Page 8 of Wolf Crowned

I hadn’t weighed all my options with weaponizing it yet. We still didn’t know if there would be long-term effects from exposure. Poor Lincoln. He’d already suffered more than most.

I prayed he didn’t find out about side effects the hard way.

Brandon shifted his feet. “I’m not sure we should do that. People could die on both sides.”

“I know.” Something I wasn’t taking lightly.

I pulled him in for a quick hug. “Thanks for overseeing this project. I really appreciate it and I am glad that I can count on you.” I pulled back and put my hands on his shirt, giving him a gentle jerk. “Don’t be afraid to tell me what you really think. I know it’s dangerous, and I’m taking everything we do with the wolfsbane seriously. I don’t want to be responsible for anyone here getting hurt.”

Luna this was getting too heavy. I bumped him on the collarbone. “Speak up, okay?”

I gave him a small smile that made him laugh. My heart warmed, but it didn’t slow the rapid staccato of its beat.

Brandon nodded. “I’ll let you know when we’re done.”

I patted his biceps. “Thank you.”

I waved at the delivery driver as he exited the vehicle. I had to do quite a few things to get such a large delivery. As it turns out, wolfsbane wasn’t just poison to wolves. It could hurt regular people too. Sheriff Adam had been very helpful in making sure that I didn’t end up on an FBI list. We had enough problems to worry about without that.

I trudged through the yard back to the house as I massaged the back of my neck. I ambled up the steps and then toward my room, waving at a few people as I passed by them.

The house was quiet now that lunch was over. Lincoln was off helping build with most of the pack, and Mom and Willa had shooed the kids outside to play.

I’d spent the morning training with Lincoln and then the last hour walking the property line with Brandon, showing him everywhere that I wanted the wolfsbane planted. I was beat, but I only had time for a quick shower and then I was having another meeting with some alphas to discuss our next steps.

There was no rest for me. I wondered how my dad did it. He always made it look so easy.

The air around me buzzed and the familiar tingle of Sawyer’s presence surrounded me. I closed my bedroom door and held my breath as I waited.

He appeared before me a fine sheen of sweat glistened on his brow and he was out of breath.

I put my hand on his chest. “Is everything okay? Are you all right?” I held my breath as I appraised him.

His fingers curled around my wrist, and he lifted it, kissing the back of my hand. “I’m fine. Promise. I just went for a run. Had to make sure I was by myself, so ran a little harder than normal.”

I heaved out a breath and then threw my arms around his neck, pulling him close. “I’ve been so worried about you.”

He rubbed his hands up and down my back and made a shushing noise. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s never been my intention to worry you.”

I nuzzled his neck breathing in his earthy pine scent. “Come here. Come, be with Lincoln and me.”

He kissed the top of my head and sighed. “You know I want to be with you and Lincoln. There’s nothing I want more. But I’m making sure that when you and Lincoln get here, my father will be done and Pack Wolf Blood is no more.”

He pulled back and cupped my face. “As long as he’s allowed to continue with his tyranny, we will never be safe ,and will never be allowed to have the life that we want. If this gets us one step closer to that, then I have to stay. I hope you understand that.”

My eyes burned with unshed tears. When he said it like that, how could I argue with him? He wanted the same thing I did, and he was doing everything he could to make it happen.

I held his gaze, blinking rapidly in an effort not to cry. “I know. Promise me you’ll stay safe, and if anything changes, you will leave right away and come here.”

He tucked his hand under my chin and pulled me in for a soft and slow kiss. His lips melted against mine. “You know I will, sweetheart. I love you so much.”

I captured his lips again, making him grunt. My tongue slipped between his lips and glided against his teeth as he pulled me impossibly close.

He pulled away all too soon, leaving me breathless.

He trailed his finger down my cheek and then swiped his thumb under my eye. “I can’t stay long, sweetheart. It’s Fiona. I feel like she’s watching me, waiting for me to do something so she can run and tell my dad.”

A sharp pain pressed against my chest like a knife making it so I couldn’t breathe. “Sawyer, that sounds dangerous.”

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