Free A Mate's Sacrifice: (Hot Paranormal Romance) (Ozark Mountain Shifters Book 2) by P. Jameson

him. He smiled back.
    “These four are temporarily granted asylum with us,” Cael announced, his dominance quieting the voices. “Kash, find jobs for them, okay? Everyone else, I expect them to be treated with respect, the same as you’d treat each other. Remember we aren’t barbarians. We are Ravendale.”
    The redhead batted her eyelashes and bit down on the tip of her forefinger, blatantly checking out Vesh’s goods. Her eyes on him set his wolf’s hackles, but Vesh was actually relieved. This was what he needed. Meaningless shit that kept him protected from reality.
    “Lexar will show you to your cabins.”
    “We need a third,” Vesh said, keeping his eyes on the redhead.
    “That wasn’t the deal. One cabin for each couple.”
    “We aren’t a couple,” Vesh added quickly. He broke to look at Braeh. Her brow was furrowed. She looked angry and hurt at the same time. But she’d said the same thing in Kerrigan’s apartment. They weren’t together.
    Vesh glanced at the frowning alpha, whose gaze went back and forth between him and Braeh. “Too bad. You get two cabins. You sort out who goes where.”
    Fine. He shot one last glance at the pouting redhead, and pulled his bag from where he’d stowed it on the back of his bike. He’d find her later.
    Lexar led them through the main part of camp, pointing out which buildings were which. Though the place was smaller than Ozarka, it was much larger than Vesh had ever anticipated. They had a good setup here. A solid community.
    They passed the meeting hall, a barn, and several smaller cabins. A playground and the small accompanying schoolhouse were much cheerier than the one at Ozarka. Larger too. Did Ravendale have more young?
    Snaking down a short path that cut away from the main thoroughfare, they came to a group of four small cabins.
    Lexar gave Trager a set of keys and pointed him toward one, then dropped another set into Braeh’s open palm. “Your cabin is the last on the left,” he said before shooting Vesh a glare. “If you have any trouble, or need anything,” he told her, “You come find me. Anything, you hear?”
    What was that in the wolf’s voice?
    Vesh narrowed his gaze on him. He stood too close to Braeh. Definitely invading her personal space bubble.
    “My cabin is just down that path, on the right.” His tone was smooth, nearly purring. And he leaned forward so he was even closer, grinning to show off a dimple that must really get the ladies swooning. “I’ll be around all night, so come. Anytime.”
    She nodded.
    Damn it all to fucking hell. The wolf wanted her. Of course he did, her arousal had permeated the small space in Trager’s vehicle. And now that Vesh had mentioned they weren’t together…
    The growl left his throat before he had a chance to think about the repercussions. He would tear the fucker’s head off. No one would touch Vesh’s mate except him.
    She. Was. His .
    Lexar’s furious gaze snapped to Vesh. “What’s this? I thought you’d found someone else to warm your lap.”
    “You thought wrong,” Vesh ground through his teeth.
    “Is that right? You don’t want to find Remy tonight?” The wolf finally backed away from Braeh, but stepped up to Vesh instead. “Because I saw you eye-fucking her. I figured your mate was fair game if you were so willing to fuck another woman under her nose. What kind of bond is that?” he said, disgust oozing from his voice.
    Vesh shook with anger, but the wolf wasn’t wrong. Their bond was weak. He was weak. But the truth was he didn’t want to bond with her. Bonding meant caring. Caring meant feeling. He didn’t want to feel.
    It was the one and only reason the redhead—Remy—was appealing to him when no other female should be.
    Braeh sighed. “You two go ahead with your pissing contest. I’m going to get settled in.” With that, she hauled her suitcase into the cabin and slammed the door.
    “Listen to me, I know you’re a bad motherfucker. Tough-as-shit alpha-male.