Page 64 of Fate Awakened

Her hands are free, and she wears no restraints or leashes.

They underestimate her.

I take a moment to scan her, looking for any sign that she’s hurt, but come up empty. She moves with purpose, though her fingers pull nervously on the sleeves of her arms. Her oversized hoodie helps shield her from the temperature, but I can see her lip color fading and her teeth beginning to chatter even as her cheeks show a flush of color from both exertion and the cold.

We need to get her warm.

My wolf urges within me, wanting to give her comfort. I silently beg for her eyes to find mine so that I can unravel her feelings. Her face could never lie to me, even as her mouth often tried to deny our connection. Her body and those flame-touched eyes never could.

Look at me, Firefly.

I plead, needing her eyes on mine. She glances up from her feet, taking in the clearing before recognizing Dante to my right. A hopeful smile briefly lifts the corners of her mouth, and I see the relief wash over her face.

She must have been terrified.

Then, almost in slow motion, I watch her eyes glide away from Dante and find my face. My breathing stops, fearing what I’ll see in her expression. I stand here, ready to fight my way through everyone who gets in the way of our reunion, and I don’t even know if she wants that from me.

Her breath catches, and I see the desperation in her gaze. A million thoughts fly across her face, and I try to read each one. The relief that rolls out of me in knowing she needs me as much as I do her fills me with unbelievable hope. My hand tries to reach for her, and I fight to remain standing there.

She squares her shoulders, and I can’t help but smile at her.

That’s my girl.

Presley's voice comes to life in our ears as their group lines up across from us.

“We have a problem. Marlo just showed up in the parking lot, and he’s headed your way with one guard,” she relays, her voice threaded with concern.

Fuck!

The most significant advantage we had in this deal, and a key detail to the success of our plan, was having Deacon Marlo not attend this meeting.

My main concern remains that he’ll get close enough to my Mate to smell her Unawakened status. Just the idea that he might Awaken her has me fighting every instinct in my body that tells me to shift, rip out Big Tony’s throat, and take my Mate out of here.

People will die.

The words from Ghost’s prophecy ring in my mind. I can’t be responsible for the death of anyone in my pack. They’re standing here for me. This whole trade’s for my Mate. I reach within myself, attempting to grab onto all of my control.

Big Tony’s group stands silently, assessing our pack as we do the same. The stalemate is a power play, and Big Tony appears unwilling to speak first. The two pack leaders remain locked in their chess match for over a minute before I can no longer take it.

Cain: We have a timetable. They don’t. End this pissing match, or I will.

I send the mind-link message to Dante, fighting my wolf’s instincts to run the distance between myself and my Mate.

“Antonio,” Dante says, his voice resonating with authority.

“Stone. I see you have what I asked for,” he replies, motioning to Kole, who still sits tied up and bagged on the rock behind us. “Now, as you can see, I don’t have your property in restraints.” He points toward my girl to prove his point, and her eyes drop to the floor as she wrings her hands together, not liking the attention he has placed on her.

“Yes, because an adult Alpha male and a young college woman prove the same threat?” Dante responds, illuminating the disparity of the trade. Tony’s face hardens as he takes offense to Dante’s flippant tone.

“Release him,” he demands, causing Dante to growl a warning.

“Don’t pretend you can order me to do anything. You will release her first,” Dante counters.

“No deal. Do you think I’m stupid? I give you the girl you take off with him.” Tony spits back.

“You’re running out of time, Dante. Marlo should be at the clearing any minute. Finish the trade,” Pres whispers over the radios quietly so the noise doesn’t travel to the Reno Pack’s enhanced hearing.

“The girl doesn’t have the ability to outrun your guards. Once unbound, Kole could shif…,” he stops himself, his eyes flashing to Brielle before he changes his phrasing. “Find a way to escape in ways she cannot,” He finishes, implying that Kole, being an Alpha, could shift and escape. Kole shifting at all would be enough to sign Brielle’s death warrant. Humans can’t know about us.

---