Page 25 of Wolf Unleashed
She sat beside him and leaned her head against his chest. His arm went around her back so naturally, as if he’d held her a thousand times like this. He’d had so little time with her.
“I never expected the blood-bond to work,” he whispered as he buried his nose in her hair. Just by touching her, scenting her, his wolf settled. “Blood-bonding you was more fantasy for me. I would never have tied you to me like that if I’d thought it would work.”
“Are you sorry you’re tied to me?”
“I’m sorry for putting you in this position, but I feel nothing but joy. I love seeking you over the bond and knowing you’re well, happy.”
“And when I’m not happy?”
“I’d rather not talk about those moments. And nothing compares to having you with me, of touching you, hearing your voice, listening to you try to sweet-talk your way into doing something you shouldn’t do. I wouldn’t give up this bond with you for the world.”
“I don’t sweet-talk,” she said, which made him laugh.
“No, I don’t suppose you do. You bulldoze your way through what everyone else is saying and go directly for the jugular. Don’t take this the wrong way, angel, but I’m starting to think your mom may have been a white wolf. It would explain that fire in you.”
“I guess that’s a step in the right direction. You didn’t believe I had a wolf in me when I told you.”
“Things change. Shifters change.”
She rolled her eyes at him.
“No pun intended. I was talking about being stubborn.”
“Rafe-stubborn or Maddox-stubborn?”
“Okay, wrong word. Call me realistic. And while there are a lot of names I could call Rafe, I don’t think stubborn is one of them. He’s cautious and strategic. And you need that right now. When you leave here, listen to him. And Tiernan. They know shifters. They’ll guide you through the storm.”
“What storm? What are we talking about, Maddox?”
“You, angel. Those shifters who left the DSA program will have reported in to their packs, as Rafe did, I’m guessing. They’ll order them to track you down. And while it may not sound like it, they potentially have unlimited resources. Any pack affected by the virus will give them what they need to take down those murdering bastards at the WSSO.”
“Which is why we need you on our side, Maddox,” Rafe said, standing at the edge of the path with Tiernan beside him. Instantly, Maddox’s wolf’s hackles went up. Drake releasing Tiernan and Rafe meant the alpha was planning something, and that was never good.
“The DSA has our pictures, fingerprints, blood-type… everything on file. And those shifters have our scents and know our packs. We have to flee,” Rafe added.
“And go where?” Alyssa asked. “You don’t have IDs or birth certificates and my second ID will be breeched, eventually. Even if it isn’t. I have limited funds.”
“What are you suggesting, Artemis?” Rafe asked.
“I’m not sure, but my instincts say we have to contact Agent Gallagher and use his influence with the packs involved in the treaty to broker a deal.”
“Deals are for guilty people,” Tiernan said. “You’re not guilty of doing anything but your job.”
“Deals are for anyone who needs something. And we need help. We can’t continue like this, constantly on the run, from your own people.”
“We have nothing the DSA wants,” Rafe countered.
“You’re wrong,” Alyssa said. “We have what both the DSA and shifters want.”
“Don’t say it,” Maddox warned. “Don’t even think it.”
“We may not have any other choice, Maddox, especially if we want to be together.”
“Get any ideas of using yourself as bait out of your head. You’re leaving here with Tiernan and Rafe. Without me. If that’s the price of keeping you safe, then so be it.”
“We’re blood-bonded mates. You once told me that’s for life, that nothing could keep a male from his mate once they blood-bonded.”
“Not normally. The bond drives a male to do anything and everything to be with his mate, to protect her.”
