Page 49 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

I held my head high, trying to portray confidence. "All you have to do is let me go."

"No." He shook his head. "Absolutely not."

Relief filled me. "Thank—" Wait... he’d said no. "What? Why not?" He hated me.

"Call me selfish, but I don't want you to go." He sighed as his eyes faintly glowed and he took a step closer to me. “I can’t.”

My body warmed with anticipation as I got closer to him too. My hand itched to touch him, but I held it close to my side.

"Why not?" None of this made any sense. "You've been gone for weeks.”

"With the wolf attacks and some council decisions being made, I had to stay in Shadow City for a little while. Also, Mom needed my help cleaning out Dad’s old things. And, if I’m being completely honest, I was trying to stay away from you." He blew out a breath. "I feel something for you, and it's wrong on all types of levels."

My heart pounded. "What do you mean?" I shouldn't ask or encourage him to tell me how he felt, but a part of me had to know if what he felt was similar to what I was feeling.

"I can't get you out of my head, and seeing you try to run away—" He clenched his hands. "And the thought of never seeing you again—" He paused. "That would kill Killian."

We both knew he didn't mean Killian, but our hands were tied. He was with Luna, and Killian and I were supposed to be exclusive. "But I don't want anything to happen... to him."

"I'm the alpha of Shadow City, and if my dad would've protected you, then that's what I'm going to do." He cupped my cheek, and my skin felt like it was on fire. His touch warmed the coldest parts of me inside, and I never wanted him to pull away. "I've been putting off acting like the alpha for too long, and with you here, it's time for me to make some changes."

"I don't want you to change for me." I would never ask that of anyone. "If you aren't ready for that responsibility, then me staying here is a lot to ask."

"You didn't ask." His gaze landed on my lips. "I want to do it. Besides, I’m going to make sure that being with me is the safest place for you."

The air between us charged, and my mind yelled at me to step away. To run as I’d planned. But I was at his mercy. "How so? Someone already threatened me at the university."

"What do you mean?" His hand dropped.

I filled him in on the painting, Rosemary, and the wolf in the woods. "That's what I'm trying to tell you. I’m not paranoid. They've found me here, and that's why I need to run."

He unlocked his phone, and I saw he had over twenty-five missed calls. I hated that I looked, but I couldn't help myself. He cleared the log, pulled up a contact, and began texting. "I'm getting some Shadow City guards over here to protect you with more of Killian’s coming. We'll make sure there are four positioned around the house at all times."

My heart quickened. He was taking care of me…and that thrilled me more than it should.

From our spot in the backyard, I watched a taxi pull into Griffin's driveway.

"Oh, hell." He grumbled and lowered his head. "She's fucking insane."

"Who are you talking about?" For him to have that kind of reaction worried me, but surely the group looking for mewouldn't take a taxi and pull into the Shadow City's alpha’s driveway.

A car door opened and shut.

"Griffy!" Luna's fingernails-on-a-chalkboard voice called out. She sniffed loudly.

"Ugh, I guesss Griffy and Dove made up." The “p” popped on the last word, emphasizing her inebriated state.

"I'm so sorry about this." He met my eyes. "But you need to go back inside, and I have to deal with my drunken mess."

I’dbethe was going to deal with her. I bet he'd deal with her many times. Anger ignited inside of me at the thought. But I had no right. They were together, and sex was part of the equation.

I bet he was damn good at it too. "Yeah, okay. Have fun."

"Funisn't the word I'd use." He winced. "She's a train wreck."

And yet, he was dating her. Some guys were attracted to people like that.

Luna stumbled in between the houses and stopped when her glazed eyes focused on me.

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