“Yes, already.”
Figuring he must want to talk about something without an audience, she rose from her seat. Having said their good-byes, they walked out into the warm evening. Without breaking stride he gripped her wrist, twirled her to face him, and yanked her against his body—forcing her to walk backward. “What’s wrong?” she asked. He seemed surprised by the question.
“Nothing at all.”
Ally slipped her arms under his and grabbed the back of his shoulders. “Then why did you want to get me out of there so fast?”
“I’ve hardly seen you today. I wanted to be alone with you. And I was close to hitting Bracken for flirting with you.” Of course Derren knew that the enforcer would never poach. Unlike Dominic, he didn’t take the flirting too far. But it was still irritating at times. “I don’t share.”
“Really? But you’re not in the least bit possessive,” she mocked.
“Such a little smart-ass.”
A very un-Ally-like squeal left her as he abruptly slung her over his shoulder. “Hey! Put me down!”
Derren spanked her ass before giving it a firm squeeze. “No.”
“Stop spanking my ass!”
“It’s my ass. You should know that by now.” He’d bitten and marked it enough times.
“I mean it!” It was impossible to sound firm and outraged when she was laughing. She smacked his own ass, but he didn’t seem to care. “Derren, put me down!”
“I don’t want to.” Hearing a familiar chime, he dug his cell out of his pocket. “Shush, baby, while I take this call.” Seeing “Unknown Number” flashing on the screen, Derren frowned. “Hello.”
“Derren, it’s me.”
Derren halted abruptly. Cain. Not a voice Derren wanted to hear. His good humor literally fled his body, and his wolf snarled—as far as the animal was concerned, Cain was a rival. “Hey.” The word came out guttural.
“I heard your pack’s still having trouble.” Danger dripped from every syllable.
Putting Ally on her feet, Derren met her knowing gaze—her shifter hearing had obviously picked up Cain’s voice. “We know who the culprit is. It’s only a matter of time before we have them.”
“Good. How’s my Ally?”
His wolf’s ears flattened as a loud growl rumbled out of him. The animal did not at all like Cain’s use of the word “my.” Derren didn’t like it much either. “Fine.”
“Is she close?”
Close? She couldn’t get much closer. “Yeah.”
“Put her on.”
Without a word, Derren held out the phone.
Taking it, Ally tucked her hair behind her ear. “Hello.”
“How are you, sweetheart?”
A low but fierce growl built in Derren’s chest at the endearment. His wolf curled back his upper lip, his anger almost palpable as his vicious temper threatened to take over.
Ally swallowed hard. “Good.”
“Have the Collingwood wolves bothered you since you left their pack?”
“No. No, they’ve left me alone.” Ally ignored the way Derren’s brows lifted at the lie.
“How are things at the Mercury Pack? Is Derren taking good care of you?”
That was one way to put it. “I don’t need protecting.”
Cain laughed. “How did I know you’d say that? I can’t talk long, sweetheart. But I’ll be out of here very soon. Then we’ll talk more.”
“Okay.”
“Put Derren back on.”
Retrieving the cell, Derren gritted out, “Yeah?” With jealousy riding him, it took all of his control not to tell his friend to fuck off.
“She’s lying to me,” growled Cain. “The Collingwood fuckers have been bothering her.”
“Yes,” Derren confirmed, watching her wince at Cain’s words.
“Don’t let any of them harm her.”
“I won’t.” Derren would kill them before he allowed that to happen. Not for Cain, but to protect Ally.
“I’m trusting you with her, Derren. Don’t let me down.” The line went dead.
Let him down? Derren was pretty sure he’d let Cain down the moment he first thrust his tongue inside her mouth. Didn’t matter to him, though. It should, he knew that. But Derren needed her in a way that probably should have freaked him out. But he’d accepted it.
Ally cleared her throat and offered Derren a weak smile. Well, that was awkward. Of course, it wouldn’t have been awkward if Derren weren’t under the impression that Cain was her mate. Trying to keep her body language casual, she proceeded toward the lodge. His words almost made her trip over her own feet.
“Why hasn’t Cain claimed you?” There was affection in Cain’s tone as he spoke of and to her. It was obvious to Derren that the guy cared a lot for her—or, at least, as much as a sociopath was capable of caring for someone. She was a female that any male would be proud to have as his mate. Why the fuck would Cain decide against claiming her?