Free Primal Possession by Katie Reus Page B

faster than December and was likely buzzing, he knew Jayce wouldn’t take advantage of her. “No. Jayce won’t hurt her. He…cares for her.”
    “Who is that guy? He’s scary.” She shuddered.
    That was an understatement. When Jayce’s eyes had changed color, Liam knew December would have had no doubt he was also a shifter. She’d seen it happen to him after he’d stopped that guy from trying to kidnap her from her store, so he’d explained that he’d been trying to control his wolf. From the confusion he’d witnessed on her face, he guessed she still didn’t understand what he meant, but he had plenty of time to introduce her to his world.
    As December started to go after them, Liam placed a hand on her forearm, stopping her. She kept fidgeting in her seat and playing with her straw as she stared in the direction Kat had gone. “This is stupid. Kat’s my friend and I want to go after her.”
    He scrubbed a hand over his face. It had been obvious Kat and Jayce needed to clear the air about some things and Liam didn’t want to get in the way of that. “He’s the enforcer.”
    She frowned. “What does that mean?”
    Liam shifted uncomfortably, trying to find the right words. “He’s sort of, ah…He quells any problems that packs can’t handle on their own.”
    “Problems?”
    “If one pack encroaches on another pack’s territory or if a pack is into illegal activities and it’s affecting our relationship with humans, Jayce comes in and cleans house.”
    “Why does that sound bad?”
    “Because it is.”
    “And he’s here to ‘clean house’ for your pack?” He could see the pulse point in her neck jump and even above the din of noise he could hear her heart rate increase.
    “No. His visit isn’t about that. After the poisonings on our ranch and after Taggart’s death—”
    “He’s dead?”
    Damn it.
Liam hadn’t meant to let that information slip. His brother, Connor, hadn’t told the sheriff yet that he’d killed Sean Taggart, their old neighboring Alpha, in a sanctioned
nex pugna
. A death fight. Liam figured the sheriff probably already knew Taggart was gone, but even so, Connor hadn’t told anyone except the Council. And it wasn’t Liam’s place to tell anyone, even if December was his mate. Or intended mate, as it were. Pack business stayed pack business unless the humans got curious.
    The Council and the human government were still trying to find a way to integrate their laws. So far, the humans let shifters take care of problems internally. Ifshifters died or were murdered by other shifters, the human government saw fit to let them handle things on their own unless it directly affected humans. And that wasn’t often. Shifters and humans didn’t exactly run in the same circles.
    “Ah, yes, but it’s not common knowledge.”
    “Meaning my brother doesn’t know.” It wasn’t a question.
    This was what hanging around females did to males. Now he understood why his brother got so distracted around his own mate sometimes. “No, he doesn’t.”
    “Well, I’m not going to say anything, if that’s what you’re worried about.” She started to say something else when her eyes widened.
    Liam turned and tracked her gaze. Kat was hurrying toward them with tears streaking down her face and from the way she stumbled, he guessed she’d had more to drink than he’d realized. They hadn’t even been there that long.
    “Shit.” He didn’t know Jayce well enough, but if he and Kat were fighting, that was not a good thing. Jayce’s eyes had started to change earlier and if he was near his breaking point…Well, a pissed-off enforcer in a room full of humans was bad for everyone.
    “Are you okay? Did that bastard hurt you?” December asked as Kat stopped in front of them.
    “I’m fine. I’m going home but wanted to let you know so you wouldn’t worry.” She grabbed her purse from the bar.
    “Why don’t you stay with me tonight?” December asked softly.
    Kat shook her