Page 115 of Dead Girls Don’t Forget

“Okay.”

He started the truck, his eyes drifting to Artemis one more time.

The kitten yawned.

Jackson looked faintly offended.

When we pulled up outside my house, Jackson came around to my side before I could get out.

“I'm walking you to the door,” he said.

The others stayed in the truck.

I unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Jackson followed without hesitation, closing the door behind him.

Artemis sniffed the air from my arms as I carried him down the hall to my bedroom.

“Well,” I said softly, nudging the door open with my shoulder, “welcome home, I guess.”

I set him gently on the bed.

Artemis circled once, plopped down in the middle of my comforter, and stared at Jackson as though he'd just claimed the place.

Jackson crossed his arms and stared back.

The silence stretched.

“Oh my God,” I muttered. “Are you two seriously sizing each other up already?”

Jackson eyed the kitten. “There’s something off about him. My wolf doesn’t like it.”

“He’s a kitten.”

“He’s judging me.”

I couldn’t help the small smile. “He probably is.”

Artemis blinked slowly. Jackson stepped closer to me, voice low. “He’s already acting like he owns you.”

“Maybe he thinks he does,” I replied. “He claimed me in the parking lot.”

He ground his teeth. “I noticed.”

I bit back a smile.

His attention shifted fully to me then, and his expression softened. The hard edge melted away in a single breath.

“Miss me while I’m gone,” he said.

The corner of my mouth lifted. “Okay.”

He exhaled, almost a laugh. “Damn it.”

“What?”

“You’re not going to boost my ego, are you?”

“Does it need it?”