Page 24 of A Wolf's Heart

“Lila. I’m assigning her back on the case.” Weylin grinned, his chest heaving from all the exertion the fight had caused, looking as if he had just come up with the most brilliant idea.

8

LILA

Monday morning, I was in a mood. My housecoat was losing Weylin’s scent, an atrocity my wolf absolutely did not like. When I went for my morning run, I found myself running on all fours to the tree at maximum speed, disappointed when there was only a hint of a scent from Rainor remaining. My chest ached and heaved, something I found completely ridiculous.

I gave myself a shake before following along the territory line. I had grown accustomed to Kage marking the neutral zone and did my best to cover it up with my own scent. Only, today, a different instinct kicked in. Afraid of losing Kage’s scent, my wolf dipped down and rolled in it. It felt so right, yet so wrong. Despite the thought of running into that alpha male again causing my stomach to churn, I couldn’t deny the need to be covered in his scent.

Max watched me the whole time until I got up, giving him a look ofwe will never speak of this again.He understood and remained quiet as he followed me home.

Still, every time I breathed in Kage’s masculine scent, my wolf begged to stop and revel in it. My brain had to be malfunctioning. The guy was a class-A creep. Wealthy,chauvinistic, and anarcissist with a capital N. Though, maybe he wasn’t wealthy. I bet he was a drug dealer. He definitely gave off drug dealer vibes.See?I told my wolf.Not the kind of guy you want to be around.

I stopped at my housecoat and shifted back into human form, already missing my wolf. How I longed to remain in wolf form.

I was halfway to the back porch when I caught the sweet and citrusy scent. I sniffed my housecoat, but it wasn’t coming from there.

Instead, Weylin stood on the back porch, a large grin on his face as his eyes raked down my body. I was torn between racing for my gun inside and jumping into his arms, rubbing my body down his, and shoving my nose into his neck to breathe in more of him.

Max growled before launching himself at the intruder.

“Cease!” I yelled. “Max, heel.” Max stopped in his tracks, giving a side eye to Weylin before turning on his haunches and trotting back to me, walking close to my side but not touching.

I wasn’t afraid of Max attacking Weylin; I was more concerned Weylin would attack Max, and that thought alone was enough to sober me up. I stopped short of the porch and stared at Weylin.

His grin never faltered. “I brought coffee.” He held up a cup in each hand.

I eyed them, wondering which had the poison in it. “You crossed over into my territory.”

“I was requested to step over, I still have a case to oversee. Also, just because it’s your territory doesn’t mean every shifter has to avoid it. It’s just in good taste to be respectful on your land. I’m not going to attack.”

I glanced around, even looking up to the roof, for signs of the others. “You’re the only one?”

“Yep.”

Weylin didn’t rush me as I deliberated for a moment, weighing my options and what would be the right move, not only for my safety but also for Max’s. I wasn’t in denial; these shifters scared me. My wolf moaned within me, though, pushing, asking, almost begging to be let free. I didn’t understand how my body and mind could be at such odds with one another.

Weylin tilted his chin, his nostrils flaring as he breathed in deeply before releasing a sigh. “If it makes you feel any better, you can get your gun. Though, I ask you don’t shoot without reason this time. Kage prefers a slap up the side of my head when I’m being unruly.” His eyes twinkled with humor. “You are more than welcome to slap me, should I deserve it.”

“I had a reason,” I said as I walked up the stairs, passing by him and into the house.

“Oh?”

“Yeah, Kage threatened my dog.” That was more than enough reason for me to shoot someone.

Weylin didn’t ask if he could come in. He just waltzed into my homestead, as if he had already been given permission.

He set the coffees down on the kitchen counter as he looked around. Max remained with me while I walked to the bedroom, closing the door behind us and getting dressed for the day.

“I know,” I whispered to Max as he stared at me. “I know. We can hear him out, and then he can leave.” Lies! It was all my inner wolf’s doing. She wanted him in here, touching whatever he wanted to, so his scent would get left behind again.

Once I was dressed, I reached for my lockbox and took out my gun, loading it with silver bullets. Although Weylin seemed like he would control himself, he had given me no reason to trust him.

As I stepped out of the room, his eyes were already on me, tracking me, as I walked down the hallway. Through no fault of my own, I swear my hips swayed as I walked.

His eyes shifted to them, his scent drifting in the air around me. I licked my lips and took a steadying breath, shaking my head, confused by what was happening to me. Had I been drugged?

“Coffee?” he asked, sliding it across the counter towards me. His voice was rough.

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