Page 33 of Savage Trap

Elvi steps back, but keeps her claws out until the elevator comes to a stop. Billie makes a point of sweeping a hand in front of her and we head down a corridor to another steel door. Thank fuck we don’t have to fight our way out of here, because the security in this place is Link’s wet dream. Which reminds me…

We’re heading out now. You got a lock on Cam?

There’s a long pause, then Link’s voice comes through, almost mechanical. He’s at the rear entrance. Car ready to collect.

Fuck, he sounds pissed. Not something I can get distracted by now, but I know I’ll be in his bad books for a while.

But he’s right about Cam, thank fuck. He’s waiting for us outside the steel door, his bruiser knuckles clenched into fists as he leans on the side of a black limo. He’s got a black eye forming, and he gives Billie a foul look as she follows us out. She just smirks in his direction, but then her face settles into a blank mask as she pulls open the back door of the limo. Dropping into a crouch, she bows her head and says something in a language I don’t know. But there’s a familiar rumble from inside the car, and she touches a hand to her heart and retreats. Without a backward glance in our direction, she slams the steel door shut and I finally let down my guard.

Although, when I duck my head to look inside, I decide that might have been a little hasty.

“Get inside, wolflings,” Arben growls. “We have a lot of catching up to do.”

Elvi

“Arben!” I can’t stop the cry that leaves my lips as I scramble into the car and throw myself at my mate. My wolf has been so close to the surface for so long, it comes out like a whine, tears pricking the back of my eyes as I breathe in his familiar scent. But instead of wrapping me in his arms, he holds me off, staring down at my blood-splattered body. Crap. I look like I fell into a vat of red paint, then swam through a pool of strawberry jelly.

“Sorry,” I mutter, snatching up some wet wipes from Cam’s medical kit. “I nearly got this shit all over your suit.”

“Fuck. My. Suit.”

I’m kneeling on the floor of the limo as I dab at the bloodstains, which means he towers over me, even sitting down. And the look on his face in the dark interior is enough to make me gulp. But instead of sharing whatever murderous thoughts are flitting through his head, he growls at the others to get in, then barks at Cam to sort them out. No one argues, and the car pulls away. It’s silent, except for the pop of the antiseptic bottle, Rory’s hiss as the ointment hits his wounds, and the rustle of the plastic trash bag on Nate’s lap.

I sit back on my heels and tentatively try my bond with Arben, but he slams it shut and gives me a terrifying look.

Right. So, welcome back cuddles are off the agenda.

No so for Rory, it seems, who snuggles into Arben’s side and bitches about everything Cam does. We all know from the time he broke his leg that Rory is a crap patient, but I’m not sure why I’m getting the cold shoulder.

Ignoring the three of them, I sit back on the seat next to Nate and poke at the trash bag on his lap. “What’s in there?”

“Clothes. Phone. Wallet.” He shrugs. “They don’t exactly give you a locker when you sign up for The Feral Den.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “And you really did sign up? You thought that was your only option?”

He bites his lip, pulling his glasses from the trash bag and slipping them on. “You must think I’m pretty pathetic.”

I wait until he meets my eyes, then take his hand. “Like I said, your wolf just needs a little coaxing. I’ve been there, so I can help you.”

He stares down at our hands, and I don’t think he’s looking at the spots of blood I missed with the wet wipes. “That was real? My wolf…?”

“All you,” I promise, squeezing his fingers. “And tomorrow we work on a full shift, if that’s what you want.”

He nods, but Cam has finished with Rory and wants to get started on Nate’s bruises and scratches. I scoot down the seat, which puts me right back in the firing line of Arben’s scowl. When I realize he’s put an arm around Rory, who’s now full-on snuggling, I raise my brows. “How come he’s not in trouble?”

“Oh, he is,” Arben says in a disturbing purr. “You all are. But your punishments will fit the crime.”

That has everyone freezing in place, wide-eyed as we soak in his words. But I scoff, putting on a brave face. “Don’t scare Nate. He’s been through enough for one night.”

Arben tilts his head, studying the beta. I expect Nate to be white-faced with fear, but instead, he looks fascinated as he stares back at my deadliest mate. “Then he can have an extra day to recover,” Arben proclaims, his black gaze swinging back my way. “But that’s the only favor you’re getting, princeshë.”

I bite the edge of my nail to stop the protests bubbling up and stare out the window. We travel in silence for a while, then Rory asks Arben, “Hey, what did that door bitch say to you back there?”

“Princeshë?” Arben prompts me, but I just fold my arms, and Nate’s soft voice fills the void. “She said it was an honor to serve him.”

I ignore the jealous twinge I’ve been fighting since she purred at him in our mother tongue, and turn to Nate in surprise. “You speak Albanian?”

“I like languages. Math best, but I’ve been learning since you guys arrived.”

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