Page 13 of A Wolf of War
Soon,he reminded himself, forcing the wolf inside to calm, its restless claws dragging against the confines of his control.
He sped through the drive, weaving through traffic where necessary. She lived outside the city limits, too, but on the opposite side of the metropolis. That meanthe was around an hour’s drive away from her, which was entirely too far. But it wouldn’t be for long. Soon, she’d take her rightful place by his side.
Finally, Milo pulled up to the condo. She’d sent him her address like she’d promised. He just hadn’t needed it. Milo forced himself to steady his breathing, gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles went white. Just as he parked, his eyes caught sight of her stepping out of the door. He also saw her sister, standing in the kitchen window and watching them disapprovingly.
Before she could even make it down the front steps, Milo was already out of the car so he could open her door. No bitch of his would ever be expected to open her own door. When she accepted their bond, she would be royalty in his world. It was time she was treated like it.
Willow’s soft smile hit him like somebody had thrown a fist into his gut. Despite the sweetness of her slightly lifted lips, he could sense the fear and anxiety coiling beneath the surface. It made his chest tighten. He wanted so badly for her to feel the same joy he did.
But it also stirred the wolf inside him, primed for the chase if she decided to run.
“Hey, you,” he said, offeringa grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Ready to see the most beautiful place ever?”
7
WILLOW
“Yeah, I’d like that,” she said, her lips curling into a careful little smile again. She’d listened to Poppy fretting fiercely before she left—well-deserved, to be fair. Willow still wasn’t convinced this was a good idea. In fact, she was fairly certain it wasn’t. That was why she’d slipped a can of mace into her bag… and a Taser.
She didn’t really know how to use them, aside from the panicked crash course she’d gotten from her sister before it was time to leave. She was pretty sure she wasn’t even legally allowed to carry either.
Willow climbed into the SUV, settling into the plush seat. She was grateful she’d opted for athletic leggings and a sweater. Even so, he probably got a solid view of her ass as she climbed up. Her cheeks heated as she shifted in her seat, heat building as she pictured him eyeing her hungrily.
As the door closed beside her, Willow folded her hands in her lap, her feet dangling just above the floorboard. She started swinging them out of habit.
She’d noticed was how big Milo was. He had to be at least a foot taller than her, built like somebody who knew how to fight. It was an intoxicating mix of desire and danger—but if their little trip went sideways?
She was well and trulyfucked.
But now wasn’t the time to think about that, because they were backing out of the driveway.
“So, what do you listen to?”
She glanced over at him, chewing her lip.
“Basically everything,” she replied. “You?”
“I’m a big rock guy.”
“How do you feel about metal?”
“Pretty damn good.”
“Lamb of God?”
“Oh, hell yeah.”
Milo gave a command to the hands-free system, calling for one of the band’s songs. The growling vocals filled the space, and Willow found herself swinging her feet again, caught off guard by how his eyes crinkled at the corners in the fading light. The way the sunbeams hit his skin made it glow golden and warm, nearly holy. She couldn’t help staring.
And then it hit her.
They were going hiking, and the sun was going down. Which meant they’d be out there after dark. A pit opened in her chest, heavy and cavernous, and her head was ringing clear like a warning bell. She pulled out her phone to check that location tracking was still on. That was part of the deal with Poppy. She was to keep it on atall times.
“Reception’s probably gonna get spotty as we head out,” Milo said casually, eyes still on the road. “It’s better at the top, though. That’s where we’re headed.”
Her eyes snapped to him. If he meant to finish the hike, they’d be seeing the trail by moonlight.
“Isn’t it going to be pretty late by then?” she asked, her voice tighter than she wanted it to be. Her hands were starting to tremble in her lap.
