Page 23 of Stealthy as a Wolf

“No, I think you’re telling the truth, which is even more troubling.” He sighed and dragged a hand down his face. “What happened after the collar was removed?”

Maggie pursed her lips, but I could feel a tremor go through her. “I ran. I’ve been running ever since.”

My cat kneaded the undersides of my ribs with his claws, desperate to comfort Maggie, and I gave in to the urge without hesitation. I rested my chin on her shoulder, running my hands up and down her arms. I waited for her to protest, braced myself for an elbow to the gut for daring to touch her, and my heart ached when she deflated and sought safety in my arms.

My cat strutted around in my head, his purr getting louder and louder, and I ignored the way heat seared my face at the broken rumble. I glared at Burke, so pissed at the tiger that I wanted to rip out his throat. “If you think I’m going to leave here without her, then you’re a fool. She’s in this mess because of me. We owe it to her to make sure she survives.”

“I agree.” Boone didn’t hesitate to add his support, and the tension in my gut eased.

No way were we going to fucking leave her to die.

Over my dead body.

“How exactly are you able to remove the collars?” Burke directed his question toward Maggie. I felt her stiffen under his regard, and I growled, pissed at the fucker for upsetting her.

Instead of backing down, Maggie’s spine straightened and her chin lifted. “I don’t think the collars are meant to contain alphas. I was able to wear down the batteries faster than expected, enduring the pain long enough to snap the clasp.”

I caught her hand when she lifted it, wincing when my fingers traced the slight ridges of the electrical burns streaking up her fingers. “Do they still hurt?”

Maggie quickly curled her hands into fists, but I stopped her from hiding them away.

“Tell me. Please.”

She pursed her lips, her expression uncertain as she peered up at me, as if trying to judge my sincerity. It was like she was so cut off from meaningful contact with others that she didn’t know how to react when someone showed concern.

I vowed right then that she would never be alone again. She was my mate. No matter what happened, I would show her what it meant to be loved.

Chapter Eight

MAGGIE

Iswallowed the lump in my throat, soothed by the soft tone of Matty’s question. He made it sound like he almost cared, and a strange warmth fluttered in my stomach. I flexed my fingers, biting back a grimace. “They’ll heal.”

“That’s not what I asked.” He gave me a gentle squeeze, then slid a finger under my chin and lifted my head. His green eyes were gentle as he gazed down at me, and my stomach did that strange flutter again.

He gently tapped my wrist. “How are your hands?”

“My bones ache.” I rubbed my fingers together and answered him tentatively. “Like if I bump them against something, they might shatter.”

He curled his hands protectively over mine, then began to gently massage my fingers. Warmth seeped into my chest at his tender care, the sensations leaving me feeling befuddled and uncertain. I’d never had someone care about whether I was in pain…not since before my reveal.

His touch actually felt good, not intrusive, like when other men try to get close to me. Liking it a little bit too much, I jumped to my feet, needing a few seconds to gather my thoughts and clear my head.

Only he kept holding my hand.

When I glanced back down at him, I gasped, concern overriding my need to get away. “Your wound has reopened. We need to bandage it.”

“Here.” Burke stooped, picked up something off the floor, then held it out for me. Something flickered in his eyes but vanished before I could decipher it.

He was holding out a small sewing kit.

“Uh…thanks?” I accepted it hesitantly, then peered up at him. “Do you think because I’m a girl that I automatically know how to sew?”

He gave me a constipated look for a second, then narrowed his eyes, his voice flat when he said, “Maybe I trust that you know how to take care of yourself.”

I blinked at him once, uncomfortable at the way the slight praise warmed my cheeks. “Careful. That almost sounded like a compliment.”

He shot me a smirk that made my breath hitch. “Or I just know a girl like you will always find trouble, one way or another, and over the years, you’ve had to learn how to sew up a few injuries. Though no fault of your own, of course.”

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