“I said she stays.” Jase tugged Talley back by the end of her shirt.

I thought Mr. Matthews would be angry at Jase’s defiance, but instead he threw his head back and laughed long enough and hard enough I was able to see that each and every one of his teeth were present and accounted for. “What? You think you’re her Pack Leader now?” He shook his head. “You know you can’t take me, son. Move aside.”

Jase flexed and Talley did the only intelligent thing, which was move out of his way. Mr. Matthew calmly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a white wifebeater underneath. “I don’t like fighting children,” he said, bending down to jerk off his boots. “Seems to me, though, you need to be taught lesson.”

Without further warning, Mr. Matthews barreled through the front door and launched into a tornado kick, taking Jase down to one knee. Jase immediately bounced back up, getting in a strike that just missed Mr. Matthews’ liver before Mr. Matthews caught him with an elbow slash.

It didn’t take a martial arts expert to see where this fight was going. Jase was good, but Mr. Matthews was better. Much better.

Normally, I’m enthusiastic in my support of a fair fight, but this wasn’t a normal circumstance. This was someone trying to take my Talley away from me, and I wasn’t about to let it happen.

Mr. Matthews took Jase to the floor, which made it easier for me to hook a leg around his middle from behind. I had him in a rear naked choke hold before he even realized I was a threat. He tried grabbing onto my wrist, but I broke his hold with a palm strike and then tightened my squeeze. It took a little while, but eventually he stopped squirming.

“Forgetting there were two black belt fighters in the room wasn’t just rude, it was stupid.” I loosened the hold just enough so he wouldn’t pass out, but not enough he could go anywhere. I leaned in so my lips were right at his ear. “You’re not taking her anywhere.” I released him and jumped back, not taking the risk of underestimating a Dominant. Fortunately, though, he didn’t go all Super Shifter on me and stayed down, massaging his throat as he coughed.

“Consider this a warning,” Jase said, standing above Mr. Matthews as if he was the one who took him down. “The next time you try to take my Seer you won’t be walking away.”

Mr. Matthews glared up at Jase. “She ain’t your Seer, now is she?” His hateful eyes swung around until they found me. “You think she’s yours, don’t you, witch?”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. “You’re here to kidnap my best friend, you kicked my brother in the face, and I just about choked you to death, but you think it’s impolite to actually say the word bitch?” Jase shook his head at me, but I kept going. “I mean, it’s really not even a cuss word when applied to me. Once a month I am an actual female dog.”

Mr. Matthew rose shakily to his full height. “The Bible says we’re not to suffer a witch to live.”

Great. Crazy selective hearing man is also crazy religion man.

“It also says stuff about loving your neighbor and turning the other cheek. Maybe you should focus on those parts.”

Mr. Matthews eyes bugged out of his now crimson colored skin. “I won’t tolerate blasphemy.”

“Listen, I love Jesus and all, but that isn’t going to stop me from putting you on the ground again.”

“You think you’re so smart, don’t ya, girl?” Saliva clung to the corners of his mouth, stretching out like webs as he spoke. “How smart are you going to feel when the Alpha Pack comes to give me back what is mine? You think you’ll be able to joke your way out of their death sentence?”

“What makes you think she belongs to you?”

“The contract I signed with the Hagans gave her to her Mama’s Pack. I don’t see her Mama here, so that means they don’t want her no more, and she comes back to me.”

“What if she has a mate?” I didn’t even know where that came from. I mean, I knew it came from one of my mentally unhinged dreams, but I have no idea what possessed me to say it. Honestly, I was just grabbing at straws at the moment, doing anything and everything to protect Talley.

Mr. Matthews whipped his head towards Talley, but Jase slid in front of her, acting as a human shield. “You?” He said, focusing on my brother. “I’m supposed to believe Mr. All-State has mated her?” His lips curled and my opinion of the man sunk to a new low. “Nice try, but I ain’t buying it. I don’t smell you on her.”

For the first time in recent memory, Jase blushed bright red. “The mating hasn’t been completed, but I’ve laid my claim.”

“And if the Alpha Pack should ask for a declaration…?”

“I’ll declare it before anyone and everyone. Talley Matthews is my mate.”

Mr. Matthews looked past Jase. “Talley, don’t lie to your Daddy.”

“I’ve accepted Jase Donovan as my mate,” she said, voice quaking and face the color of snow.

“You understand I consider this an oath.”

Talley nodded and Jase said, “Good. We’ll send you an invitation to the wedding. Now, leave.”

Mr. Matthews grabbed his discarded shirt and shoes, but made sure to say a few parting words to me before he left. “I’m leaving her with him, not you.”

“As long as you’re leaving and she’s staying, I don’t really care.”

“They’ll tear you to pieces and scatter the parts to the four corners of the earth.”

“That could be difficult since the earth is round and all.” I circled a finger in the air to illustrate my point.

“Joke while you can, witch,” he spat. “You’ll be dealt with soon enough.” And with that ominous declaration, he turned and walked out the door, and almost right into Charlie, whose bloodshot eyes told me my bad day was about to get worse.

Chapter 18

“Who was that?” Charlie asked, watching as an ancient car with mismatched doors retreated slowly down the driveway.

Since I really didn’t want to talk to Charlie, and Talley was too busy staring at the floor, Jase answered. “Pack Leader of the Matthews Pack.”

If Charlie was surprised by that tidbit he didn’t show it. “You okay, Tal?” She nodded her head, but didn’t look up. Tears weren’t actively falling, but I knew it was because she was forcing them to stay in by sheer will and determination.