut behind me, adjusting myself in the seat next to Lilah., Rae leant against the door on the other side of the car fast asleep, quietly snoring. Lexi fast asleep in the front passenger seat next to Dom one of our patrol guys who’d come out to pick us up; bet he didn’t appreciate that at this time of day, or night, though I glanced sleepily at my watch nope definitely morning now. We set off toward their pack lands., As much as I was tempted to doze I could see Lilah was awake and fidgeting with her hair ” you ok chica?” I asked. She jumped like she hadn’t expected me to speak to her, “Hmm yeah, all good….” She looked up at me with an awkward smile “did I piss your Alpha off?” She was chewing her bottom l*p almost nervously., “Aww don’t worry about that grumpy arse” I tried to reassure her with a laugh., “He growled…..” s**t she’d heard that?! Her hearing was good… “he’s an Alpha, it’s not good if I… I…” she stuttered clearly upset ” if I’ve made an Alpha of another pack angry”, Great I had to do damage limitation for the d***g moods., “Aww chica, he was growling at me not you” I instinctively put my arm round her to pull her to me for a hug, she quickly looked to me clearly puzzled, I’m hoping by what I said rather than my actions, she hadn’t moved away so I’m guessing it was what I’d said……., “ But you’re his friend….” She said with the confused expression still across her face., NICE ONE d**k FACE I mindlinked Knox, so he knew he’d scared the poor chica with his masculine show of possession or protectiveness or whatever it was., SAY WHAT NOW? He linked back clearly pissed off I’d spoken to him like that I best explain or else I’d likely end up with two black eyes tomorrow., YOU SCARED HER WITH YOUR GROWLING YOU dt I link., He linked back sounding deflated IS SHE OK? I DIDN’T THINK SHE HEARD, I TRIED TO STOP MYSELF…., I realised Lilah was looking at me, still puzzled, maybe seeing the glazed look on my face, as I was straining to link from this far away from Knox, the pack link is not so strong when we were further away from one another, I best answer her., “Uh-huh, his friend, his friend that put his arm around the girl I’m pretty sure he has a little bit of a soft spot for” I smiled, which couldn’t help but get wider as the expression of shock grew on her face, I SAID IS SHE OK GABE? Knox boomed through the link in my mind s**t I forgot about him, I’d had too much to drink to have a multi way conversation, SHE’LL BE FINE KNOX, I SAID IT WAS AT ME, THAT YOU WERE BEING PROTECTIVE IS ALL. AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION I WOULDN’T TOUCH HER LIKE THAT, GIVE ME SOME CREDIT DUDE, YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN THAT, I WAS BEING FRIENDLY. I linked straight back as I knew soon linking would be impossible, SORRY GABE, he sounded pretty genuine I KNOW YOU WOULDN’T, THE GROWL JUST CAME OUT; ME BEING PROTECTIVE LIKE YOU SAID I GUESS. THOUGH I’M GUESSING THE PUTTING THE ARM AROUND HER WAS FOR MY BENEFIT? He chuckled through the link., HMMMM MAYBE A LITTLE, I chuckled straight back via link AS MUCH AS YOU’VE TRIED TO HIDE IT I HAVE SEEN YOU CHECKING HER OUT KNOX, LOOK SHE’S SAFE WITH ME YOU KNOW THAT, I’LL GET HER HOME SAFE, AND RAE AND LEXI, MY LIFE WOULDN’T BE WORTH LIVING IF MY UNCLE FOUND OUT I’D BEEN OUT WITH HER AND SHE DIDN’T GET HOME OK, I BEST GO BEFORE THE LINK CUTS I added., SURE DUDE AND THANK YOU he linked before adding NIGHT BUD., “You ok?” Lilah looked at me, wondering what was wrong., “Sorry just linking the boss man to let him know we were nearly here” I lied., Though I knew we weren’t far from their pack border, so I needed to know where I would be dropping them all off. “Where am I taking you all? I know where Lex lives but the rest you’ll have to direct me” I said to her., “Oh Lexi will be staying with Rae as I don’t think she wanted her mum and dad to know she was out drinking, especially until this time….” Lilah said, looking at me awkwardly, obviously knowing that was my Aunt and Uncle., “Yeah that would make sense, don’t think her Papi would like to know his little angel has been out drinking with her chicas, dancing the night away, drinking with some big bad wolves” he said with a grin “plus that saves me the risk of them knowing I was drinking with her as I’d be in the serious s**t for letting her drink so much, I’m meant to protect her not provide the drink”, Lilah laughed, her laugh brought a genuine smile that lit up her face, I could see how she’d caught Knox’s attention tonight., “You staying with them too? So you don’t wake your parents?” I asked., “No I’m going to crash at Indie’s house like I’d planned to before she met Dan, I don’t need the hassle from my parents either, I don’t know Rae’s family so I’m happy to stay at Indie’s house like we’d planned, she gave me her key” she explained., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.