Page 50 of A Wolf's Heart

Lila dropped her hands, her eyes filling with sorrow. The iciness in my chest released through my veins.

“So, don’t you dare tell me I am lacking. I keep them together. I hold them strong, and the three of us carry our pack. I don’t have time to fuck around. I don’t have time for drooling after your scent. I don’t have time to stay awake at night, wondering if you're safe, because I have an entire pack to care for. Being with you is a luxury I cannot afford. Do us all a favor—before you get anyone else exiled or killed, leave us. Allow your wolf to be rejected.”

The silence was deafening however, instead of pain spreading across her features, Lila appeared thoughtful. I recognized the expression from the evening spent watching her pour over case files, from the video Rainor had shown me of her conversing with the task force, and it had been in the eyes of her wolf as she took in the pack that surrounded her before her fight.

Then her expression flickered, like a lightbulb going off.

“That’s it, then. I mean, it’s not really about me. Because if it were, well, I calm Rainor down. I don’t know how or why,but I can talk to the beast. I’m not saying he listens, but he has stopped fighting. And with Weylin, I can set boundaries. I didn’t know him working on the case with me was causing you or the pack distress. Now that we have teams set up, I can take on his workload, so he can resume his duties with you. With regards to Clark, I didn’t know. The repercussions were not explained to me, even though I asked what I should look out for or not do before we got to the facility. That’s on you guys. I worked to the best of my abilities with what little information I had.

“I don’t know your world. I don’t know how your pack runs. But I don’t want to hurt your pack, Kage, and I think you understand that. I think, deep down, you know that I could even be good, if not for the pack, then for this case.

“But It’s not about me, it's not about the pack, or Weylin, or Rainor. It never was. You feel the same heat as the rest of us. You feel the same pull, the same enjoyment in my presence. The euphoria of my scent. This is about you and your need to control. This is about your inability to let go and allow yourself any sliver of happiness. Heaven fucking forbid, Kage Cridhe enjoys anything in life.”

“You know nothing of me.”

“Yeah, but am I wrong?” She shook her head and let out a breath, as if she was giving up. “Kage, my intentions were never to take away from the pack. It has always been this case. Finding the killer, helping the alphas, and protecting you. I feel like we are racing against the clock while remaining at a standstill and looking at the pattern of things your name is coming up. This bond has been messing with my head as well, and I get it—you will never claim me and I can’t claim you guys. I won’t force that. But part of me, a small bit didn’t want to admit, felt like maybe, I was becoming part of the pack. That this could be my chance to be with people like me. Shifters like me.”

Protect…me?

Lila turned around, walking towards her house.

“What do you mean, protect me?” I called out.

She turned around and stared at me, confused. “What?”

I stalked towards her. “Iam the alpha. What did you mean when you said…protecting me?”

She sighed, as if it was so obvious. “I became an officer to protect and serve. Because, as someone with the ability, I felt a duty to care for those in trouble, those who are made targets. I will protect you, alpha or not. Asshole or not.”

She really was an alpha. Inside, my wolf was panting after her with need. Everything about Lila screamedborn leader. It wasn’t just the words she spoke; it was how she handled situations. It was the goodness in her heart. This female, this shifter,mymate. Of course, the fates paired us up with her, because I could guarantee, no other female could ever scratch the surface when it came to how deeply she belonged to me.

Lila took a step away from me, and a silent growl vibrated in my chest. It was my wolf telling me enough was enough.

“So,” Lila said. “This is where we part ways. I will work on the case from a distance, but to prevent any more distress, I will stay away from you three.”

I nodded, standing my ground, in spite of instinct in me, screaming at me to go to her. Lila took another step away.Follow her.But I couldn’t.

I turned around, so I wouldn’t have to look at her as I forced my wolf away against his will.

“Fuck it,” I heard her say behind me.

I turned back around, and suddenly, she was there. Her heavenly lemon scent surrounded me, her stare sure. In one fluid movement, she lifted onto her tiptoes and grabbed the short hair at the back of my neck, fisting it while pulling me to her.

I let my little alpha capture my lips with hers, heat bursting to life inside my heart, inside my soul. It was like the first moment I had touched her all over again. Explosions of color and warmth.

I tried to pull away, knowing I had to stop now before I lost control, but the little devil tightened her grip. She nipped my lip in punishment, the sensation awakening my cock. I obeyed her command, my wolf ready to give her anything she wanted.

Our kiss became more urgent, the iron mix of blood exciting me. Reaching up, I threaded my fingers through her hair, feeling the heat pulsing across her skin. As I tugged on her hair, Lila moaned.

I shoved my other hand down the back of her pants, feeling how perfectly her ass cheek fit my palm. Lila took the movement as an invitation and jumped up, wrapping her legs around my waist. She began kissing, nipping, and licking her way along my jawline. I dipped down, sucking along her neck, tasting and savoring her sweat-peppered skin.

Lila began moving over my hard length, rubbing herself while whimpering. I wanted her. I needed her. All of her.

Kage, what the fuck?!Weylin’s voice was a bucket full of cold water, washing over me.

“Shit.” I pulled away, holding Lila by the neck, so I could hold her back and see her face.

Her pupils were blown wide, her face sweat soaked, releasing more of her intoxicating scent in the air. She resisted my hold, whimpering.What do I do? She’s in heat, I said through the link.

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