Last Female Sypher and Her Brother's Friends novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Studying.

Evaluating.

The silence stretches.

And then all four men exchange a look.

One of those silent wolf communication things they do that I’m definitely not included in.

“That look is making me uncomfortable,” I inform them.

Barric chuckles. “Sorry. You’re just… interesting.”

“Fantastic,” I deadpan. “That’s exactly what every girl wants to hear from supernatural predators.”

Liam rolls his eyes. “You’re doing great.”

“Is this over now? Because I feel like a lab experiment.”

Ronan’s phone suddenly rings.

The sharp sound cuts through the tension.

He pulls it from his pocket and glances at the screen.

“Theo,” he mutters.

He answers.

“Report.”

The rest of us listen quietly while he talks.

There’s a short pause.

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Chapter 28

Then Ronan nods once.

“Good.”

He hangs up and slips the phone back into his pocket.

“The Assembly members have left the pack land.”

I exhale slowly. “Well, that’s comforting.”

Kade stretches his arms behind his head. “Temporary comfort.”

“Don’t ruin the moment,” I say.

The room relaxes slightly now that the immediate threat is gone.

For now.

My brain, however, is already moving on to other things.

Specifically-

Projects.

I turn toward Barric. “Can I steal some of your tools?”

He blinks. “…my tools?”

“Yeah. I wanna play. Don’t work, I know how to work my way around iron. I won’t hurt myself. Or you.”

His eyes sharpen. “I knew I saw you eyeing the workshed.”

I clasp my hands together. “I’ve been sitting around for two days while my entire understanding of reality

implodes. I’m going to go crazy if I don’t get my hands on something. I need something… normal to do.”

Barric looks amused. “What kind of tools?”

“Woodworking stuff.”

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Chapter 28

Screwdrivers.

Sanders.

Things I can hit with other things.

“I mean,” I add quickly, “if you’re not busy doing…” I wiggle my fingers dramatically. “…wolf things.”

Barric bursts out laughing.

The sound fills the room.

From the corner of my eye, I catch Ronan and Kade both frowning slightly.

Which is interesting.

Barric shakes his head, still chuckling. “You can take whatever you want.”

“Yes!” I pump a small victory fist.

“I might have to head out later for some pack assessments,” he continues.

“But feel free to make yourself at home in the work shed.”

I grin. “I knew you liked me.”

He snorts. “Don’t get cocky.”

Too late.

Because honestly?

Right now I need this.

Something simple.

Something normal.

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Chapter 28

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Something that doesn’t involve mind control, wolves, or secret supernatural councils deciding whether I’m a

threat to their species.

Woodworking sounds perfect.

Behind me, I hear Ronan shift slightly.

And even though I’m not looking at him, I can practically feel his eyes on me.

Watching.

Thinking.

Trying to figure something out.

Barric pushes away from the table.

“Come on,” he says. “I’ll show you where everything is before I head out.”

“Perfect.”

I start toward the door with him.

But before I can get more than two steps, a chair scrapes loudly across the floor behind me.

I glance back.

Kade is standing now.

His posture is stiff.

His jaw tight.

“I’ll go,” he says.

Barric pauses mid–step.

…go where?”

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Chapter 28

“To the shed.”

:

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His blue eyes flick to me briefly before settling on Barric again. “I know where everything is. And this way,

one of us is with Aria until you get back.”

Barric raises an eyebrow. “Okay.”

The tension in the room thickens instantly.

I blink between them.

Did I miss something?

Barric studies Kade for a moment, then smirks slightly.

“Are you volunteering to babysit?”

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