Page 39 of Possessive Mate

“He gave us until sundown to have all our wolves off his territory,” Jack said, glancing at the sky. Then he added, “Then he'll hunt us down and murder us without mercy.”

Elena's stomach churned. The sky was already tinted orange. “That means he is still alive!”

“For now,” Jack said, laying a hand on Elena's shoulder.

“If we can trust that coward’s word,” Eddie scoffed.

“If there is even the slightest chance that we can,” Jack sighed deeply, not sounding too convinced, “then we have to go back. But first, I have to call the major and get him to sign this off.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me?” Elena blurted. Her disbelief was astounding. “Are you a true alpha, or just another damn soldier?”

Quick as a shot, Eddie darted past Will, who was still between them, and grabbed her by the chin. “You are not even a member of this pack. You will treat our alpha with respect.”

She didn't even recognize her brother as he glared at her with deep-rooted anger in his eyes.

It was only when Jack laid a hand on Eddie's shoulder that he finally released her. But the two siblings continued to glower at each other until Jack said, “Elena has every right to be upset.”

He then turned to her and added, “The last time we pursued an unsanctioned attack on another pack, Christopher's pack, it caused a load of trouble. I can't risk that coming down on my pack again for one man.”

Elena was about to protest, but Jack cut her off as he added, “No matter how good a man he may be.”

Elena's heart sank. Hanson was a good man indeed, a brilliant man, and she had never gotten the chance to tell him.

Chapter 19 - Hanson

Barely able to lift his head when he felt the touch of soft fingers under his chin, Hanson gasped. The scent that invaded his nostrils sent such a thrill through him that his eyes grew wide with shock.

He moved toward Elena, surprised not to feel the restriction of chains around him. Shocked, he looked down to find them gone, the wounds across his chest already healing.

“How?” he asked, his eyes meeting Elena's. Damn those eyes, he could get lost in them all too easily.

Elena pressed her index finger to her lips and said, “Shh, someone might hear.”

She inclined her head over her shoulder to the barn door. Hanson strained his ears. He heard nothing.

“What time is it?” Hanson whispered.

“Way past time we got you out of here,” Elena said, hooking her arm under his to help him up.

As he rose, he realized Elena was just as naked as he was. Had she shifted to get in here?

“You shouldn’t be here,” he whispered as she helped him turn toward the hayloft ladder. Wait, what? A ladder?

That hadn't been there before. He was certain of it. If it had been, he would have used it rather than causing himself the pain of taking the ten-foot drop down into the barn to rescue her.

“Would you quit your talking and get your ass up that ladder already?”

Hanson glanced toward the back of the barn. Why couldn’t they go the same way they had gone last time?

Because they'd boarded it back up, of course. Distantly, Hanson remembered the sound of hammering as he had drifted in and out of consciousness.

“Come on,” Elena urged him again, shoving him toward the ladder. “We don't have time for this.”

“You go first.”

Hanson stepped out of the way, but Elena crossed her arms over her chest, inclined her head to the ladder and barked, “Up. Now.”

Damn, she was even hotter when she was ordering people around.

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