Page 67 of Moonlighting with the Werewolf

I ran my hand through my hair, trying to sort through my merry-go-round of thoughts. So much had happened todaythat it seemed like a week of events and emotions packed into twenty- four hours. I needed to think. To figure out what all this meant for my future, the future of the pack, and the werewolf I’d fallen head-over-heels for. “Where’s Conall?”

“I’m afraid he’s unavailable at the moment.” Sasquatch leaned closer and dropped his voice low. “We’ve captured a member from the party responsible for the attacks. Conall’s with him now so we can glean more information. But I’ll have him call you as soon as he’s free.”

“Okay. I could use some processing time anyway.”

Sasquatch glanced through the soundproof glass to the werewolf inside. “I’ve got to stand watch, but?—”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“It’s part of my job. Give me two minutes, and I’ll find someone to escort you home.”

“That’s okay. I think I’m going to head to Gina’s house and chat things over with her, actually. Girl talk, you know?” Since I didn’t want him to think our little chat hadn’t also been appreciated and knew he wouldn’t initiate a hug, I threw my arms around his middle—I’d never be able to reach his neck. “Thank you,” I said. “For talking me down and letting me know what’s going on and just...everything.”

As soon as I let go of him and stepped back, Sasquatch dipped his head and graced me with the tiniest of smiles. “My pleasure, Consort.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

I steppedinto the dim basement, nothing more than a single bulb to illuminate the werewolf chained to the chair beneath it.

I took no pleasure in torture; it merely happened to be highly effective, and something I undertook as the alpha. Forcing the truth out of someone required a certain level of cruelty and brutality the majority of my pack members didn’t possess, regardless of their fortitude and strength in other areas.

The traitor glanced up at my approach, his blackened eye standing out against his sallow skin. Mikal was the one who’d noticed an unfamiliar vehicle parked at a formerly abandoned cabin and called Diego for backup. They snuck up on the guy as he was gathering firewood and, thanks to the element of surprise, the fight had been fast and furious.

“Let’s get right to the point, Mr.”—I flipped open the wallet that’d been removed from his pocket to study the ID—“Tony Russo.” Sure, it might be an alias, but truth be told, I didn’t much care either way.

“As the alpha of this pack, it’s my job to know everything that goes on in my territory. Which brings us to you.” I stopped about a yard short of him and crossed my arms in a way thatshowcased he didn’t want to mess with me. “What are you doing inmyterritory?”

“I’m just visiting the area, doing some sightseeing,” he said, so much smarmy false innocence I cracked my knuckles. His stony facade remained in place as the sound echoed through the room, which meant he was very foolish or foolishly confident.

Wiry guys often turned out to be stronger than they looked, but I had the advantage of bulk and more pound-for-pound strength. No contest, I could take this guy if it came down to it—without the help of the chains that imprisoned him, too, although they made interrogations easier. “From where? Which pack do you belong to?”

“I’m unaffiliated, and I move around a lot.”

“What pack were you born into, then?”

“I’m more of a lone wolf.”

I rubbed my fingers along my jaw, relaying that I could be just as casual-cool as he could be while he lied through his teeth. “I don’t believe you.”

He shrugged his shoulder the best he could while yoked to the chair. “That’s not my problem.”

Oh, he wanted to be a smart-ass? I closed the distance and loomed over him, letting him get a better look of every solid inch of me under the light. “It’s gonna be your fucking problem once I crack open my toolkit and torture the information out of you. Sure you don’t want to pick the easy way?”

He at least had the good sense to glance around, so not a complete fool.

With a low growl, I let the gold roll over my eyes and shifted enough for claws to shoot from my fingertips. Gathering all my concentration, I transformed my face and torso into my half form, testing my own bounds. I didn’t want to deal with kicking off my shoes, but this way I could terrify him with my controland carry on speaking through my mouthful of sharp, elongated teeth.

Our unwelcome guest’s breath hitched, and the smug twist of his mouth faded.

“Now that you and I understand each other better, let’s try again,” I said. “No one enters my territory without my say-so. Why are you here?”

When he didn’t answer, I curled my fingers around the spot where the chains crisscrossed his chest and lifted him off the floor, chair and all. Hot air billowed from my nostrils and hit his face. “One last chance before you relearn the meaning of pain. We found pawprints near traps that’d been set for my people. Were they yours?”

The traitor’s chin quivered, and then he set it, his strong front not doing him any favors— I could hear his rapid heart rate. Scent his fear. A little more motivation and he’d spill his guts, possibly literally if I didn’t like the information.

I lifted my free hand to the lower half of his belly and extended my claws until they punctured the skin.

At his continued silence, I drove my fingers deeper, gripped a fistful of his guts and squeezed until his entire body quaked with the agony.

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