wasn’t going to let Simone and me be that vulnerable.”
It made his dick hard that she thought of safety and escape.
“And…”
“And they grilled steaks for us and I refuse to sit on my hands.”
Reid lowered his head, bringing their faces closer. He breathed deeply, sorting through the scents surrounding them, finding hers. It was sweet and light, goodness tinged with an edge of bad. That was the part of her that goaded the three males in the basement and attacked while sending her sister running. It was the part he wanted to roll in.
“And? That’s not it. Why are you up and baking?” Her attention flicked to the small group of males as a tendril of unease unfolded. “Don’t look at them, look at me. No matter what you say, I have you. They let you do this. How bad do I need to hurt them for letting a wounded female wander around the kitchen when she should be in bed?”
His bed.
She licked her lips, the small move heading straight to his dick. He pushed the feelings down, shoving them aside when all he wanted was to throw her on the counter and sink into her wet heat.
Evie’s words were rushed. “The kitchen has the highest number of weapons, the easiest method of retreat, and the best defensible position in the den.”
“That,” Asher drawled, “is hot.”
Reid wondered how angry Terrence would be if he killed the bear.
Chapter Five
Evelyn—not Evie no matter how many times Reid called her that—wasn’t sure what was going on. Like, at all.
Grayslake bears moved in and out of the den, carrying boxes, moving furniture, and sometimes removing pieces out of the house entirely. All under Reid’s close scrutiny.
The place was torn down to its bones, a new long wooden table now situated in the dining room and a few couches in the living room. Asher scented the bedrooms, Reid on his heels, and together they hauled away different pieces. The only spaces relatively untouched were her and Simone’s rooms.
Now, he leaned against the archway to the kitchen, the ever-present Asher at his side. It was the first time she’d found him anything close to alone and she padded toward him, intent on finding out what the males were doing.
“Reid?”
His amber gaze swung to her. “You’re supposed to be in bed. I put you there—again. I expect you to stay there,” he snapped.
That had her glaring. “I’m a grown woman.”
“Who had half her face ripped off.”
Evelyn turned her head, thankful her long hair fell forward to cover her damaged cheek. The pain no longer plagued her and she forgot about the wounds, the way they’d left her skin scarred. “That’s not the point.”
“Dammit, Evie,” he growled and all movement around them ceased, each male freezing in place.
She wasn’t sure why they were so afraid of Reid. She’d seen evil, stared it in the eye and begged for whatever they had to give. Because hurting her meant they weren’t hunting for Simone. “I just wanted to know what was going on. Why everything is being taken away. You’re destroying my home.”
Another growl and it seemed as if the whole room held its breath while Evelyn… didn’t. She knew she angered him, but the urge to tremble and quake didn’t assault her. “I’m cleaning my home.”
She wasn’t going to address ownership. Not while he was snarling.
“And I’m removing anything that’s tainted by fear and hate.”
She frowned and turned her head enough to expose her eyes and meet his stare. “How can you—”
Reid’s arm shot out, hand brushing her hair away. The tension in the room ratcheted higher, consuming her in the males’ unease, but she only had eyes for Reid. His callused fingers, bare of the blood and dirt that’d covered him hours ago, cupped her cheek. His thumb stroked her chin and then he shifted his hold until he was able to encourage her to look at him fully.
“Because I’ve caused it often enough. I’m familiar with every scent, every emotion, of every action, of