Spiral of Need (The Mercury Pack, #1)

by Suzanne Wright

She threw up her arms. “All right, I confess . . . I ransacked my apartment for fun, falsely accused a bunch of well-meaning youths, attacked my Beta female, and then stuck around long enough to be detained and possibly executed.” She shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” Clint’s face flushed again—most likely because when she put it like that, it became clear just how pitiful their argument really was. “Don’t get smart with me.” She snickered. “Are you sure you’d know if I did?”

“Apologize to her? I’d rather exfoliate my skin with barbed wire and then dive into a pool of chlorine.” Something that Rachelle would know perfectly well. “Besides, I’m not in the habit of saying sorry for stuff I haven’t done.”

“Personally, I’m thinking it’s to make you and the entire pack hate me, to leave me isolated and unhappy. But I’m open to the explanation that she grew up on a diet of paint chips and glue.”

“Anyway, there’s no need for me to be envious of her claim on you—I always give my used stuff to the needy and disadvantaged.”

🔥 if there ever was one. Hes not even fit to lick the bottom of her shoe! 😈

“I have to wonder if things could have been different if you hadn’t been deprived of oxygen at birth. Just a thought.”

“You are, you’re jealous!” “Of what exactly? Your manipulative streak? Your distance from reality? The voices in your head that tell you you’re pretty?”

“You’re also neurotic and have cancer of the soul. And I have better things to do with my time than listen to your shit.”

Derren was attracted to confident, bold females who took life as seriously as he did. His wolf, on the other hand, was so easily bored that he tended to like playful, defiant females that would present a challenge.

“Seers don’t have visions about their own future, just as healers can’t heal themselves. Our gifts are supposed to help us serve others, not ourselves.”

Totally straight-faced, Ally replied, “Sorry, I don’t take orders unless I’m naked.”

😆

“You need to seriously rethink defying me.” “And guys need to stop shoving their hands down their pants to play with their balls in public.” Ally shook her head. “Some things will never change.”

Ally smiled gently. “Admitting your problem is the first step to recovery.”

Everyone but Shaya purposely excluded Ally from the conversation. Their collective rejection was causing her head to pound.

Their version of raising her had been to teach her “important life skills.” By the time she was eleven, she knew how to drive, how to skin animals, how to pick a lock, and how to brew beer. She could also reel off the military alphabet and speak Russian, Spanish, Italian, German, and Mandarin. Surprisingly enough, most of it had come in handy at some point.

“So she’s handy in the kitchen, is she?” asked Kathy sharply. Wide-eyed, Bracken spluttered. “Of course she’s not as good as you.” Kathy just huffed. The moment the woman had turned around, he mouthed, “Ally’s cooking is way better.”

An exasperated flush crept up Greta’s neck and face. “She’s a Seer!” “Who makes the best chocolate cake ever,” repeated Roni. “You’re missing what’s important.” Marcus and Dominic chuckled.

Ally smiled, leaning into Derren. “Once you’ve had a Seer, you’ll never go back.” There was an amused snort that might have come from Dominic.

“They’d have brought her back within the hour,” mumbled Jaime. “She’d have made them crazy.”

So, either he has the IQ of a Cheerio or some kind of death wish. We’re not yet sure.”

“Hey, Ally, do you know the difference between a hamburger and a blow job?” At her frown, he asked, “No? Wanna have lunch sometime?”

“Death by blue balls.” Bracken shook his head. “I never thought I’d go out this way.”

“I don’t understand men.” Shaya patted her hand. “I’m not sure we’re supposed to, sweetie.”

Taryn appeared in front of her, looking impressed. “I don’t know how the fuck you switch forms like that, but you gotta teach me.”

Strangely, Shaya had a pair of shears in her hand. Frowning, Ally asked, “What are they for?” An innocent smile took over the Alpha female’s face as she hid them behind her back. “Nothing.” Then she exchanged a knowing look with Taryn and Jaime, both of whom now radiated an amusement that tickled Ally.

😈

“I thought you hid the shears,” said Marcus, a smile playing around the edges of his mouth. A muscle in Nick’s jaw ticked. “I did.”

It wasn’t every day that you saw a grown Alpha male having a stare down with a toddler. But going by the concentration and resolve on Nick’s face, Ally suspected he would be damned if he’d look away first.

“My daughter is not a sadist.” Shaya took her daughter with a playful huff. “She shoved a breadstick up Greta’s nose.” “Because she senses evil.”

“Now, now . . . Just because you’re so old the Three Wise Men helped you with your homework doesn’t mean you need to take it out on me.”

Taryn sniffed at the dragon. “Easy there, Old Mother Hubbard. You’re just mad because the Wrinkle Fairy did a tap dance on your face again.”