Parker blinked deep hazel eyes at the hunter. When that had no effect, he roared, and Marc joined him. That got the man moving. He rolled over and jumped to his feet, tearing off through the bushes, screaming like a lunatic. You’d think he’d be grateful to be alive, but where’s the gratitude?

Marc’s angry growl claimed my attention from the witless hunter. He sounded pretty mad.

I whined and stared at the ground, trying to show remorse. The sound died in my throat when Marc hobbled over to me, stil growling, and bit the back of my neck, forcing my head down in submission. He bit me hard enough to draw blood, which meant he was pretty pissed.

Yeah, I should’ve seen that coming.

With both the hunter and the bloodlust gone, I was horrified by what I’d almost done. Pride cats don’t attack humans. Not even strays attack humans, if they want to live. But I’d almost done just that. I’d been a breath away from committing the unforgivable sin, and Daddy was going to skin me alive. If Marc didn’t do it first.

And the worst part was the knowledge that they had every right to be furious with me. Hel , I was furious with me.

Marc let go of my neck and slapped my rump with his forepaw, urging me forward. I went without complaint, and he stayed close on my right, while Parker flanked me on the left. Jace and Ethan appeared out of nowhere, marching just behind me. I was surrounded, with only one way to go. So I went, my head hanging low in the proper posture of penitence.

They escorted me al the way to the tree line, where Marc signaled that he wanted me to Shift by swatting my rump again and tossing his head toward Parker, who had already begun the process.

Again, Shifting back was slow and painful. By the time I finished, the others were waiting for me, and no one looked sympathetic. Marc grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet. “Not a word about this to anyone,” he said, staring at each of the others one at a time. “I’l handle it.”

“But Dad—” Ethan started.

Marc cut him off with a snarl, sounding more canine than feline for a moment.

“I said I’l take care of it.” His eyes were fierce. “And if that isn’t enough for you, I’l owe you. Each of you. Whatever you want, whenever you want it, so long as no one gets hurt.” He paused, stil staring hard at Ethan. “Okay?”

Slowly, Ethan nodded, looking as if he wanted to throw up. He’d truly never been on my father’s bad side, which was exactly where he’d wind up if Marc’s little bribe ever came to light.

“Parker?” Marc asked. Parker nodded without hesitation, which made me wonder if he already had something in mind. Interesting…

“Jace?”

Jace shook his head, refusing. I stared at him in disappointment, hurt but not surprised. He was probably mad because Marc had interfered in our bet, and as pleased as I was with the outcome, I could hardly blame him.

“I don’t need a favor,” he said. “I’l do it to prove I’m not al talk.” His eyes burned into me, though his statement was directed at Marc.

I rewarded him with a thankful nod and a hesitant smile, but it was gone in an instant when Marc nearly jerked me off my feet, backing toward the tree line with me in tow. “Whatever works,” he said, shrugging at Jace. But I’d never before seen anyone look so pissed off as the result of getting his own way.

Marc dragged me across the yard toward the house with his lips drawn tight in anger. Both of us stil nude, he pulled me through the back door, down the hal , and into my bedroom. Again. I was starting to sense a pattern.

Eleven

The moment we crossed my threshold, I jerked my arm from Marc’s grip and slunk across the room toward the dresser. Angry more with myself than with him, I yanked open the top right-hand drawer and pulled out a pair of panties. Slamming the drawer shut, I whirled around to face him.

Marc had his arms crossed over his bare chest, covering most of the fifteen-year-old claw marks. He stood in front of my open bedroom door, as if to block my escape. It bothered me that I was getting used to people positioning themselves between me and the nearest exit. Was I that predictable? I clamped my jaws shut; it probably wasn’t a very good time to ask questions.

Ethan appeared in the hal and pulled the door closed with his eyes averted, which was his way of giving us privacy. His footsteps receded down the hal , and my hope of anyone stepping in on my behalf went with them. Oh, wel . Being rescued wasn’t my cup of tea anyway. Especial y when I knew I didn’t deserve it.

I held Marc’s angry gaze for as long as I could, but after less than a minute, I chickened out. I love a good argument. I’ve even been known to go looking for one, especial y with Marc. But I hate being in the wrong, and I hate it even more when he’s around to witness my screwups. Or worse, keep me from making them in the first place. And he’d certainly pulled my tail out of the fire this time.

“You’d better have a good explanation for that little lapse in judgment,” he whispered from across the room. With Marc, whispering is always worse than yel ing. It means he’s so mad he can’t trust himself to shout without saying things he’l regret. “Never mind,” he spat, running one hand through his head full of thick, dark curls. “There is no good explanation, so don’t bother. Why would you even think about attacking a human?”

I stepped into the panties, pulling them up in a series of angry, jerky movements. “I thought you didn’t want an explanation.” Without waiting for a reply, I turned my back on him, digging through a drawerful of shorts left over from high school. I hated naked arguments. They reminded me too much of when we were a couple.