doesn’t matter. I need to head out to help him which means I won’t be close if anything happens to Ryan’s pup. You know her, can you keep an eye on her for a few days until I get someone else here?”
Oh, he really shouldn’t. But what a tempting offer… Too tempting. He studied the request, looking for the trap.
“It’s not a trap or me setting you up. To be perfectly honest, you’re being considered for Enforcer status, if you want it…”
Oh hell to the fuck no. Harassing Lone Wolves? Policing rogues? Sure, it might be fun to hunt them. While, Enforcers might not answer to one Alpha, they sure as hell got caught in the crossfire of politics.
“…whether you do or not. I need someone in the area to keep an eye on her.” Her voice softened because, like him, Margo was a protector. Lexi needed protecting. “Ryan’s pretty pissed. She was mugged last night, but apparently his pup’s gotten some teeth because she fended off the attacker.”
She’d broken his nose. Pride flushed him, but he covered the reaction with another swallow of coffee. “So you want me to keep an eye on her? What? Follow her around like a guard dog?”
“For a few days. It will make Ryan happy and he’ll stay in Willow Bend and not come down here to drag his pup home in defiance of Toman’s orders.”
Mason’s ears pricked and everything in him focused on Margo. What was she saying? How the hell could the Alpha order a father to stay away from his child? It didn’t matter that Lexi wasn’t Ryan’s biological daughter—from the day he’d mated her mother, he’d claimed her as his. “What am I missing?”
She shook her head and pulled a card out of her pocket. “Politics. Just…keep an eye on her. That’s got my new number on it.” She slid the card over to him. “If anything happens, protect the pup, deal with the problem.”
The card was a golden ticket to seeing Lexi again. His wolf wanted to pounce on the opportunity and rush back to her immediately. Caution stayed his hand.
“Not bait. Not looking for you to fuck up. Genuinely need the favor.” Margo’s gentle tone held a note of pleading. The proud wolf across from him wasn’t used to asking for help. Even if he hadn’t already decided because it gave him an excuse to be near Lexi and to protect her, he would have answered Margo’s need.
“All right,” he put a finger on the card and drew it to him. “I’ll probably be leaving Dallas soon.” Knowing Lexi was so close, he’d never be able to stay away.
“Hold off until I have someone to cover this area? We’re scattered a little thin in this state.” What she didn’t say was that they were few wolves here at all, one of the reasons Mason chose the region.
He nodded. “I can wait.”
Wait and spend more time with her. Maybe make up for leaving her alone when he should have spent the morning pampering his lover.
Lover .
No, she couldn’t be, not really.
But for a few days I can pretend…
“Thanks, Mason.” Margo sounded sincere. “I’ll be in touch.”
He didn’t ask if she had his number. Of course she did. He nodded. She rose, drained her coffee, and walked away without another word.
Still sitting at the table, he turned the card over in his hand and memorized the number. He stored nothing in his phone and wiped it regularly. It wouldn’t matter if he lost his phone, nothing on it could be used to trace back to the packs.
Lexi… His wolf growled and Mason was hard-pressed not to join him. Once he was sure Margo was out of scenting range, he rose and drained his coffee. It wouldn’t do to betray his eagerness. She said it wasn’t a trap, but then again, why would she admit planning to make him slip up?
Pad Thai. Lexi loved it, the spicier the better.
He’d bring her food. She couldn’t shut the door on his face if he brought her favorites, right?
Whistling, he strolled toward his car. He needed to pack some gear so he could stay close.
Very close.
Chapter
A D Holland
Grif Stockley
D. W. Collins
Jane Rusbridge
Christine Warren
Lily Evans
Selene Chardou
Samantha Young
Gary D. Svee
Unknown