Page 3 of Emerald Flame
She’d watched at a safe distance. The wolf had been like a maniac because of the drug. A dark green flame pattern had pulsed on his neck indicating his addiction. The drug had also enhanced his abilities, giving him more strength and agility than he would normally have had. He’d elongated his jaw and brought his wolf canines into play. He could have easily bitten Warren’s throat in half.
Warren, seeing the threat, had revved up his adrenaline. The result had been first the movement of his hair, then small sparks of lightning flickering up and down his arms. He’d levitated and flown in a tornado-like circle around the wolf, punched him in his kidneys and brought him down. She’d never seen analtercreature whip through the air with such speed, as though disappearing then reappearing in a new spot.
Afterward, with the wolf cuffed inside the SUV and fully incapacitated, Warren had paced next to his vehicle. He’d rubbed his arms and stomped his feet as though trying to get rid of the excess energy.
She’d remained at a distance but had felt his storm. She’d found the sight of him a completely exhilarating experience.
She called it his storm power. But what did it mean? Why did he possess it? Was this what had called her to move in stride beside him, though cloaked with her invisibility spell?
What she feared, however, was something more human in nature. As her gaze took him in, head-to-toe, a longing deep inside her came alive. Warren was a god, scarred up a bit, but a god all the same.
He wore the Border Patrol uniform of all Five Bridges officers: Black tank, black leathers, thick boots. It was hot in July in the Phoenix Metro area. His skin glistened with sweat, which seemed to enhance the contours of his muscled frame. Leather wouldn’t have been the choice of humans, but something about thealtercondition made it better for the officers.
He was six-six with thick, heavily muscled shoulders set off by his tank. His good eye was an exquisite emerald in color, his brows arched and strong. Without the scarring, he would have been movie-star handsome with a rugged chin, straight nose and high chiseled cheekbones. He wore the right side of his long blond hair in a thick braid. Loose strands clung to his bare arms. She resisted the urge to draw close and peel them off.
The left side of his face, his eye, and two inches of his scalp were heavily scarred. No hair grew from the damaged skin in the section above his ear. He’d covered the scars with sexy tattoos. His hair on the rest of his head was a thick blond mane that ran halfway down his back.
In addition, he had a unique scent that drew her in every time. He smelled like the wild elements of the approaching monsoon storm combined with the musk of his wolf. The combination was electric. Whenever she caught his scent, the pleasure centers of her brain lit up like small fireworks going off inside her head.
To say she was drawn to Warren was to say fire was hot. But it wasn’t just his superlative gorgeousness. He was considered by his peers as one of the most powerful in Savage Territory. She’d often thought if he’d been a more self-interested man, he could simply take over all the packs and be done with it.
But she knew him. He had a profound commitment to the wolves of Savage as well as to the rule of law. He worked to protect all the packs that had formed over the thirty years thealterworld of Five Bridges had been in existence. Of all his qualities, she loved his integrity the best. When he could have owned it all, he chose what was right for each pack.
Another flash of lightning lit up the sky. A rumble of thunder followed, though not too close. Dawn was still an hour or so away, but the sky was getting ready to open up.
A shiver went down her spine and she glanced behind her. She could feel it now, a tangible creep across her nerves. Something was going down tonight. She didn’t know when, how or what was going to happen, but the air crackled with intent and it wasn’t good.
Another flash of light and roll of thunder.
She jumped.
We need to get inside.His deep voice moved through her mind.
I agree. I’ll follow you in. Right on your heels.
Once inside the station, she watched Warren wave to Helena, the wolf working dispatch. She shot him a broad, come-and-get-me smile. Kiara’s fists balled up and an odd, un-witch-like growl formed in her throat.
Warren shifted his attention to a group of fellow officers who called to him from the corner, off to the right. They’d just cuffed an unsteady, word-slurring wolf to a nearby railing meant for that purpose. The wolf wasn’t going anywhere.
Hold up, Kiara.He then addressed the officers. “Do me a favor and take him back to the drunk tank.”
The wolves grew very quiet and turned to stare at him. Each dipped his chin slowly. It was a wolf deference move, a sign of Warren’s pack status. None of them argued. But it was something more as well. Each noticed the unusual lifting of his hair. Warren made no explanation and none of them asked.
While Warren waited, they uncuffed the drunk and hauled him away.
Warren then turned toward the staff behind the counter.
Kiara realized the five remaining personnel had all stopped what they were doing. They were staring at Warren as well, mouths agape.
She glanced at him and wasn’t surprised to find that his hair moved rapidly now. Even through her shield, she could feel his storm growing stronger.
“Helena, I want the silent alarm that will trigger a lockdown, but no overt signals. Can you do that?” Kiara knew the drill, the shutters would start to descend, even over the front doors. But they were only meant to block the sunlight, not to withstand gunfire. They could only delay a full-on assault.
“Yes, Sir.”
He gestured to the rest with a toss of his hand. “Each of you, slowly gather whatever you’re working on then head to the hall. I’m going to Roberts now.” Roberts was the station chief.
Kiara moved to the window. What came to her caused her heart to leap into her throat. She called to Warren telepathically.Julio is here. I can feel him out there now.
