“You slept with Ally.”

“Yes.” Even if he’d wanted to deny it, he couldn’t. His scent and the smell of sex was all over the damn lodge. His wolf liked it, considered it a territorial marking.

“Do you really think it was the best idea to fuck Cain’s mate?”

“She’s not his.” The denial was sharp and instant. “If he doesn’t want to claim her that makes her free.”

Nick scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s not that simple, Derren.” No, it wasn’t. “Cain will see this as a betrayal, especially since he entrusted her safety to you. He’ll think you took advantage of that trust.”

“Are you telling me not to touch her again?”

“There’s no point,” said Nick. “No one can get you to do anything you don’t want to. But think about what you’ll be risking. Cain’s been a good friend to you, in the only way a sociopath can be. Do you really want to fuck up that friendship? Do you really want to find yourself on the receiving end of his fury?”

“This isn’t about him. It’s about me and Ally.”

“Yeah, you and his mate.”

His wolf growled. “She’s not his mate.”

“In another life, where Cain was normal, she might have been. And that’s close enough to count.”

“She’s been dating other guys for years.”

“Yeah, but you’re not dating her. You’re fucking her. That’s different. And it will make a world of difference to Cain. Just think about whether sleeping with her is worth the storm that will head your way if you don’t put an end to it now.”

At least twenty minutes went by before everybody left. Twenty minutes in which Derren chewed on what Nick had said. Cain would see him being with Ally as a betrayal. Derren prided himself on being loyal, especially to those who’d earned that loyalty. Cain was one of those people.

Ally approached him, eyes narrowed. “You’re thinking pretty hard over here. There are so many emotions tormenting you right now.” Her hands cupped his face, and then a loop between them opened as she pushed healing energy into him.

“Ally,” he admonished.

“Shut the fuck up.” There was no heat in the words. “I can’t kiss you if it’ll hurt, can I?”

Derren snaked his arms around her, pulling her tight against him. And he knew that, yes, being with her was worth whatever trouble it might cause him. He needed her on a level he didn’t understand, couldn’t begin to explain, and chose not to overthink.

His wounds tingled as they healed—a soothing hum in his bones. She then used a wet cloth to gently clean his face. “Thank you, baby.” His mouth devoured hers, licking, biting, and sucking on her bottom lip. Sliding his hands under her thighs, he lifted her; she curled her limbs around him. “Shower.”

She smiled, flashing a dimple he hadn’t before noticed. “Any excuse to get me naked.”

He returned the smile. “Of course.”

After taking her against the shower wall, her legs locked around his waist, he left to go join Nick and the others to discuss how best to tighten the pack’s security measures. As such, it wasn’t until Ally arrived at the main lodge much later to watch a football game in Nick’s game room that she saw Derren again.

She’d literally taken three steps inside the main lodge when he appeared before her, his expression strained. She was about to ask him what was wrong—particularly since his hands landed on her hips and literally began urging her backward—when he forced a smile and said, “Maybe you should go back to the lodge.”

Ally frowned. “Why? What’s wrong?” She inhaled deeply, picking up a collection of scents: Roni, Marcus, Jaime, Dante, Dominic, Tao, and . . . someone else. Someone unfamiliar.

“Is that her?” a loud, witchy voice shouted.

Derren sighed. Dropping a kiss on Ally’s mouth, he said, “Brace yourself.”

To Ally’s confusion, he turned to stand protectively in front of her. Rolling her eyes, she moved to his side . . . and that was when an old female wolf came out of the living area into the hallway, a snarl fixed on her face. The other six wolves followed. Roni and Jaime looked frustrated, but Marcus, Dante, Tao, and Dominic seemed amused.

The old woman huffed. “This must be the infamous Ally,” she mocked. Hostility, sourness, and indignation flowed from her, leaving a tart taste in Ally’s mouth.

Jaime smiled apologetically at Ally. “This is Greta. She’s Trey’s grandmother.” Ah. Jaime had mentioned Greta during their Skype conversations. Apparently she was very antisocial, a little psychotic, extremely prudish, and very possessive of “her boys”—otherwise known as Trey, Dante, Tao, and the Phoenix enforcers. She also had a serious problem with Seers, because Trey had had a bad upbringing, thanks to a particular premonition.

Greta’s upper lip curled briefly. “I’d thank you for healing my Roni, but I know Seers—you have an agenda.”

Ally arched a brow. “An agenda?”

“Seers always do,” she spat.

“Really?”

“Your kind can’t be trusted. It’s a well-known fact.”

“Greta, Ally’s visions and healing skills have been invaluable,” maintained Derren, a growl seeping into his voice.

Greta looked at him. “Oh, I’ll bet they have. She’s helping because she’s trying to win you all over so you’ll let her stay here. Can’t you see she’s manipulating all of you?”