Page 29 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Maid

DEAN

After our talk about the mate bond, I insisted that Nina take the day off to process everything. She needed time with her sister, who always seemed to ground her. Even through our new bond, I could sense her emotional exhaustion.

"Go see Max," I told her, brushing my thumb across her cheek. "Let him show you his latest superhero drawings. Clear your head."

Nina started to protest, but I silenced her with a kiss. "The penthouse will survive one day without you. Jenkins will make sure I eat."

"Indeed," Jenkins chimed in. "Though I cannot guarantee the organizational systems will remain intact in Ms. Sorenson's absence."

That earned a laugh from Nina. She left shortly after, promising to return tomorrow with a clearer perspective on everything. From the security feed, I watched her get into my car andmy driver take off, all the while trying to ignore the wolf's displeasure at letting our newly marked mate out of our sight.

I threw myself into work, attempting to distract both man and wolf from Nina's absence. Everything was fine until mid-afternoon, when the security alerts flashed across my monitors, each one sending fresh waves of rage through my system.

"Jenkins, status report," I growled, trying to focus through the red haze of fury.

"Multiple breach attempts detected across all major servers, sir. The attack pattern suggests insider knowledge." Jenkins paused, his artificial voice carrying genuine concern. "Sir, you have an incoming call from Lars."

My heart dropped to my stomach. There was no reason for Nina's driver to call me unless something had happened. "Patch him through," I commanded.

"Mr. Nightfang, we have a situation," Lars said, his voice tense. "Ms. Sorenson's car was intercepted en route to her sister's. I tried to intervene, but they took her, sir."

My blood ran cold. Through our newly formed bond, I reached for Nina, seeking that warm, comforting sensation of her presence. Instead, I found fear, sharp and metallic, like blood on my tongue.

"Who took her, Lars?" I snarled, my fangs already threatening to emerge.

"It was your brother, sir. Mr. Mitchell seems to be involved as well, sir," Lars continued. "I overheard them mentioning a plan to use Ms. Sorenson to force your hand in some business matter. I'm sorry, sir."

"You did well, Lars," I managed to snarl, even as the wolf fought for control. "Get back here. We need all hands on deck."

I ended the call and turned to my monitors, pulling up the GPS tracker I'd installed in Nina's phone. "Signal lost near Mountain Creek Road," Jenkins said. A map appeared, but I could barely focus through the red haze of fury. My fangs had fully descended, cutting into my lip as I fought to maintain enough human consciousness to think. They were taking her to an old hunting cabin up in the mountains near Paradise Peaks. It was an old Nightfang family property, a place I knew all too well.

A roar of pure, murderous rage tore from my throat.

My mate. They took my mate.

The wolf was beyond reason now, clawing to get out, to hunt, to slaughter. The mahogany conference table lay split in two, papers scattered like fallen leaves across the marble floor. My computer monitors were broken and cracked on the floor. My designer chair had become a twisted heap of leather and chrome in the corner. The wolf's rage still thundered through my veins, turning every heartbeat into a war drum demanding vengeance.

"Jenkins, prepare the chopper. I'm going after her."

"Sir, your heart rate is dangerously elevated. Dr. Wu's protocols—"

"Damn the protocols!" I roared, my voice barely human. "They have my mate, Jenkins. Nothing will stop me from getting her back."

My phone buzzed, and Sean's message with the photo of Nina tied up was nearly my undoing. The screen shattered in my grip, glass shards embedding in my palm as my vision wentcompletely red. The wolf's bloodlust merged with my own rage until there was no separation between man and beast. Only the all-consuming need to destroy everyone who had dared to harm what was mine remained.

The phone buzzed again with a new message. "Your company or your mate. Choose wisely."

My roar shook the windows. Glass cracked beneath the force of my fury as I fought to maintain human form. They would die screaming. I would paint the mountains with their blood.

I stormed to the elevator, the wolf clawing at my insides, desperate to break free. It wanted out, to hunt, to kill. But I couldn't lose control. I had to think clearly. Nina's life depended on it.

As the elevator ascended, I reached out through our bond, trying to send Nina comfort, reassurance. I'm coming, Nina. Hold on.

The helicopter was ready on the rooftop landing pad, blades already spinning. The chopper lifted off, the city skyline shrinking beneath us as we headed for the mountains.

I felt Nina's fear, her determination, and her trust in me. It fueled my resolve, pushing the chopper faster, harder. The landscape below blended into a green blur as we tore through the sky.

As we approached the cabin, I saw two SUVs parked outside. I landed the chopper a safe distance away, out of Rafe's range of hearing. I jumped out, the wolf's predatory instincts taking over as I ran towards the cabin.

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