Chapter 5 #2
But one wolf—a smaller female with matted, black fur—has broken through the defensive line. And she’s heading straight for Sienna’s stopped vehicle.
I launch myself forward, covering the distance in three massive bounds. The rogue doesn’t even see me before I hit her from the side, my momentum carrying us both away from the car.
She’s quick, twisting in my grip and raking claws across my shoulder. Pain flares, but I ignore it, snapping my jaws near her throat in a clear warning.
Submit or die.
Her eyes are wild, feral, but some basic survival instinct must kick in. She goes still beneath me, throat exposed in submission.
I hold her there for three seconds, making sure she understands, then release her and step back.
She scrambles away into the trees, leaving a trail of blood behind her.
I turn and assess the situation. Five rogues down, injured but alive. One fled. One—the gray and brown male I took down first—lying motionless on the ground.
My security team has formed a perimeter, making sure there are no more threats in the woods.
“Area secure,” Monroe reports, his voice hoarse from the shift. He is already back in human form, and one of the guards is tossing him a fresh set of clothes. “No additional hostiles detected.”
I should shift back. Should check on my team, assess injuries, coordinate the cleanup. But my wolf has other priorities.
I turn, and there she is.
Sienna is standing next to her vehicle, one hand on the open door. She’s not checking for threats. She isn’t looking at my security team or the subdued rogues or the blood on the ground.
She’s staring at me. At my wolf.
Her eyes are wide, lips slightly parted, chest rising and falling with quick breaths. There’s fear there—she’d be stupid not to be afraid after what just happened—but there’s something else, too.
Awe.
My wolf moves before I can stop him.
Four massive paws carry us up the road toward her. Every rational part of my brain is shrieking at me to stop, to shift back, to maintain distance.
But my wolf doesn’t listen to rational thoughts.
He just fought for her. Protected her. Defended what’s ours. And now, he needs her to know that she’s safe.
I reach her, and she goes very still, watching me with those wide, unblinking eyes. I can hear her heartbeat racing, can smell the adrenaline and fear and some sort of sweetness underneath.
Recognition. The mate bond vibrating between us, even now.
My wolf lowers his head and nudges her gently with his muzzle.
Safe. You’re safe now. We protected you.
Sienna sucks in a sharp breath. Then, slowly, hesitantly, her hand drops from the car door and reaches out, trembling as it moves toward me. Toward us. I should pull back, should shift, should end this before—
Her fingers brush against my fur.
The contact sends electricity racing through every nerve. The mate bond pulses with life, hot and insistent and undeniable. My wolf rumbles deep in his chest, a sound of contentment and claiming.
Mine.
For one perfect, impossible moment, her hand rests against my fur and the bond sings between us and everything feels right—
No!
I jerk away, stumbling back three steps.
What the hell am I doing?
I force the shift, fur receding and my human form returning. The transformation is violent and painful in my haste. Within seconds, I’m standing on human legs again, naked and breathing hard.
One of my guards rushes over. “Sir, you’re injured—”
“I’m fine,” I interrupt him, taking the extra clothes he offers me. I turn my back to Sienna. I can’t look at her. Can’t bear to see whatever expression is on her face right now. “Get the rogues secured. I want them questioned before we release them back into neutral territory.”
“Yes, sir.”
I yank on the pants, then the shirt, my hands moving on autopilot.
“Get back in your vehicle,” I say to Sienna over my shoulder, and my voice comes out rough, harsh. Too harsh. “Now.”
I see in my peripheral vision how she flinches. My chest twists painfully at her reaction, but I ignore it. I have to ignore it.
“All vehicles,” I bark into the radio that Monroe tosses to me. “Reposition. Center SUV moves directly behind mine for the rest of the drive. No arguments.”
I don’t wait for confirmations this time. I head back to the lead vehicle, my shoulders rigid, every muscle locked tight.
Behind me, I hear her car door close. Hear the engine start.
Monroe gives me a long look as I climb back into my SUV, but he’s smart enough not to say anything.
“Move out,” I order. “And organize a cleanup crew to deal with the rogues. I want them off pack territory within an hour after we arrive.”
The convoy reorganizes, Sienna’s vehicle pulling up directly behind mine. I can feel her there, close enough that my wolf finally starts to settle.
She is protected. She is safe.
Mine, my wolf says.
No. Not mine. Can’t be mine.
I stare out the windshield as we start moving again, my jaw clenched so tightly that it aches.
That was too close. Not the rogue attack—that kind of thing, I can handle. That’s part of being an alpha.
But the moment after…The way my wolf completely overrode my control. Did anyone see that?
I rub my hand over my face tiredly.
Four weeks. I just have to survive a month. Then…well, we’ll face that when we get to it.
The Silvercrest estate finally comes into view ahead, and I’ve never been more relieved to see my home.
Almost there. Almost done with this nightmare of a drive.
My wolf disagrees, rumbling with satisfaction at having her close.
I ignore him and focus on breathing. In and out.
Don’t think about her eyes. Don’t think about how she looked at me. Don’t think about how badly I want to touch her.
Just breathe.
We’re almost home.