Page 48 of The Beast's Betrayed Mate
Those little glances, the way he’d seemed to be hiding in his shell. Protecting himself from the world while she had been an open wound wanting to be seen and heard more than anything else. But neither of them had been ready for something… real.
Was she ready now?
For something real?
Was he?
Was this the start of something?
I think I really like you, she said, hoping the thought reached him and not the others.
Not really caring whether the others could hear her.
He turned his head halfway as he rounded a corner, on the heels of Mason, one eye meeting hers, and she thought that perhaps there was a smile there.
Just hold on or you won’t be liking much of anything in a minute, he replied.
She couldn’t help but chuckle. At least it was said, in case of emergency.
They were approaching the door leading to the indoor ramp that would take them to the helicopter pad.
It’ll be locked,Michael said.
I have the key,she said, bringing her keycard out of her pocket.
She had to slip down from Peter’s back in order to get to the door since it was hidden in a slender alcove. The wolves would be able to press through, but she’d be in the way clinging to Peter. She’d have to run up the ramp on foot.
She hadn’t realized how badly her legs were trembling until now. It had to be a combination of fear and utter fatigue after fighting Cora. Olive could feel her chest was bruised, and she might have a cracked rib or two. She was out of breath, a slight pain at the small of her back every time she inhaled.
That couldn’t be good.
She swiped her keycard and opened the door when the light immediately flickered green.
Seems like Cora believed you, Peter commented.
Seems like, she agreed, taking the lead up the ramp.
It was narrow, with thick cement blocks acting as railings, leaning steadily upward. Where there would be daylight guiding their path, now there was only the dark of night. She didn’t mind. It made her feel safe. Hidden away.
That was what she was going to have to be from now on. On the run or in hiding.
Or it was what she was going to have to be until they could put an end to what MRM were doing.
She reached the end of the ramp, which opened directly onto the helicopter pad, slowing her step with sudden apprehension flaring in her chest at the thought of having the pack lurking in the shadows.
But there were no glowing eyes.
Only the empty pad and the darkened landscape beyond.
Olive didn’t hesitate. She turned around, grabbed onto Peter and climbed onto his back. She didn’t have to tell the wolves to run for it—they did. Their legs stretching as they burst out across the helicopter pad toward the protective darkness of the lawns beyond. In the distance, the forest stood as a spiky outline against the starry sky.
The air was chilly, fall having truly arrived, and Olive closed her eyes. Drawing a deep breath, she felt like howling, but kept the impulse in. Her heart was leaping with the sense of freedom, however.
She never wanted to go back.
From now on she would only ever look forward.
Hey, Peter’s voice sounded in her head, low and softly growling.I like you too.
