Page 61 of The Strongest Wolf

Her hands come up between us, and she pushes. “Then I would tell you that your pack needs all your focus, not me. And I would be a distraction.”

I kiss her again because I have to. “You would never be a distraction.”

“I would.” She nudges at my chest at the same time she takes a step away. “Now go.”

The last thing I want to do is smile when I’m leaving my heart behind, but I force one anyway. “Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to get rid of me?”

Her smile is just as false as mine. “Because I am. Go. Deal with the problems back home.”

“And then?” I search her face, trying to read her. She hasn’t mentioned going to visit her mom’s family since I snarled at her about how dangerous it would be. It had felt like she was only saying it to avoid meeting my pack, but it doesn’t hurt to double-check.

“And then your pack will be safe,” she says with a false smile.

“But you’ll be here, waiting for me,” I prompt.

“I’ll be here, Galen.”

“Waiting for me?” I repeat.

Her gaze skirts away. “I’ll wait for however long you want me to wait.”

She doesn’t believe I’ll come back for her. That’s what I read in her determination to avoid meeting my eye. “Sierra—” Before I can say anymore, the packhouse front doors swing open and the Blackshaws spill out, still yawning as they emerge into the early morning light.

Frustration wells at their interruption. They’ve dragged themselves out of bed before five in the morning to see me off, and snarling at them for it would be a dick move on my part.

“It’s okay,” Sierra says, sounding like she’s smiling. For real.

I glance over at her to find I’m right.

Her lips twitch with mirth. “You can snarl. I can see you want to.”

Barking out a laugh, I jerk her against me and hold her tight, drawing in the scent and feel of her wrapped around me. “Come with me.”

She freezes so utterly and completely that I instantly regret opening my mouth.

When I feel her pulling away, I clamp onto her and lower my lips to her ear. “You seem to think I would be babysitting you, but that’s not true. I want you there, and the rest of the pack will, too.”

She doesn’t respond.

“Sierra?” I ask, conscious that we’re running out of time as the low murmur of conversation warns we’re about to be interrupted.

And then the Blackshaws reach us, and time is over. Reluctantly, I force myself to let her go.

The moment I drop my hands, she takes several steps back, her gaze on my ear. “You should get going if you don’t want to be stuck in traffic.”

I fight against the need to throw her in the truck regardless of what her eyes are telling me:go.

Kier approaches first, gripping my arm before pulling me close enough to murmur in my ear. “We’ll keep an eye on her. She’ll be safe here.”

I force a smile. “Thanks. I’ll be back for her soon.”

“I know,” he says. “But if you need any help, you know where I am.”

Although I nod, I won’t be calling him for help. The Hunts are mine. They’re my responsibility, and any threats to them are mine to end.

My goodbyes to the Blackshaws go quickly. I don’t even want to kill Nathan, because the regret filling his eyes tells me that he’s genuinely sorry for whatever stupid thought possessed him to jump out at Sierra like that.

Finally, I pull Eden into a hug, my eyes fixed on Sierra as she stands almost hidden behind everyone else. “That mate of yours had better take good care of you,” I murmur into her ear.

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