Page 57 of Stealthy as a Wolf

The twins came to my side until all I saw was them. Boone spoke for them both, his eyes pleading. “You’ve trusted us this far. Don’t stop now.”

The pounding on the door turned to a screech of metal as claws tore into it.

Without giving me time to speak, Matty caught me around the waist and tossed me over his shoulder. He then turned and sprinted down the alley, my weight not even slowing him down. The rest of the guys followed, guarding our backs, their expressions grim.

They acted like I’d offended them by offering to protect them.

Egotistical, masochistic, asshole, know-it-all men.

I can fight.

I’m not some helpless female.

I must have been muttering it out loud. A sharp slap on my ass took me by surprise, cutting off my rant, and I gave a startled yelp. “Hey!”

I lurched up in protest, only to have his arms tighten around me with strangling force. No matter how I wiggled, there was no way to escape.

“Act like a brat and you will be treated like one,” Matty snapped back.

The rest of the men nodded, not one of them even batting an eye at me being manhandled.

And my body fucking loved it, my core heating at their cavemen antics.

If we weren’t being chased, I would demand that Boone give me one of those orgasms he was always bragging about.

When we reached the vehicle, Grady got behind the wheel. At the same time, the twins opened the side doors, and I was all but tossed inside the SUV. I barely had time to push myself upright before we were in motion, and I found myself surrounded by three very pissed off men.

As we pulled out of the parking lot, a dozen wolves spilled out of the alley. Just the sight of them sent a spark of fear through me so primal that I was struggling with my fight-or-flight instincts.

I’d gotten used to running and hiding, but it went against every grain of my being to do it.

The alpha in me wanted to leap out of the truck and massacre them all.

If they couldn’t report back to the others, then my identity would remain secret and the guys would remain safe. I wasn’t even aware of reaching for the door until Boone wrapped himself around me and pulled me tight to his chest, leaving me practically sitting in his lap.

I fought him for a moment, only calming when he buried his face into my neck. A rumbling purr came from his chest, the sound seeping into my soul. The effect was like being injected with pure tranquility. Tension eased from my muscles, and I melted against him.

* * *

BOONE

Even with Maggie trapped in my arms, it was a struggle to keep my tiger from bursting out of my skin and roaring in defiance. She was mine! No one was allowed to take her from me. My heartbeat thudded wildly against my ribs, and it was unlikely to settle until I knew she was safe.

Only when we were three miles down the road with no sign of pursuit did I dare take a breath.

Too soon!

Four motorcycles swooped in and out of traffic without regard for their safety, quickly closing the distance. We had minutes at most before they caught up, and Burke was already stripping out of his shirt, ready to shift and fight.

Aggression poured off of Grady as he stomped his foot down on the gas, and the engine screamed as we barreled down the road. Matty was talking on his phone, a scowl of concentration on his face.

Everything was going to shit.

From the very beginning, nothing on this mission had gone as planned.

I tightened my grip on Maggie, not ready to let her go. Feeling her tremble in my arms sent a wave of pure rage surging through my veins. My gums ached with the need to sink my fangs into those who thought to harm her, craving the taste of their blood when I ripped out their fucking throats.

With great reluctance, I set Maggie in the middle seat between me and Burke. I kissed the top of her head, breathing deeply of her sweet orange scent, before I reluctantly pulled away. I cupped her jaw, forcing her head up. “Burke and I are going to cause a distraction and slow them down. I want you to stay with Grady and Matty. We’ll come find you when we’re done.”

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