Page 21 of Werewolves Don't Howl
“For your protection. And I don’t get to take you into Song for you to choose one of the nice wolves there. I have to take you north. So, come on. We just grabbed some lunch so you can eat on the way.”
I stared at him. “You don’t need to worry about my protection.”
His brows lowered. “You’re standing in Ridley’s blood. Your own blood is in the mix. You shouldn’t have been in this. He got mixed up in some bad business. Should have known the first time he opened his mouth. No respect. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Max…” If I argued that I could defend myself, he’d want to see my beast. And if he saw my beast, he’d think I killed Ridley. There was no winning.
I licked my lips and glanced towards the other end of the alley.
“You think I don’t have someone at the other end? The chase is over, Delphi. You had a good run.” He smiled as he walked slowly towards me.
I laughed and sounded slightly hysterical. “I was just thinking that this morning, that I had a good run. But Max, there’s another woman that I’m worried about. She’s a journalist and she…” He lunged and grabbed me, wrapping me up and carrying me towards the alley where the others waited.
“Yeah, you’re going to have to worry about yourself. Because you, Delphi, are in a pickle. I just hope you don’t end up mated to someone who doesn’t appreciate you.”
I didn’t struggle, just let him carry me while my mind raced. “Max, how hard would it be to move that garbage bin?”
He grunted, then paused and glanced back at it. “Depends on the shift. I could do it now, but it’d be a struggle. My beast would tear it apart if it was in his way. Why?”
“It was moved a few inches to the side. You can see where the bottom marks the alley. The entire thing moved precisely that far. Isn’t that weird?”
“What’s weird is that you’re worried about garbage bins when you’re off to face the Alta who will mate you to someone you’ve never met.”
“That’s out of my control. I just hope he likes kittens.”
“Why?” he asked, pulling away so he could look at me.
I smiled sweetly. “Because I just got one.”
ChapterSeven
In the backseat, I looked out the window, trying not to notice the way the other men were staring at me. Mostly I sensed sympathy, which made me more nervous than if I’d sensed interest or aggression. I’d be taken somewhere filled with old-fashioned werewolves who believed that females needed protection and males needed power. They’d take one look at my adorable wolf and then they’d start the teasing. My beast would come out, and then the problems would escalate.
“So, why don’t you tell me about last night?” Max said after a few minutes of silence. “How’d Ridley get you in that alley? Did you see the monster? How did you get away? You fought. Good girl.”
Good girl? I wanted to snarl at him, and that wasn’t even bad. “I was walking, and I ran into him.”
He raised a brow. “He was hunting you, then. Did you see the other beast?”
I shook my head. “No. I got away because he didn’t take me seriously. I’m very fast in my wolf form.”
“I’m sure you are, but still, it’s unlikely…”
I shifted, and then had to climb out of my clothes so I could sit there, fluffy and adorable. Actually, it would be much more comfortable on the drive in this shape. I lay down with my face and paws on Max’s legs and gazed up at him adorably.
He stared at me, face impassive. “Never mind. You’re fast?”
I nodded and then stretched out so my back legs were on the guy next to the door. He put a hand on my back, stroking my silky fur automatically. It felt very nice. Werewolves didn’t have a lot of physical boundaries and piled up to sleep more often than not. That is, other wolves did that. I stayed alone.
Max frowned down at me. “Delphi, now I’m really worried. What’s a wolf like you doing on your own? I could gobble you up in two bites.”
“One and a half,” the guy petting me said.
I raised my head and growled at him, ears pulled back.
“Sorry,” he said with a smile, but it was soft, like his eyes, because I was adorable.
I huffed and put my head back on Max’s leg, and closed my eyes.
