Page 68 of Frank's Felon
She wanted him to be the father of her kids, not another woman’s. “What am I doing?” she asked, turning back to face him.
“Thinking too hard.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”
“Maybe not, but your brows bunch up, real cute actually, when you’re deep in thought.”
“It’s been a long day.”
His lips fanned over hers. The kiss was sweet, soft, and made her choke up. She really was going to miss him.
“I was scared I’d never find you,” he said, his voice soft and a bit shaky if she wasn’t mistaken.
His hand was moving up and down her arm, as if he needed the contact. She sure as hell did. Nothing ever felt as right as when Frank was nearby, or better yet, touching her.
“It was you, the howl in the distance, wasn’t it? I felt you, Frank, in my soul. Except I couldn’t let myself believe. You were so far away, and if I’d howled back at that time, I’d have given away my position before I had a plan in place to get Frankie to safety.”
He cupped her cheek. “You risked yourself by tracking them. You saved her, and that’s something no one in our pack will ever forget.”
Ourpack. If only. . .
“Your pack,” she corrected. “I’m not going back. I can’t.” She hadn’t planned on telling him that, but she couldn’t lie to Frank any longer. There had been enough lies between them.
He nodded. “We’ll split at the border. Meet up after I get Frankie back to her mom.”
“You’d defy your alpha?” she asked, stunned.
He released a deep sigh. “It’s not defying him if I can’t handle you and Frankie at the same time. She’s my priority from the perspective of the pack.”
“That’s splitting hairs.”
“Damien’s split a few hairs in his time as well. It won’t be an issue.”
“He’ll send someone after me. And they’ll catch me, Frank. I’m having trouble just walking right now. I don’t know how long it will be before my wolf is recovered, before I’m recovered. Your scout, your guards, someone will drag me back.”
Frank growled at that. “You’re mine. I know you refuse to admit it, and I’m not sure what I have to do to convince you, but you are mine, and I protect what’s mine, even if it means going up against my own alpha.”
The love she felt coming from Frank was too much to process. He was willing to challenge his alpha for her, to throw away his pack, the shifters he loved. It wasn’t right. She had murdered those WSSO men and the warden, she had caused this situation, not him. She couldn’t let him throw his life away because of her.
“Tell Damien I ran off days earlier, and you had to get Frankie back. Then Damien can tell the DSA he had no control over me. It’s not like I’m part of his pack. He can make the argument work. If the DSA is serious about a treaty, then they’ll have to show some trust and take his word for it.”
“I don’t like lying to my alpha,” Frank said.
No, it wasn’t who he was. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked that of you.”
With two fingers under her chin, Frank nudged her to look at him. “Blood-bond me, Delilah.”
“I can’t,” she said, a tear escaping before she could rein in her emotions.
Frank cleared the tear away with his thumb. “Yet.”
A strangled laugh escaped her, even as Frank’s hand sifted through her hair trying to soothe her. She had caused so much trouble already.
Frank had served his time. The last thing he should have to do is go on the run, because of her failings. She was the one who had gotten all crazy and hunted down those WSSO men. She hadn’t sacrificed herself for packmates like Frank had, or even killed those men as part of her job to protect her pack, like an enforcer might do. She had killed them in cold blood. Revenge. She, not Frank, needed to pay the price.
“I’m tired of running,” she said. “I’m going to turn myself in.”
Frank’s lips pursed. She could see he didn’t approve, but before he could object, Frankie stirred. Delilah tucked the child against her chest. She was going to miss Frankie too, and Tess. Hell, even Damien. He was good for her sister, and like Frank said, he was a decent alpha, maybe even an excellent one. She’d never really get the chance to know, though.
