“With a tranq.”
He looked away. “You’re the only thing I care about in this world. The only thing thatkeptme in this world, when I was sure ready to leave it.”
She’d known that. She’d seen his eyes. All those long days in the hospital. All the surgeries. All the pain.
It was her turn to reach out to him. “You’ll make it up to me.”
“Following orders,” Jonah muttered and shook his head. “I’m not a damn robot, and it wasyou.I should have trusted you. Not listened to the lies about you falling for a wolf.”
Gage’s head snapped their way.
Ah, shifter hearing. His eyes narrowed on Jonah. Yep, that was a flash of fury in his gaze.
I fucking love you.His words whispered through her mind again.
So it hadn’t been a candlelit confession. No roses and fancy dinner and sweet words. It had just been pure Gage. Heat of the moment. In the middle of the fight. Rough. Hard.
Her wolf.
“Let’s get out of here,” Jonah urged her. “The wolves should just be left alone.”
Her eyes were on Gage. “I don’t want to leave them alone.”
Jonah stiffened. “Uh, what?”
Gage stalked toward her. He was wearing jeans now. Someone in the pack had brought backup clothing for everyone.
Prepared pack.
“I’m not going back,” Kayla said. She’d always feared a wolf ’s claws. Hated the power of the beast. But Gage was different. His beast made her feel safe. He made her feel loved.
“Kayla, it was just a job!” Jonah sounded more than a little desperate. “Just a mission gone bad!”
“No.” Gage was almost on them. Her words weren’t really for Jonah anymore. They were for Gage. It was time for him to understand. “It wasn’t just a mission for me.”
“Aw, hell. ” Jonah stepped back in surprise. “You did fall for the wolf.”
Gage’s gaze swept over Jonah. “You’re healing.”
“Yes, well, a slash to the arm can take some time to mend. Not like we all have magical healing powers.”
“You’re lucky I didn’t kill you.” Gage flashed his fangs. “You ever shoot at her again and I’ll?—”
“I’ll be damned.” Jonah’s jaw dropped. He shook his head, and took a minute to recover before he said, “You love my sister.”
Kayla frowned at him. Did he have to sound so shocked? Gage blinked and looked annoyed. Just the way she felt.
Gage said, “I married her, didn’t I?”
It really was that simple. But she’d been too blind—too scared and desperate—to see the truth from the beginning. It wasn’t about packs.
About mates.
About hunters.
It was just about them. Man and woman.
Need. Lust. Desire.