Page 16 of Never Submit

He says it with enough insolence that two wolvesbehind me inhale in surprise. Dax catches the sound and grins, the pointed tips of his canines glinting in the dark.

He’s the only one that I allow to talk to me that way, and even then, I need to bite back. He’s my beta for a reason. He’s determined, fierce, and absolutely merciless. He’s also fucked in the head and probably a step away from attacking me at any second.

I lift a hand to send the others away and resume my walk.

Dax falls into step beside me a moment later. My skin bristles at his indolent swagger, but I say nothing. There’s a tightness to his shoulders, his lips.

He knows something.

“I looked for her,” Dax finally says in the easy hush between us.

“And?”

I keep my gaze straight ahead.

“Not a goddamn thing.” His voice takes on the growly timbre of a half-shift.

When I glance over, he’s more wolf than man, lumbering on two legs.

“I looked everywhere. She’s just fucking gone. Not even a trace of her scent.”

I know him. His single-minded focus is a huge asset. If Dax couldn’t find Ren, then who could?

“I’m not sure what to do, then. You have the best nose among us,” I mutter.

“And the biggest cock,” he adds. “Don’t forget that.”

“Focus.” I chew on the word. “This isn’t the time to make jokes.”

“I never joke about size.” Then Dax falls silent.

I work my jaw until my tendons ache. “It might be time to…bring in outside sources.”

Dax studies me, his head tilted to the side and his eyes squinted. “For what?”

“To get the Moonstone back.”

“No.” Dax is adamant. “I don’t give a fuck how hard it is. I’ll find her on my own. Give me time.”

I shake my head. “We’re out of it. And trust me, I don’t like this any more than you do.”

Dax growls, the sharp sound cutting through the night until every living creature around us falls silent.

I don’t let him see me roll my eyes.

“I hate them as much as you do, but maybe Torin and Noble saw something we didn’t.” I pause, and then say, “We can’t keep losing our women.”

That stops Dax in his tracks. “More?”

“Two,” I reply.

He curves away from me, slinking through trees, disappearing from sight. After several seconds he makes his way back, but there is nothing calm about him. He’s a powder keg ready to blow.

“I can’t sense Andras here. There is nothing. No tracks, no scent…” He trails off and snaps his teeth in the open air.

“Our women were taken even with the extra precautions I’ve put in place.” And still, with everything going on, I keep dreaming of Ren.

I see her whenever I close my eyes. I feel the softness of her skin, the clench of her pussy as I drive myself deep inside of her. I draw in her scent even when I wake and I’m alone in my bed.

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