Page 99 of Never Submit

“I promise, as soon as I can, I’ll get men out there to track them. With it unsafe to return to the building, we’re right back where we started,” I explain.

My muscles ache from the fight, even days later. I catch myself jumping at shadows from the corner of my vision.

Right now, with so many dead or kidnapped, Dax is the only person I’ve got left with enough power to actively manhunt Andras. And I’ve needed him here like a crutch. I have no clue what I would’ve done without him.

Owen grips the front of my jacket. “We have to save Flora.”

His grave tone grates at me for a multitude of reasons. Slowly, I pry his fingers free, forcing him to drop his hands back to his sides.

“We will. Give me time.”

Based on the sheer amount of effort it took to get us here, to get everyone settled in their cabins, I haven’t had a moment to form a battle plan for our future.

“Go see your girls, Owen.” I imbue my tone with command, one he’s powerless to ignore. “Your daughters need you.”

He stares at me for a heartbeat longer before nodding. “Fine.”

He’s about to lose it, and I can’t blame him.

Footsteps sound behind me, crunching over gravel determinedly. “Mathis? I wanna talk to you.”

Ren’s scent hits me first like a punch to the gut. She’s got me suckered, ready to fall to my knees, and I have half a heartbeat to compose myself before I turn to face Ren.

She’s magnificent. And right now, she smells like Torin’s expensive and cloying cologne.

“You've been making the rounds?”

“There are a few names on my list of people to talk to. One down, one to go.”

The full moon is approaching. Ren feels it, too. Her hair crackles around her head in a halo of rich darkness. Her eyes have taken on the distinctive amber hue of a wolf nearing her change but she’s fully human.

For now.

There is nothing but power and grace in her movements. Has she realized the change? Her power will be strongest at the full moon, if she’s like the rest of us.

“Whatever you need, can it wait?” I ask, hating myself for even having to say it. I have a thousand other things to do, but Torin is there to help. And Flora can?—

I pull up short, remembering that Flora isn’t with us. My chest goes tight and it’s a struggle to pull my authority around me. A struggle to maintain control.

Ren points a finger at my chest and drives it home with such force my heart skips a beat. “No, it can’t wait. Because I need to know what we’re doing to get Flora back.”

“You’re reading my mind, sweetheart,” I murmur. “And you can join the club. Owen just badgered me about the same thing.”

She won’t take her eyes off of mine. “If that’s the case, then you should be able to read my mind and know that I’m serious. I want to help.” She confronts me with her shoulders thrown back and her chest puffed out, her back arched.

Which only serves to bring those gorgeous tits closer to my face.

My own wolf lifts his head and stands at attention. Her nearness, her scent, everything about her calls to me.

But she doesn't belong to me. My fingers curl into fists, and I shove them into my pockets to keep from touching her. Hands to myself.

I’m not the kind of man to touch someone else’s mate.

“There’s not much I can do, to be honest, not until we rally our forces together into a cohesive unit. We have no chance of standing up against Andras yet.”

It’s a risk to talk to her so openly about these things, especially where we currently stand. I jerk my head down the recently cleared path.

“I’ve been stuck in my cabin for three days. Three. Noble is guarding over me like I’m some kind of precious jewel and the only thing I’m allowed to do is help the othersadjust. I can’t leave the camp. We’re in the middle of nowhere.”

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