Page 89 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

Bard’s power—the essence of what made him Alpha—swelled, filling the room with something almost palpable. The air felt thicker and heavier, like ozone before a lightning storm. Most of the time, his power huddled around him like a cloak. This was both necessary and practical. For one thing, it was inconvenient to have wolves unable to stand in his presence.

But hiding his true nature also stopped enemies from knowing his range. Hiding his power meant no one could study it. Find his weaknesses.

Sometimes it paid to be underestimated.

In this case, however, he didn’t have time to convince Haley Michaels he was capable of hunting a latent gone moon-mad. Even now, Sam might have reached the edge of town. If he ventured outside Elder Lake, he might find humans. If that happened, every territory in the country would get involved. The race couldn’t afford the publicity that came with grisly “animal” attacks.

The pressure in the room grew, until the front door creaked. Behind him, there was a sound of shattering glass. A moment later, cool air brushed his skin.

Ah. The window.

Rupert’s shoulders heaved, and he let out a ragged breath. Haley’s head remained bowed, her curls hanging in long spirals down the front of Rupert’s shirt.

“I’m Alpha,” Bard repeated. “And I expect to be obeyed.”

Neither of them moved.

He turned his attention to Rupert. “Ben.”

Rupert’s voice was strained. “Yes, Alpha.”

“She doesn’t leave this house.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Haley’s lips parted but she didn’t lift her head. She wasn’t going to be happy with him.

Just one more thing to add to the list. They had a lot to talk about.

Later. He’d talk to her later. Apologize. He was older and more experienced, and he’d taken advantage of her lack of both those things.

Right now, though, he had a job to do.

With his power swirling around him, he turned his gaze back to Rupert’s dark head. “Your car left tracks in the snow?”

“Yes, sir. I couldn’t get up the driveway, though.”

No matter. The magic that fueled the Alpha was strong enough to overcome Mother Nature. For a time, at least.

Bard looked at Haley, parting words crowding his mind.

She kept her head bent, her hands curled into fists on either side of her knees.

He swallowed all the things he might have said and swept from the room. Rupert would keep her safe until Bard could take care of the latent. And in the morning, Bard would see to it she was on a plane headed for New York.

Where she would be safe from him.

16

It took a few minutes for the air pressure in the room to return to normal. When it did, Haley jumped up, rushed to the front door, and wrenched it open.

Bard was long gone, his footprints rapidly filling with snow.

“Close the door, it’s freezing.”

She turned back to the foyer, where Ben was getting to his feet. His face had a decidedly grayish tinge, and his chest sported a red patch that might have been windburn.

“I know it’s freezing,” she told him. “Which is just one reason Bard shouldn’t be out there alone.”

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