Page 74 of The Strongest Wolf

Dayne doesn’t even react. Moments later, Angel’s screaming dials down to a level where I can hear myself think. Barely.

“So, Sierra, you want to do this?” Dayne repeats.

I dart a glance at Eden, who’s leaning against Luka. A smile curves her lips, and I smile back before I return my focus to Dayne. “Yes. I don’t know how, but—”

“When?” Dayne demands.

I shuffle a little in place, more than a little unnerved by his intensity. “Uh, you mean when do I want to go?” I hedge.

“There’s the sensible way, or there’s the less sensible way.”

“Whichever way gets me to Galen the fastest,” I admit. It’s the only thing I care about right now, and as I gaze back at Dayne, I will him to see how badly I want this.

Dayne jerks his head to his right. “Nathan, how much gas do you have in your tank?”

Nathan blinks. “Uh, maybe a quarter. I mean, it could be—”

“Get your keys and check. If you have less than that, grab Marshall and get him to help you top it up. He should have a gas can in his truck. Marshall?” Dayne swings his attention to the blond-haired, lazy-eyed Marshall, who straightens.

“Yeah, I can do that,” he responds.

I gaze back at Dayne bewildered. “Uh, what—”

“Why does it have to be my car?” Nathan moans as he ambles inside, presumably to get rid of the bowl of popcorn and grab his keys.

“You have GPS built in, and Sierra’s cell phone might die on the way. Does anyone have a charger she can take?” Dayne’s gaze sweeps over the pack.

“I do.” Jenna sticks her hand up. “I’ll go grab it.”

Marshall kisses Jenna on the lips before he moves toward me. “Pass me the phone and I’ll program the address into the GPS,” he says with a friendly smile.

I hand it over, because I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do with things moving a million times faster than I’d expected them to.

A moment later, Nathan reappears from inside and follows Marshall down the porch steps, gripping a set of car keys. Despite his complaints, he flashes me a quick grin as he leaves.

Dayne’s focus turns to Luka next. “Can you—”

But Luka is already nodding. “Thermos of coffee, I got it. Good thing it’s me making it and not Talis with her—”

“Finish that sentence, Luka,” Talis shouts, “and you will be on baby changing duty for a week, and it will start right now.”

I choke back a smile, even as my eyes burn.

“I’ll fill up a bag of food.” Kier disappears inside next.

“Gavin. Grab the spare pack credit card from the office, and I think there should be some cash in the top drawer of my desk,” Dayne barks.

I take a step forward because this is too much. Way too much. “Dayne, look, I can’t let you do this. This is all—”

But he doesn’t even glance my way. “Hallee, I’m going to need you to pack up the cabin.”

She steps out without hesitation. “No problem.” Halting next to me, she grins. “The last time someone chased after the guy they refused to let go was me, so it’s kind of cool to see this from the other end.”

What? They’ve done this before?

And then everyone is gone on their mission while I stand on the porch with my heart in my throat as I gaze at Dayne. “I’m not a Blackshaw. Why are you doing this for me?”

“Because we can,” a female voice answers. Talis.

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