Page 75 of Lamb

I must have been early for the reception, however, as Wolf had lingered for a long time outside as he got the full story from Mint.

Mint had been the first to return, strolling up the stairs, his hand having rubbed the back of his neck red-raw. “Prez said he’d speak to you downstairs.”

I frowned. Streaks of light were slipping through the curtains where they now refused to hang straight on the bar above. They’d been pulled loose from the wall when Ash had been thrown against it, and in revenge, it allowed rays of light to cut through the dark haven they had made for her.

“Watch her,” I said with instruction and warning before giving Mint a firm pat on the shoulder and walking down the hall.

The knot in my chest wrapped itself tighter and grew heavier with every step away from her. I ignored it, descending into the hallway, where I spotted another familiar face. One I hadn’t expected but wasn’t surprised to see.

Hunter looked sheepish. His arms were folded over his chest as he gave me a weary stare. Among all the brothers, Hunter and Wolf had known me longer than any else. Both had been around in various states when I had prospected for the club. Hunter had been a lot younger than he was now, a greenhorn by the dictionary definition, attached at the hip to his brother. Life had dealt him a harsh fate, and it was showing. Though his brother would always have had it worse.

“Are those some gray hairs?” I leered, watching as Hunter’s lips hardened into a straight line. I reached for him, but he quickly dodged out of the way, an impressive feat for a man his size.

“Fuck off,” Hunter bit. “This ain’t the time.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I wiggled my fingers at him, threatening to strike again. Hunter didn’t move but gave them a cautious glare.

“Then you better think again,” Wolf growled, my feet tremoring against the rumble.

I abandoned my target, turning and brandishing my widest, sharpest smile toward the man who was leagues bigger and leagues meaner than Hunter.

The wide-set Russian was mirroring Hunter’s pose—his arms locked over his chest, dark, branch-like arms covered in a thick coat of silvery hair. His muscles were like hard stone beneath his skin and clothes, jaw set, and salted brows shadowing his light coppery eyes.

“You want to explain to me why the fuck I’m here?”

“Beats me.” I shrugged. “But if you want to make some guesses, I’m willing to offer up a bet?”

Wolf’s jaw ticked, and I took an involuntary step away from the man. Pressure pushed on my shoulders, and the weight of the room descended around me.

Hunter glanced between the two of us, and even if Wolf had barely moved an inch, his silence suffocated the atmosphere. I might have poked a bear just to see what happened, but I’d think twice before poking a monster like Wolf; his bite would be much worse.

“Explain to me.” Wolf stepped, his voice low and steady as he crowded closer. I could smell him and feel the smothering heat radiating from his skin. “Explain why I have to hear from Mint that myvice presidenthas not only kidnapped and held hostage the one person who should be nowhere near Fellpeak but also decided that it’s now okay to try and strangle her to death.”

I glanced at the other brother, at our audience. Wolf knew what I was doing, but he didn’t know why. But our brothers couldn’t find out either, and seeing him now, his rage and anger and “shock,” I realized I’d underestimated Wolf’s ability to act.

I held my position, turning up to meet Wolf’s eyes. “It’s under control.”

“Under control?” Wolf barked, the sharp laugh humorless. It almost sounded real. It lasted less than a second before it abruptly stopped.

I hadn’t expected what came next.

Pain burst across my throat, my back slamming hard into the shelves of my bookcase. I choked as books littered like rain down over my head and shoulders, the wood threatening to collapse under the force. Wolf’s grip on my throat clamped down, cutting off my oxygen.

My hands leaped to his wrist, trying to resist his hold. It was futile. Wolf’s strength outweighed my own by legions. His paws were powerful, and they seized my breath with a strength that left me unable to steal even a whisper of air.

My eyes leaped to his, a fury snapping to attention in my chest as—

It was but a lighter’s flame compared to the seething, unbridled lava that pooled behind Wolf’s eyes. The dark brown was molten gold, set in a face contorted with a rage I had rarely seen from him. A rage that had never been directed at one of his own. A rage that was no act. This was real.

My blood burned, and my skin seared where he touched.

I resisted the urge to fight for as long as I could, knowing this was a battle of wills, but as my lungs began to throb, my chest started to burn, and my fingers electrified with sharp pins, it became harder and harder to resist.

My body betrayed me first. My hand released Wolf’s wrists and began pounding at the crook of his elbow, desperately trying to break the lock of his arm. But in the battle of pure power, I was greatly outmatched.

Darkness began to feather at the edges of my vision, Wolf’s hair and skin growing darker. Adrenaline burst through my veins, my fingers dug into Wolf’s skin, and my legs kicked out, trying to hit anything I could reach.

Wolf held firm.

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