Page 38 of What a Wolf Demands

The species’ declining birth rates certainly didn’t help the problem. They couldn’t afford to lose wolves. Hence, murder was an unforgivable offense. If he took her to New York, he’d set off a scandal that might very well start a war.

Polite detachment. That was the strategy he’d settled on, right?

He gestured toward the living area. “The sofa is a pull-out bed. It’s quite comfortable.”

For a split second, confusion reigned in her features. Then she narrowed her eyes.

He went on before she could say anything. “There are linens and pillows in the closet.” He gave her a short nod and started for the bedroom. “Good night, Ms. Agincourt,” he said over his shoulder.

“Wait just a second.”

The command had him swinging around. His wolf stirred, but it was more out of curiosity than rage.

Which was . . . disconcerting.

She rounded the table, her robe dragging on the ground. “You can’t just walk away.”

“I’m tired, Ms. Agincourt. I’ve had a long day. I’m going to bed.”

“You’ve had a long day? Try being chased out of your own workplace and hauled away like some criminal.”

There was little to be gained by pointing out she was a criminal—at least until a Tracker could clear her name. In the human world, she’d be sitting in jail.

She put her hands on her hips.

At least he assumed she did. The robe’s sleeves were so long it was impossible to tell.

“Well?”

He let a little of the wolf leak into his eyes. It always worked with trainee Hunters at the Lodge. A few seconds making eye contact with the wolf was enough to make even the most undisciplined teenager quake in their boots.

Lily lifted her chin, her green eyes meeting his.

And holding.

Against his will, a surge of approval shot through him.

Clearly, polite detachment was not part of her strategy for getting her way.

He opened his mouth—

—and heard the ding of an elevator in the hall outside the room.

She took a step toward him. “Look, if you’re not—”

“Quiet.” He put up a warning hand, his senses trained on the noises coming from the hall.

Actually, it was the lack of noises that bothered him. There were no footsteps, no brushes of fabric to indicate movement.

Only wolves could move that soundlessly.

Which meant they had uninvited guests.

And he had no time to get his gun.

A soft murmur drifted through the door. It was subtle, but the accent was unmistakable.

Lily opened her mouth.

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