Page 124 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

“How do you know that?” He was already calling someone.

I looked at Hudson. “He’s gone all alpha.”

“A little.”

“You were supposed to deny that.”

“I’m choosing honesty.”

“Inconvenient time to start.”

Hudson’s mouth softened, but his eyes remained serious. “Let us protect you.”

“Protection becomes ownership very quickly in my family.”

“Then we keep saying the difference out loud until your bones learn it.”

My throat tightened.

Lincoln turned away, speaking low into the phone. “Range Rover. Armored. Two escort vehicles. Same route protocol as discussed. Sienna rides with Mary. No uniformed show unless there’s a problem.”

I stared at him.

“Armored?”

Lincoln covered the phone. “Bulletproof.”

“I know what armored means. I was hoping there was a softer definition.”

“There isn’t.”

Sienna appeared in the doorway ten minutes later. “Ready when you are,” she said.

“I’m being transported like a controversial politician.”

“Less waving and no kissing babies for votes,” Sienna said.

Lincoln made a sound that might have been a laugh if he hadn’t been busy looking as if he wanted to wrap me in steel himself.

I took my coat from Hudson.

He held it open for me, then let his hands rest on my shoulders once it was on. His scent wrapped around me, rain and that sharper controlled warmth that made my breathing steady despite myself.

“Call when you arrive.”

“I will.”

“If anything feels wrong, you tell Sienna.”

“I will.”

“If you change your mind, turn around and come home.”

Home.

I looked up at him. “I will. Are you finished?”

“Not remotely.”