Page 135 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

I had too much damn time to think, and it wasn’t good. My wolf itched to take action, and I along with her.

Footsteps pounded down the stairs in Julius’s leisurely rhythm. Others probably didn’t notice that he purposely walked that way—pretending to be calm for the masses—as any leader would do when they were worried or scared.

"Something wrong, boss?" Hyena, the bear shifter, asked as Julius reached the bottom.

"No." His words were clipped. "But the cavalry is pulling in shortly. They’re showing up early to take her." He nodded at me as he headed over. "It’s time for you to learn your place in the world."

They’re here.I linked with my mate, not able to keep my panic hidden.Randall and I gotta get out now or never.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Once Julius’sfingers bit into my arm, our connection strengthened and snapped between us even more. I tried not to focus on that, which was easier than it might have been, because I was damn tired of being manhandled. The raw rage hit me so hard that my skin began to tingle, alerting me to how close I was to shifting. I had to force myself to stay passive so I could surprise them when I needed to. I might have been stronger than any one of them, but even with the full moon’s charge, taking down six men would be a challenge.

"But I thought the moon—" Hyena’s face scrunched in confusion, making him resemble a bulldog.

"Apparently, they don’t care," Julius bit as he dragged me to the stairs. "They say they’re prepared and can handle her. They want to bring her to some witch to cut the mate bond before that alpha dumbass gets a read on her." Something like hesitation wafted off him.

The bond between us grew stronger, almost in pace with the moon charging through our blood. A warm spot in my chest formed, but not completely—almost as if something hindered it. The silver moon amplified all our magic, including the link we now had with one another. Whether Julius and I wanted toface the truth about our connection or not, the choice was being taken from us.

Fate always forced her hand.

I used to think that it was poetic. That destiny was mapped out for us. That our lives served a specific purpose. Some wolves liked to complain about their decisions being predetermined by a manipulative bitch—their job, their ranking, their mate—but I refused to think of it that way.

In my mind, fate knew the decisions I would make…almost like foresight. They were my decisions—she just helped solidify the plan for me.

A helping hand.

But for the first time ever, I understood the manipulative bitch sentiment. Because I would’ve never chosen my pack being slaughtered, my potentially dead brother still being alive, and a constant threat that wanted to ruin my mate bond and use me for their own corrupt desires.

His hand gripped my arm harder, like he wanted to virtually cut the connection off at my skin. Under normal circumstances, I’d have been pissed, but right now, I welcomed the pain. It helped me focus on something other than our bond and my anger.

In other words, it kept my wolf in check.

"Follow me." Julius snapped his fingers with his free hand. "I want all of you up there in case something goes down. Those idiots who are picking her up aren’t trained, and there’s no telling if they were followed. Another reason they were supposed to wait until tomorrow."

Some of my anxiety ebbed. At least Carter might not be blamed for Killian and Griffin following me. After all, he was only trying to protect his family.

"Angus, take the lead." Julius gestured at Hyena. "Make sure nothing looks funny. The others are probably running their mouths instead of keeping an eye out."

"Yes, sir." He walked in front of me and took the stairs two at a time.

He was an eager one. He must be hoping for a fight. Men like that enjoyed the rush that only fists could achieve and looked forward to inflicting harm on others.

Silver wolves naturally sought out peaceful solutions to conflict. We chose war only when absolutely necessary.

Well, every silver wolf I knew besides Julius. But that glimmer of light inside of him had to be the ways of the silver wolf attempting to influence him.

"Get your ass up those stairs now," he said threateningly. "Or I’ll push you up them."

"Shouldn’t he come too?" I gestured to Randall.

He pushed me toward the stairs. "No. Now move."

Dammit. I had to think of a way to get Randall out of the basement, but nothing was coming to me.

At least, I could tell that my growing connection with Julius was getting to him. I could sense a portion of his feelings. Not like I could with Griffin, but stronger than a pack bond. Hell, I had no clue what was happening. But the more unsure Julius felt, the edgier he became, which meant he was unpredictable.

And dangerous.

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