Page 53 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

"I don’t want anything to happen to you." He had to understand that. "Think about it—if someone was hunting you, and they were willing to kill me in order to succeed, what wouldyoudo? And I couldn't tell you goodbye. If I tried, I knew I wouldn't leave." I felt like a huge asshole. If he was this upset from me contemplating it, what would've happened if I'd managed to go through with it?

"It doesn't matter." Killian stepped toward me, his face set with determination. "You are one of the most important people in my life now, and I refuse to let some assholes take that from me. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I'm sorry. But I wasn't trying to hurt you." I wanted him to know that. "It was just…every time I closed my eyes, I saw you dead, along with everyone else I love."

Killian pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. "I know that feeling too, but you can't get rid of me. Okay?"

A deep growl emanated from Griffin as he stepped closer, pulling Killian’s attention away from me.

“Dude, what the hell?” Killian frowned.

Griffin must have been feeling the same thing that came over me when I watched him carry Luna away. I pulled out of Killian’s arms, trying to calm the situation.

“It’s been a long night.” Griffin rasped, as if trying to smooth out his reaction.

"Let me go get Luna to drink water and eat something, or she's going to feel like hell in the morning."

"And I'm going to dry off." Killian picked at the shirt that was plastered to his chest. "I'll change and come back out here to make her something to eat."

He had the better end of the deal. I watched him walk off, feeling even worse that I'd almost left without saying goodbye.

I’d taken one step toward Olive’s bedroom to get Luna some clothes when Griffin cut me off.

His hazel eyes glowed, emphasizing the flecks of green as he came close enough that his minty breath hit my face. "If you leave, I will find you. I will use every resource I have until you're back here where you belong." He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear, which made a shiver run through me. "If you so much asbreathethe wrong way, one of the guards will alert me. There's no escaping me now, Dove."

My breath hitched, and my body grew warm all over. I never dreamed possessive words would turn me on, but here I stood, wrong.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The sweet scentof arousal wafted from my betraying body. I had to shut down whatever was brewing between us before he thought I was down for a one-night stand. I still hadn't changed my mind about that, and to be honest, if I let myself go there with him, I wasn't sure I'd be able to pick up the pieces afterward.

He had a hold on my mind, body, and soul.

I despised him for it.

A cocky smile appeared on his sculpted face. He knewexactlywhat he was doing to me.

Humiliated, I pivoted to walk around him, but he countered, staying in front of me. He placed a hand on my waist, and thetuggrew even stronger.

"What are you trying to prove?" I asked quietly. "My boyfriend is in the other room."

"Boyfriend?" He stepped closer.

His scent overloaded my mind, turning me into a bundle of nerves. His own sweet scent slammed into me, making it clear I had an effect on him too.

"Hmmm..." he whispered as he placed a finger under my chin, tilting my head upward.

I licked my lips as my brain stopped working. "What?" I couldn't remember what he'd asked.

"Killian is yourboyfriend?" His nose wrinkled as his hands wrapped around my waist.

"We’re exclusive." I nodded my head. He already knew this. Why was he asking the question again?

His face fell, but he was close enough now that his chest brushed against me. "Are you attracted to him like you are to me?"

There was absolutely no way to get out of this gracefully, and he knew that. The asshole was setting me up to admit it either with my words or the stench of a lie. "It doesn't matter." I somehow found the strength to step back, putting distance between us, despite my body and my wolf warring inside me.

"Really?" He chuckled. "Because it kind of does to me." He moved right back into my space and kissed me, catching me by surprise. His lips were soft and warm, so damn inviting. My body hummed, wanting more of him.

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