Page 11 of Brazen

I nodded. Wes had also been in the rodeo with me and Boyd. Their friendship had been what brought Wes here to Wolf Ranch to settle after he retired. “Thanks. I appreciate the offer. I need a place for all of us. Hell, I owe Boyd a beer or twelve for making me buy that land south of here with my competition winnings. But there’s no house. Nothing.”

I paused, looked at Wes and rolled my shoulders back.

“I need to be worthy.”

He frowned, as if what I was saying made no sense. “You wanted to become the man of the house when your father died. You were, what, twelve? Skipped college to make money in the rodeo circuit to care for your mother and sisters. I’d say that’s worthy.”

I nodded. “Well, Clio didn’t give me the time of day. She didn’t take me seriously, even for a date. She probably thinks I’m too young. Proposing the three of us move in with my mother sure as hell isn’t going to help that.”

Wes laughed. “You’re probably right. Well, you really need to talk to Rob about this.”

“Talk to Rob about what?”

Startled, I swung at the voice, at Rob coming around the corner of the building.

“Christ, you’re stealthier in cowboy boots than you are on wolf paws.” I tipped my Stetson back.

Rob grinned. “How’s the foal?”

He entered the stable, and we didn’t have much choice but to follow.

“She’s doing well.” Wes leaned against the interior wall as Rob looked in on the horse. “Charlie was here a little while ago checking on her.” He raised his brows pointedly at me.

Rob swung around to face me. “What’s going on?”

“You know anything about JT, a half-shifter in Remy’s class?” I led with the part Rob would care about.

Rob went still, a frown between his brows. “A five-year-old halfling?”

I nodded. “They’re new to town. A human mom named Clio. She works at Ernie’s, and I’m guessing they moved into that apartment above the garage that he used to rent out.”

Rob blinked slowly. “Come again?”

“What he’s failed to mention is that he believes Clio is his fated mate,” Wes provided.

Something territorial rose up in me. I was usually the easy-going guy. The player. Young and dumb and full of cum, as they said. Right now, I was ready to throw down with Wes just for suggesting my attraction to Clio might not be real.

Or that I was too dumb not to recognize my mate when I found her.

I bared my teeth. “I don’t believe. I know. Clio is mine.”

Wes grinned and held his palms up. “I was just making sure. I mean, you do have a penchant for all kinds of females.”

“She’s mi–”

“Enough.” Rob threw enough alpha command into his voice to freeze me in place for a moment.

“Sorry, Alpha.” I showed him my throat.

Wes glanced at the ground.

“Back to the kid,” he said, his voice calm and back to normal. “Who’s the father? What pack are they from? Is she in some kind of trouble?”

“Yeah… I don’t know. We didn’t talk about it.” I shrugged. “I follow pack rules.” I was referring to the pack law that said we can never reveal our true nature to humans.

“Kiss ass,” Wes muttered.

I flashed him a shit-eating grin.