"It's okay, Tabitha. Quint he's, uh … " Dangerous. Lethal. "A friend."
"I think we can manage." Tabitha eyed Kai, and Jake suspected she was sizing up her competition.
"Please, let me," Kai said.
"I don't mean to be rude, Tabby, but time is short. I'm sure Kai can manage."
"No, no, darlin'. I insist on helping your guest with her things. I know you told me her size but better safe than sorry. These may be a little too big."
"It's fine, really," Kai insisted, reaching for the clothes. Tabitha clutched the bag to her chest, her focus on Jake.
"Fine, but we don't have all day," he said. "Y'all can use the guest room."
"See? That was easy. Come along, now," Tabitha said, brushing past Kai.
Jake caught the pain that flashed in Kai's eyes. It was quickly replaced with an icy indifference. She shook her head and moved toward the stairs. Jake reached to her but she tugged her arm out of his reach.
"Kai," Jake said, unsure of what to say to her.
"I'll get ready," she responded, not looking backwards as she ascended after the she-wolf.
He turned to Quintus, who wore a broad smile.
"What?" Jake shrugged, lifting both palms upward.
"Nothing." The vampire began to laugh as he cleared the table.
"What the fuck is so funny?"
"You may be an Alpha but you sure do have a lot to learn about women."
"What do you know?" Jake reached for his glass of wine, aware Kai was jealous of Tabitha.
"Where shall I begin? You just fucked one girl, and you invited a lover over to dress her? Good stuff." Quintus chuckled. "You got big cojones. I'll give ya that."
"Oh that."
"Oh that, he says."
"Well, I know Tabitha pretty well."
"You seemed to know Holly too."
"She was a momentary lapse in judgement a few decades ago. Believe me, I've sworn off witches."
"But what about pretty little Tabby cat?"
Jake blew out a breath and scrubbed his hand over his chin. "She's a wolf. We have an arrangement. Friends with benefits kind of thing."
"Yeah, okay." Quintus raised his eyebrows, his tone laced with doubt.
"She's not my mate. And she owns a few stores. Who the hell else am I supposed to call? I'm a guy. I don't do clothes stuff. I pay someone to dress me."
"Good luck later."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means, your pixiu is not happy. You know that saying, 'happy wife, happy life'?"
"Hold the train, vamp senior. That woman upstairs. No, that creature. She's not my mate, let alone a wife. That's a human thing anyway. Maybe you vamps get married but us wolves … yeah, no."
"I think you, my friend, are in denial. But perhaps you just need time. Becoming Alpha. Even I'll admit it's a lot for a guy to take."
"I've gotta get dressed," Jake said, ignoring Quintus. What the hell is taking Tabitha so long?
As he stepped into the foyer, the she-wolf bounded down the stairs. He nodded as she approached, and headed to the front door.
"Thank you for coming over on such short notice." Jake curled his fingers around the handle. Quintus was right. This had been a mistake, at least as far as his relationship with Kai was concerned.
"So what's going on?" Tabitha reached for his hand and he stepped backward. "Are you dating this woman? She's not even a wolf."
"I'm helping her."
"Helping her? Really? Is that what they call it? Because I could scent you all over her." Tabitha sniffed. "What is she anyway?"
"It doesn't matter what she is. And you're going to keep this quiet."
"Yeah, well maybe I will or maybe I won't. I can't believe you're fucking a witch, after everything Dimitri went through."
"Lower your voice, woman. I'm telling you right now, and this is as good as Logan speaking, if you breathe a word of this to anyone else in the pack, you're going to face consequences. This is a serious matter."
Tabitha crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, her lips pursed in anger.
"Not a fucking word, Tabby. You hear me? You and I, when this is all over, we'll sort things, but we are not mates, so cut the shit."
"You're such an asshole."
"Yeah, I am. But you will listen or you'll find yourself in a shitload of trouble with Logan."
"But she's not even pretty. You shouldn't be with a witch."
Tabitha went to reach for him, but Jake backed away again, opening the door. "We'll talk when I get back."
"Fine. I won't say anything but when you get done with this slut, you have a real wolf waiting for you."
Jake gestured for her to leave. Tabitha exited, giving a curt wave as she did so. He closed the door and shook his head. Jesus Christ. Fucking women. As he glanced up the staircase, guilt settled in his stomach. Kai would be pissed but they both knew the score when they'd had sex. He could only mate with other wolves, so there was no use in getting emotionally attached. Trouble was that his wolf couldn't get enough of her, and he'd already invested in saving his beautiful creature and her sister.