Fierce Obsessions (The Phoenix Pack, #6)

by Suzanne Wright

Studying one of her on her fifth birthday, Tao said, “You look . . . sweet. I can’t imagine you ever being sweet.” Ethan chuckled. “She was sweet when she wanted something.” “And so damn cute and funny,” said Max. “Remember her second Christmas with us, Ethan?” Max ignored Riley’s groan and turned to Tao. “We asked her to write a list of the things she wanted so we could post it to Santa. She came to us later and it read, ‘A new bear, a bike, a Minnie Mouse dress, and a pair of tits.’” Tao burst out laughing. “Turned out she was trying to spell ‘tights,’ but it was still freaking funny.”

Neither she nor Tao said a word as he drove them back to the cabin. Inside he surprised her by shoving the coffee table and sofa close to the wall, creating a large space. He then turned to face her and invited, “Hit me.” She blinked. “What?” “Hit me,” Tao repeated, sensing just how on edge she was. “You’re gonna snap if you don’t get it all out of you. Don’t worry; I can take a punch from an itty-bitty thing like—motherfucker.” He stroked his jaw, trying to ease the pain pounding through it thanks to the blow she’d just dealt him. “You weren’t supposed to be that enthusiastic about it.” She shrugged, smiling sweetly. “Sorry.”

Makenna sighed. “I know. I’ve learned that some people are just hateful and negative. You’d think that anyone who woke up to a view like this would be a happy person. I mean, look at all those cacti and rocks and mountains. Bet you see some cool wildlife around here.” She abruptly halted and threw out her arm, barring Ryan from taking a single step forward. “Look, there’s a penny on the floor by your foot. Didn’t I tell you you’d be getting money soon?” She bent to pick it up but then snatched back her hand. “It’s tails side up. Don’t touch it.”

Grunting, Ryan shook his head and walked away. Makenna gaped at his back. “There’s no need for language like that, White Fang.”

Tao smiled. It seemed that by defending her and Riley against Greta, he’d won a little of Savannah’s trust. Progress. He squatted. “Come closer,” she whispered. He shuffled a little closer and, equally quiet, asked,

“What?” She smiled. “If you hurt my Riley, I will bite your nose off and let Dexter eat it.” Okay, so he hadn’t exactly won her trust yet. “Good to know.”

Savannah leaned out of the stroller as she spotted a row of stuffed animals hanging around a game stall. “Ooh, can I have one?” Tao brought the stroller to a halt and studied the basketball toss game. Nothing he hadn’t played before, he thought. “Which one do you want?” “The snake,” replied the viper, eyes wide with excitement, as she leaped out of the stroller. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” said Tao. He handed five dollars to the human manning the stall, who then gave Tao three balls and told him the rules of the game. As soon as Kye hopped down from Trey’s shoulders and climbed onto the shelved barrier, Dexter deserted his fries and scrambled his way up Trey’s back—no doubt to annoy Kye for the fun of it.

Trey planted his feet. “We want to offer you the position of Guardian.” Riley double-blinked. “I’m sorry, what?” “You pretty much act as Guardian anyway,” said Trey. “This would just make it official.” A Guardian watched over and supervised the children within the pack throughout the day. The Alphas would offer her such a position only if they trusted not only her ability to protect the kids but that she would do them no harm. Although Tao had told her that Taryn would probably offer her the position, Riley hadn’t been convinced, since she hadn’t expected that level of trust from them. It came as a definite shock now,

since . . . “Dexter almost got kidnapped because of me.” Taryn snorted. “He almost got kidnapped because Ramón is fucked in the head. You noticed he was gone, you tracked him, you saved him. If you hadn’t gotten to him as quickly as you did—” Taryn cut herself off and shook her head. “Let’s not think about that. You’re not at fault for what happened. You’re the hero of the hour and we want you as Guardian.” As a thought occurred to Riley, she asked, “Would it mean that Tao lost his bodyguard position?” “No,” replied Taryn. “Which means you’d be able to spend a fair bit of time together if you’re Guardian.” Tao smiled, liking that idea a hell of a lot. “The position will suit you,” he told Riley, but she bit her lip, hesitating.

“You’re mates now?” asked Savannah. Tao crouched down. “Riley’s still yours,” he told both of them. “We just share her now. It means there’s always someone to take care of her. Right?” Savannah thought about it for a moment and then grinned. “We’re like Team Riley.” Tao nodded. “Exactly.” He ruffled Dexter’s mop of curls. The cub offered him an acorn from his pocket, which Tao decided to interpret as a sign of acceptance, so he gratefully took it.

Slipping out of the bed, he opened the door to find two little people waiting. Seeing that Riley was awake, they dashed inside and literally leaped onto the bed. Tao smiled, heart squeezing as they hugged the breath out of Riley and peppered her cheeks with kisses. Dexter even gave her a slice of apple that, surprisingly, looked fresh. Savannah cast Tao a severe frown. “You said you would come for us when she woke up.” “I was just about to, so I’m not happy that you beat me here. You psychic or something?”

Savannah giggled and then turned to Riley. “Tao says the bad people are gone now.” “They’re gone,” Riley confirmed. “I wanted to help when the bad lady came to our room.” Riley brushed the little girl’s hair away from her face. “You couldn’t have helped, sweetheart. She was much bigger and stronger than you are. But she really is gone now—she’ll never harm you again, I promise.”

Greta hadn’t made many disparaging comments at the ceremony, though—that was probably because her boyfriend, Allen, had been there. She didn’t seem to like exercising her bitchy muscle when the guy was around, which meant the females were all hoping Greta and Allen imprinted on each other at some point; maybe then they’d all get a damn rest from Greta’s bullshit.

Grinning, Dominic kicked a pinecone into a bush. “Searching for treasure. Can I look around your chest, Riley?” Stifling a smile, Riley sighed and patted her growling mate. “Dominic, please find the will to live.” Trick cast them an apologetic look. “We didn’t mean to interrupt. We were just looking for Zac—he’s out here somewhere in his wolf form.”

Tao sighed. “Let’s just go inside, we’re not going to have any peace out here.” He got to his feet, grabbed Dexter by the ankle, and dangled him upside down, making the cub laugh hysterically. Lots of bits of food fell out of Dexter’s pockets, unsurprisingly.