Page 37 of A Wolf's Heart

“Really? You’re going to introduce Lila toher?” Weylin asked.

Rainor shrugged while we all got into the elevator. “All elevators go up, but this is the only one that goes up and down.”

The buttons on the wall went all the way up to floor twenty-four. At the bottom was a button marked “M,” which I assumed represented the main floor, but below that were five more buttons.

Weylin swiped his key card, then pressed the B3 button. “Basement three?” I asked.

“Yes,” Rainor answered. “B1 is where we are now. B2 is another parking garage. You have clearance for B3 and B4, but your card won’t work for B5.”

I nodded as the elevator lurched down. Max was quiet, the slight brush of his side on my leg the only indication he was with me. “Would you agree honesty among us is an asset?” I asked.

Rainor raised an eyebrow. “Yes.”

I turned my back to him, standing ready for the door to open. “What’s on the fifth floor?”

“Storage.” He was quick to answer, too quick. I didn’t have time to think about it, though, because he took a step up behind me, close enough that the heat from our mate bond began going wild, my entire back warming up, my wolf begging me to lean into him. I didn’t have to, since he leaned forward into me. His breath tickled my neck, his scent filling my mind.

“My turn,” he whispered, sending chills down my body. He didn’t sound like Rain; he sounded close to what the beast had sounded like at the restaurant. “Are you a virgin?” His lips grazed the skin on my neck, and instinctually, I tilted my head to the side, giving him better access.

“No,” I answered in a hushed tone, my mind swimming too much to allow any normal volume.

He growled, his hands gripping my hips.

Max barked, the doors opened, and Rainor snarled.

“Leave him,” I ordered. I should’ve directed it at Max to turn his focus back on me—I had meant to—but I didn’t.

Rainor dropped his hands, and I stepped forward into the empty sterile hallway.

Weylin groaned. “Any bets on how many times I get hard today? I think I might end up breaking a record.” He grabbed his belt buckle and adjusted his pants.

Lord save me.

As we walkedthrough the hall, we passed groups of men in black cargo pants and black shirts. Many dipped their heads to Weylin,but none of them paid Max or me any attention. All the same, I was glad Rainor had offered for us to bring him. Having Max by my side gave me some reassurance; it was almost like old times in the K9 unit.

I followed Weylin into an open room, trying not to react when over a dozen men stood up all at once. “At ease,” Weylin said, his voice changing from the tone I was used to. He took on the role of a military sergeant, and I had to talk myself down, explaining to my wolf this was not the time or the place for swooning.

“Detective Evans.” He turned to me. “These are the wolves chosen for your task force. They are sharp, perceptive, and they know the layout of our lands and territory. Should you accept them, they will follow your command.”

I had never had such an introduction. Normally, I had to explain my role and my credentials, but Weylin was offering up his men and essentially giving me the choice if they would do or not. I turned to the group. Each one faced forward, eyes ahead on the wall. They looked human to me, nothing about their features screaming shifter. I gave a slight sniff of the air, sensing the energy in the room.

They waited for me.

I nodded to Weylin.

He smiled. “They are all yours.”

For the next three hours, I fell into my role of detective. Everyone sat at desks and listened to me, asking questions at appropriate times, tossing suggestions back and forth, but most importantly, listening.

Aside from Rainor, who was on his tablet and phone off and on at the back of the room. I had a feeling he had other places to be but insisted on being here.

The room had a smart board, hooked up to a touch-screen monitor, where I displayed and went over the evidenceand videos we had collected thus far. I was empowered and prepared, having already gone through this the night before. I didn’t have to act confident; I was confident.

I’d never felt the same level of professionalism from this room at any debriefing I’d had in the past. This was an entirely different tier of work, and I couldn't help but be excited that I was working with these officers.

Except…they weren’t officers. Not in the human sense.

“All right, this grouping is good. We have four groups of four. I want you four in Team Alpha, you four in Team Beta, your four Team Charlie, and your four Team Delta.”

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