Page 25 of Little Etheldreda Riding Hood
“You shouldn’t be here until the cleaners come with the air purifiers. You’re going to irritate your lungs more,” he grumbles.
“Last time I checked, you were not my father–”
“But he sure wishes you’d call him daddy,” snickers a skinny teenage boy with the same gorgeous Lamar eyes. Several men and boys who’ve come to pounce on the offer of free food join in the laughter.
I turn my glare on him before Zach can say a word. “Do I know you?”
Something in my expression must look like I’m about to attack because even in partial shift he backs up. “No, ma’am. I-I’m Zane.”
“I will duct tape you to a wall naked if you speak to her like that again,” Zach growls, stepping between us. The group immediately falls silent. Soojin covers her mouth, but can’t hide the amusement in her eyes.
“Soojin!” Randy’s voice booms from across the room, oblivious to the tension in the air. He seems to have the same resting body temperature as Zach. He’s wearing a THIS IS ONLY A DRILL t-shirt with a picture of a drill on it and a long pair of khaki cargo shorts. Soojin’s expression changes immediately, and it’s my turn to cover the snicker I can’t hide. “Did you make this all for us?”
“No, my trainee did.”
“Yeah and I’m not anywhere near as good as Soojin, so I do apologize,” I say, so everyone can hear.
Randy scoffs. “I’m sure it’s fine, Red. These animals will eat anything that doesn’t eat them first.”
Paper plates appear and the men take that as their pass to dig into the trays, even as Zach stands at my side like a bodyguard.
“You’re not going to eat?” I finally ask.
Zach’s eyes meet mine. “No, I need to stay by you.”
“Why?”
“You know why, Red,” he says quietly, his words only for me.
I shake my head. “Nope, no clue. Why would a friend need to starve himself to stand next to me?”
“Because you’re my mate,” he growls. Everyone stops and stares. He turns a dark look on them and the entire group turns away except for Randy.
I shake my head. “I’m not doing this, Zach.” I turn heel and walk toward the stage. He follows after me, his boots heavy on the hard floor. “Why are you even in partial shift tonight, anyway?”
“It’s easier to do manual labor like this. We’ve been demolishing the stage.” His voice is still a growl, but it’s a more even-toned growl.
“Are you always a pain in the ass when you’re in partial shift?”
“I’m not a pain in the ass.”
I turn to face him. “You absolutely are. It’s like Jekyll and Hyde. You’re like two different people. Doesn’t it get old?”
“I’m not–”
I sigh. “You’re right, Zach. I’m completely imagining the growl, the possessiveness, the grumpiness. It’s all in my imagination.”
“My wolf–”
I roll my eyes. “You are not your wolf. Do you have a tape measure?”
He looks confused by the change in topic. “A tape measure? Why do you need–?”
I turn away from him and look back toward the bar. “Randy! Do you have a tape measure?”
“Yeah. Zane, go get Red a tape measure from my office.”
Zane jumps up at his alpha’s request and disappears down the hallway that runs past the bar, overfull plate still in hand. He returns a minute later and hands me the tape measure. “Were you looking to keep the stage the same size and shape as the last one?” I call out to Randy from the back of the room.