Page 24 of A Wolf of War
His queen would want for nothing.
Rounding the corner into the sleek, cavernouskitchen, Milo headed straight for the fridge and yanked open the door. He grabbed the first long-neck bottle he saw, twisted the cap with a practiced flick, and took a long swig. The bitter fizz rolled over his tongue just as a familiar scent crept in behind him.
“Yes, Lachlan. Can I help you?”
“The shipment’s here.”
“The semis?”
“Yeah. They’re waiting at the docks. Want Titan to oversee it?”
Milo nodded, taking another swig. “Yeah. Make it quick.”
Lachlan dipped his head and disappeared just as silently as he’d come. Milo stayed put, staring out the window over the sink.
Running this empire wasn’t the same as being in uniform. The military had been brutal, but at least there had been discipline and predictability. Out here, in this shadow world of wolves and weapons, of blood and backdoor deals? It was chaos.
Milo was just trying his damned best to stay ahead of the game.
He downed the last of the beer and reached for another. One of the more convenient perks of being awolf was a sky-high tolerance. Alcohol didn’t affect them the same way it did humans.
Lachlan had once mentioned that it probably had something to do with their liver function, that they simply metabolized things far more quickly. The doctor was always full of theories, ever the deep thinker, but never was able to go in-depth. He was too busy elbow-deep in surgery or teaching resident doctors.
Out of everyone in the pack, Lachlan was probably the most decent, too smart and too good for this goddamn circus he called a pack.
He always kept his phone close. They all did, like most people, but for Lachlan, it wasn’t just a habit. It was a necessity. The man was always on call. It was bizarre to think about the duality of their world—one moment providing cover for a packmate in a warehouse shootout, the next racing to the hospital to save a child’s life.
Milo exhaled through his nose, grabbing another beer before heading out of the kitchen. There were calls to make, plans to set in motion, problems to solve. Being alpha meant that he was never off the clock, much like Lachlan.
The city never fucking slept.
So, neither did he.
13
WILLOW
When Willow woke again, it felt like her blood was once again made of cement. Everylimb was heavy, her muscles sore from tension and disuse. She blinked against the sunlight filtering through the oversized bay window…
Bay window?
She didn’thavea bay window.
Reality slammed into her. The memories crashed down in waves—the hike, the wolves, Milo’s glowing eyes, the way he’d towered over her while she begged for her life. Willow’s breath hitched, heart picking up speed until her pulse pounded in her ears. She had cried in his arms, sobbed like a small child. He probably thought it meant something.
It didn’t. How could it?
Milo wasn’t just dangerous; he was deranged. And on top of that? Apparently, a supernatural creature. Briefly, she wondered if she had hallucinated all of it. Clearly, however, her surroundings disproved that hopeful theory.
Her hands trembled as she peeled back the blankets, slipping from the bed with slow, cautious movements. She crept toward the window, bracing herself on the frame as she peered outside. The view was deceptively serene—a sprawling garden behind a white picket fence, a gorgeous patio, grill, pool.
Beyond that, endless stretch of trees,standing silent and solemn.
She was well and truly fucked.
There was no way she was anywhere near the city limits. She couldn’t see what was on the other side of the house, but something told her that even the driveway wouldn’t lead to freedom. More than likely, it led to more of the same—isolation, control, and him. Milo didn’t seem like the kind of man who made mistakes. He wouldn’t have brought her anywhere she could escape from.
Willow’s breath hitched, chest rising and falling with all the force she could muster. Her muscles twitched from holding onto tension for far too long. The only thing keeping her upright now was adrenaline. At least she was still wearing her hiking clothes. That had to mean he hadn’t…
