Read Online Bailey Bradford - Southwestern Shifters 06 - Reverence by Bailey Bradford - Free Book Online Page B

suggest?” Marcus asked. Val saw Marcus’ expression soften as he looked at his mate. Nathan glared at Val.
“Don’t fuck with Harley’s head or any other part of him,” Nathan ordered crisply. “It’d be best if you could stay in the background. I wish I believed Harley wouldn’t freak out and run you off—or try to—if you showed up and explained you were only there to help. Unfortunately, I know better. Harley would shit bricks if he found out you were keeping an eye on him, even though we warned him that would likely happen.”
Val had never considered himself a particularly deep or compassionate man. He hadn’t been cruel or anything, but he’d been content to focus on serving his Alpha Anax and not give a great deal of thought to anything else. It was much easier to just follow than it was to think for himself.
    How have I become such a brainless sheep? Was I serving with devotion or is it because it was easier to let someone else make all my decisions? Val hadn’t done anything different than the other members of Marcus’ guard, but it was his reasons for doing what he had that he now questioned. There was no dishonour in serving because he loved and respected his leader. But Val was afraid that wasn’t why he’d done it, at least not wholly.
“Val.”
    Hearing his name said in Marcus’ stern voice snapped Val out of his ponderings. “I’m sorry,” he said as he folded his hands in his lap and kept his gaze on his bitten fingernails. “Maybe I’m not the best person for this job. Sometimes my mind drifts—”
    Marcus cut him off with a look. “Nonsense. You are exactly who I want watching over Harley. You need to know you can still be useful to this pack, and until you recover your confidence you will be a risk. I hope knowing that Nathan and I have faith in you to do this will help you.”
    It didn’t make sense to Val. Marcus said he was a risk, and yet he also said Val was the person for this job. Val’s head began to throb as it often did now when he became confused or angry. He wanted to rub at his temples but didn’t dare show any sign of weakness.
    “And we wouldn’t have asked this of you if we believed you would be putting Harley at risk,” Nathan added. “Harley didn’t deserve anything that happened to him. I am sure had he known the consequences of it, he’d never have brought Alex home with him and had sex with him.” He clucked and shook his head. “Amazing what can happen because of a single choice we make.”
    Well, that was too deep of a thought for Val to dwell on, especially when his head was pounding like some evil little elf was inside his skull hammering at his brain. “I will not let you down,” Val promised, to himself, too.
    “I know you won’t.” Marcus stood and Val took it for the dismissal it was. “Get your things ready. We’ll be moving you into an apartment in Harley’s building the day after tomorrow. We’ll talk again before then about anything else you need to know. Nathan has a picture of Harley he’ll show you, too, at that time.”
    “Yes, Alpha Anax.” Val bowed slightly to Marcus then Nathan. He was relieved the meeting was over. Now he could get back to his room and try to convince himself he was indeed strong enough for the task he’d been chosen to do.
Chapter Four
    Harley woke up to the God-awful sounds of thumping and cursing in the hall outside his apartment. He sat up and groaned, his head pounding. His jaw ached. What stupid shit had he got up to last night? Harley touched his jaw. No swelling, just that blow job kind of sore, then. What wasn’t clear was why the fuck someone was bouncing bowling balls in the god damned hallway.
    Struggling to sit up and keep his head from exploding while he did so, Harley cradled his noggin carefully and gulped against the nausea swirling in his stomach. Too much alcohol, too few poppers, he figured. Guilt tried to slap at him but Harley ignored it. He was coping the only way he