Page 52 of Winning the Wolf

My shoulders relaxed as relief flooded my muscles. I would've agreed with whatever Killick decided, but I'd been waiting with bated breath, afraid he would agree with my sister's crazy plan. There had to be another way.

Glancing down at my phone, I checked my notifications for the hundredth time since we'd returned. My heart skipped when I saw a reply from Clementine, the witch who had helped me find Nyla. She was on her way to Cheddar.

"She doesn't have to go alone," Phileas' old friend called out, "she can take a small strong group with her."

Killick frowned. "You'd have me send his victim into danger?"

Waving a hand in dismissal, the older man stepped forward and glanced between Killick and Nyla. "Not exactly. Just use her as bait, make sure he scents her before you... drop from the sky."

"Wait, what?" I blurted, taken aback by his strange suggestion.

"We could use the helicopter to surprise them." The old boy nodded towards Caleb. "I've been training my grandson how to pilot it. Had a witch friend put a muffler spell on it last week cos you lot moaned about the noise."

I looked at Caleb, who glanced at Killick and shrugged. "It could work. Nyla could ask Jeremy to meet her on the ground. We could fly over and use a net to capture him. The rest of the pack could be waiting, just in case the Dusk Moon wolves are there too."

Killick had been listening to Caleb intently. When his friend finished, he looked at me, his gaze questioning. My insides wobbled as I looked around, almost embarrassed that he was asking my opinion. The alpha wanted to know what I thought about an important matter. Shit, talk about feeling empowered.

"If Nyla really wants to do it, she should." Looking at my sister, I swallowed down my fear. "She's perfectly capable."

Inclining his head, Killick turned back to Nyla and raised his eyebrows.

She nodded firmly, answering his silent question. She was happy with the plan. The bruises that Jeremy has inflicted on her has already healed, thanks to her werewolf DNA. The wounds on the inside would still be raw though... and that's what concerned me, even though I'd agreed that she should go.

"Very well," Killick said, his voice raising, "we have a plan. Let's tighten it up quickly. I need a shower."

The group started to talk amongst themselves. Grabbing Killick's arm before he could get dragged away, I looked up at him.

"I need to shower," I told him.

"Me, too." Cupping my face, he stroked a thumb under my eye. "Go and get some rest. I'll come and get you in an hour."

Smiling, I placed my hand over his and leant into his touch, not caring about the onlookers who stared. "Thank you."

Leaning closer, he paused before pulling away. "I promise we'll fix this before the day is through and Jeremy will be in our custody, where he belongs."

*

The steam from the bath wafted around my head as I settled into the hot water. A sigh expelled from my lungs as I ran my hands over my wet hair and rested against the back of the bath, stretching to ease the tension in my muscles... except, it didn't work. I could feel the slight pull of Killick, slowly draining my energy. I couldn't bring myself to hate him, though. He consumed my mind as I scrubbed the skin on my arms with soap. The earthy smell of it reminded me of him. His soft dirty blonde hair and yellow eyes complimented his strong jaw. His lips were slightly plump, but not too much - just enough to grasp in my teeth.

A shudder flew through me as I remembered our moment in the hut. The tenderness we'd shared had been tainted by our surroundings and predicament. It was crazy what happened to the senses when trapped in a dire situation with a mate.

A light knock on the door jolted me from my reminiscing. His scent reached me through the steam and I called for him to enter. Shit, I wanted that entrance literally.

The door clicked open and Killick stuck his head in. "You're okay with me being in here?"

Humming a yes, I swirled my fingers, too relaxed to reply. His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer, keeping his gaze on my face.

"That bath looks heavenly."

My tongue flicked out to lick the perspiration from my top lip. Killick's eyelids dropped and longing surged through me, gripping my soul.

"I couldn't concentrate with the council men. I’ve felt you since the mating bonds game, but now..." He got to his knees beside the bath and traced a finger along my collar bone. "Your life force is filtering into me. I can sense your essence and kindness. It makes me want to climb inside you and know every inch of who you are."

My heart hammered as his fingers traced onto my breast.My chest rose and fell quicker, the intensity of his gaze sending a thrill down my vertebra and into my core. As he circled my nipple, it hardened, rising to his touch.

“I’m scared,” I murmured, ready to be vulnerable. “What if… I lose you?”

His nostrils flared as he stood, slowly peeling his jeans and T-shirt away. Every inch of his bones was covered in hard firm muscle, highlighting the magnificence of him.

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