Page 56 of Stealthy as a Wolf

Maggie turned toward me, her broken smile threatening to rip out my heart. “The only good news is they didn’t recognize any of you. If you go now, they’ll forget all about you.”

The rest of the men hissed and growled in protest, their beasts so close to the surface that they couldn’t even form words. Rage sizzled through my veins at her audacity. I marched forward and wrapped my hand around her throat, backing her up until she was pressed against the brick wall with nowhere to run.

The only thing that grounded me was her skin on mine.

I leaned toward her, getting right into her face, her sweet orange scent only infuriating me more.

She ismine!

How dare she try to escape!

My claws danced along her throat, and I battled the need to mark her so my claim was displayed for the world to see. “Mine! You don’t get to leave me when things get tough. If you run, I’ll find you, no matter where you go. I won’t give up my claim on you. Ever.”

Chapter Sixteen

MAGGIE

My daft heart fluttered at his threat.

I should be pissed about being manhandled, but all I wanted to do was give into his addictive touch and lean into his possessive hold. I didn’t want to think about the danger. I was tired of running. Tired of fighting to just survive.

All I wanted was them.

But I needed them alive.

If I needed to be a distraction to save them, so be it. I could survive anything if it meant they would be safe. I fought off his effect on my body and glared up at the stupid lug. “I was giving you an out. You need to get to the Summit, and that will be nearly impossible with me in tow. Go. Do what you need to do. When you’re safe, you’ll come find me.”

Lights refracted off Matty’s green eyes, making them glow in the dark, giving him a wild, animalistic look. When he leaned forward, I swore that his hair was standing on end. I lifted my chin and braced myself for him to argue with me.

I did not expect his grip to tighten, nearly cutting off my air supply. I waited for blind panic to strike, but it never came.

I trusted them enough that I knew they would not hurt me.

The idea was so novel that my heart swelled with wonder.

But if they didn’t want to harm me, the only other reason for the shackle was to prevent me from using my alpha bark. He leaned in closer, oozing menace. “Time for talk is done. If you don’t have anything productive to say, you don’t get a vote.”

“Protect. You.” My protest barely emerged as a croak, desperate for them to understand. “Only way.”

“Proposal rejected.” Matty looked absolutely murderous, and I swallowed hard when so much violence strummed through his lean body that he practically quivered. “That’s not how a pack works. The only reason you’re not over my knee for even suggesting such an absurd plan is because you don’t understand pack dynamics. Pack never gives up on each other. We work together. We’re stronger together.”

Sorrow pierced my chest at his shuttered expression.

I’d hurt him.

I wasn’t sure how, but the need to make it better rode me hard. I tapped his hand, a silent demand to be released. His grip tightened threateningly, his eyes narrowing in warning. I suspected if I tried to order him around, he would knock me out cold before a single word left my mouth.

A fist thudded against the door, and I jolted with the need to fight, claws pressing against the undersides of my fingertips.

We didn’t have much time before they broke through.

“I don’t understand why you’re upset. It would give you time to clear your names. When the danger has passed, you can come back for me.” I gave a negligent shrug. “I can survive a few days of imprisonment and torture.”

Something in his eyes shattered, the color flaring bright, leaving him looking almost unhinged. There was something so heartbroken about him that I immediately wanted to take back what I just said.

“That you can honestly say that, and mean it, tears at my soul.” Matty ran a hand along the back of his neck in frustration, his expression intense as he pinned me under his gaze. “You’re trusting us to come back for you. Then trust us when we tell you we’re strong enough to keep you safe.”

Grady edged in close behind me, until I had nowhere to go. He bent, his voice husky in my ears when he spoke. “Your alpha instincts want you to protect us, and they’re overwhelming everything else. It takes years of training to be able to gauge a situation and not let your baser urges rule. We’re your mates. We get a say. The need to protect you is hardwired in our cores.”

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