Page 1 of Kidnapped By the Wolf

CHAPTER ONE

ADRIAN

I’ve never understoodhumans on planes.

As an alpha wolf with personal-space issues, I try to avoid flying. The tight quarters, the confinement, the smells — it’s all too much for my animal.

After spending the last three hours sandwiched between a large, smelly man in a tank top and a teenager blasting the worst music of all time from his headphones, my wolf is ready to snap his leash.

I haven’t been this keyed up since Afghanistan.

My hands shake slightly as I watch a woman in too-tight yoga pants wrestle her suitcase out of an overhead bin — nearly elbowing an elderly man in the face when it finally shoots out. She struggles for a moment, balancing her Starbucks cup in one hand while grabbing her purse, backpack, and a paper bag from the duty-free store in the other.

Why do humans need so much crap?

If there’s one thing the military taught me, it’s how to pack light — and how to let someone else think they’re in charge. Two changes of clothes, a laptop, a phone, my wallet, a toothbrush,deodorant, and a charger were all I brought for this trip. And I didn’t even end up needing the second outfit.

Just as I’m preparing to join the queue of people jostling toward the exit, a thirtysomething guy in business casual attire steps into the aisle from three rows back, further encroaching on my personal space.

I don’t normally throw around my dominance when humans are involved, because it just isn’t fair. But after being stuck on the tarmac in the Phoenix heat for over an hour and spending another two inhaling Tank Top’s pit juice on the flight to Denver, my wolf has reached his limit.

Grabbing my backpack, I slide out of my seat with preternatural quickness — forcing Business Casual to take a step back. I hear a cry of protest as he treads on some poor woman’s feet, and the guy scoffs in annoyance.

He’s lucky I’ve got more important things on my mind, or I’d turn around and make him sit the fuck down and wait his turn to disembark.

The line starts to move, and it’s all I can do to maintain the slow, shuffling pace toward the front of the plane as I text Sebastian where to pick me up.

The smell of soft pretzels, cheap carpet, and industrial disinfectant reaches me before I even make it out of the jet bridge. The terminal is a predictable clusterfuck of annoyed human travelers toting luggage, coffee, and screaming children.

As my fellow passengers look around in confusion, I bypass the signs for baggage claim and head straight for ground transportation.

Some of the tension leaves my shoulders as I burst through the exit doors, but the rumble of idling vehicles and the stench of exhaust keeps my wolf on edge.

I spot Sebastian’s obnoxious black Mercedes G550 and nearly rip off the handle as I fling the passenger door open.

“Easy, boss,” Sebastian chides in his smooth British accent as I climb in and slam the door.

Only Sebastian could get away with admonishing me right now. I’m not sure if it’s the accent, his attitude, or a complete lack of any desire to claw his way up the pack hierarchy, but I can never bring myself to be too pissed at him.

“Rough flight?”

I don’t bother answering. He knows damn well it’s not just the flight that has my wolf keyed up.

“What did Devlin say?” he presses, swerving around a line of cars and merging onto the highway.

Devlin is the reason I spent the last three hours sweating in a tin can from hell. He’s alpha of the Phoenix pack, and the two of us worked for the same private military contractor overseas.

Years of doing the military’s dirty work have made him one cold son of a bitch. But Devlin has always taken care of his wolves, which is why I sought his advice.

Sebastian gives a knowing hum. “I’m guessing you didn’tlikewhat Devy had to say.”

“A city like Phoenix is a lot different than Gold Creek,” I counter.

“Because any alpha who makes a run at Devlin’s territory ends up scattered across the desert in a million little pieces?”

I raise my eyebrows. He’s not wrong.

“Mmhm,” is all Sebastian says.

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