Page 46 of Breathe Again

“Dad had the Larken wolves that attacked Lizzy rounded up and put in jail. I thought we’d pay them a little visit.”

“You sure that’s a good idea? They threatened my mate. You may have to hold me back if they start talking smack.”

He gave me an evil grin. “I’m counting on it.”

It was a short drive to the jailhouse, which sat off the road just at the edge of Collier land. It was a small block building with few distinguishing features.

“This is it?” I questioned.

Thomas shrugged. “We don’t usually have much of a need. Most people don’t even know it’s here. Sheriff’s office is officially in town, but this was built for instances such as this. Mostly a holding cell for trespassing on Collier land. Shifter trespassers, of course.”

“Understood.”

We made our way inside. There was only one guy manning the place.

“Cole, this here is my good friend James. He’s a deputy and volunteered to sit watch over these fools.”

“Nice to meet you,” James said, shaking my hand. “One of them’s been asking for Lizzy since they dragged him in. Said she’s his lawyer. Like if that’s not some kind of conflict of interest, I don’t know what is!”

“Is that pretty Lizzy coming to see us? Luke finally got that stuck-up bitch down here?” One of the inmates laughed at the guy and all I could see was red.

My wolf surged to the surface faster than I could hold him back. I was vaguely aware of my clothes shredding and fluttering down to the floor around me and I heard Thomas yell, “Shit!” over the roaring in my ears as he and James fought to hold me back.

I easily threw them away from me and stalked into the hall of cells. It was a lucky thing for those guys that my wolf couldn’t get through the iron bars that separated them from me. They each cowered in the far corner of their cages. All but one.

“You idiots,” the man said. “Are you determined to get us all killed? Thomas, calm that wolf down.”

“Man, you threatened his mate. He’s going to be a little on edge,” James informed them, and from the sound of his voice he was enjoying the show.

The intensity of my anger was already beginning to subside.

“Shit! Lizzy took a mate? After all these years?” The one that hadn’t looked afraid suddenly had a shake to his hand as his heart rate increased. “I swear, I didn’t know. I swear. And I tried to protect her and get her out of there. These idiots just wouldn’t listen. I tried.”

“You were one of the ones chasing my sister,” Thomas reminded him as I snarled and gnashed my jaw.

“No. No, I wasn’t. I was chasing those two trying to stop them. Ask Lizzy, she’ll tell you it’s true.”

Elizabeth. What would she think if she saw me like this?

Thomas must have felt the fight start to waiver within me. “Come on, there’s some sweats in the locker room for patrol. You can borrow a pair.”

I nodded and turned to follow him into another room lined with lockers on one side and showers on the other. I quickly shifted. “Sorry about that,” I told him humbly.

“Nah, don’t sweat it. At least you weren’t coming after me. I couldn’t really have complained if you had. I sort of owe you one from that time. . . ”

I put up my hand to stop him. “You were newly mated, you don’t owe me anything.”

Thomas nodded, but I knew the time he had turned on me thinking I was after Lily was still an embarrassing one. Maybe someday I’d be embarrassed by my actions today, but right now they still felt fully justified.

Cole? Are you okay? I felt, I don’t know how to describe it. Darkness. Yeah, darkness pouring through our bond a few minutes ago. Is everything alright?Elizabeth asked through our telepathic connection. Just hearing her voice in my head soothed my wolf and my tense body relaxed a little more.

I’m fine, sweetheart. Just lost my temper for a minute. Larken wolves talking shit. I’m okay now. Thanks for checking in on me. Hearing your voice helps,I confessed. I would never understand why this woman turned me into a sap.

Where are you?

The jail.

They captured the wolves?

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