Page 65 of Stealthy as a Wolf

The cabin came into view around the next bend in the road, and I breathed a sigh of relief, more than eager to get out of the vehicle and stretch my legs. Men weren’t meant to be cooped up in tin cans for so long. My skin ached with the need to shift and go for a run, wanting to check the area to make sure it was secure.

The rest of the pack must have felt the same way. The instant the van came to a halt, the men flung open the doors, practically throwing themselves out. Burke and Matty immediately surveyed the area for threats, while Boone took charge of Maggie, distracting her by swinging her down from the van and teasing her until she blushed and swatted at him, her expression a cross between annoyed and exasperated.

It was obvious that she loved the attention, though she didn’t seem to know what to do with a man who showed any interest in her. Don’t get me wrong—if she didn’t like it, she would nail the man in the nuts and stomp all over him when he was down.

I loved that ruthlessness.

It was different when we flirted with her. It was like she’d never had a boyfriend or lover, and my gut clenched to realize that she probably never had anyone to care for her. I wanted to howl and rage against the unfairness in the world.

She deserved more, and I vowed that I would become her guardian and shield. I would show her what it was like to be loved so thoroughly and completely that she would never again know what it was like to live without it.

When the other two men came back with the all clear, we headed toward the cabin. Boone herded Maggie forward, angling his shoulders to make sure she was shielded by his body the entire way. Maggie rolled her eyes at our antics, not fooled in the least. She marched up the steps, then headed toward the far corner of the cabin and stopped near the last window. She narrowed her gaze on us, then purposely turned her back and pretended we weren’t watching her every move.

She ran her fingers under the window, stopping at the third log down, then removed a faux panel and retrieved a key. There was no doubt in my mind that if she didn’t want us to know the secret, she would’ve found a way to keep it hidden.

She was showing that she trusted us, and her gesture warmed me. I was determined to prove to her that her trust wasn’t misplaced. When she walked toward me, I held out my hand to take the key.

She pursed her lips, doing her best not to roll her eyes at our overprotectiveness. Thankfully, she conceded to our need to keep her safe without making a big deal out of it and handed over the key without a fuss.

As I slipped the key in the lock, Burke edged in front of her, while Matty and Boone crowded against her back. I breached the door first, Boone at my heels. We cleared the small cabin quickly.

I’d expected basic amenities.

I was wrong.

While the cabin wasn’t big, it was decadent, almost opulent. It was set up to be a retreat, a place for maximum relaxation. The woodwork was dark, filling the room with the scent of pine. The windows were massive, giving the impression that the outside had taken over the room.

The view was nothing but trees as far as the eye could see.

A two-sided fireplace rested in the center of the room, splitting the cabin in two areas. A giant kitchen took up one side of the cabin, while the opposite side was a sprawling living room with even more windows.

A huge loft hovered above the living room, overlooking the cabin. It was set up as one giant bedroom full of pillows and blankets, obviously created for a woman and her harem, and my cock hardened at the thought of joining Maggie there later this evening.

Off the kitchen was a small hallway that led toward an impressive bedroom. A bathroom lay in the opposite direction—a sprawling oasis done in gold-veined white marble. The overall impression was simply gorgeous. A rain shower stall took up a corner of the room, while a glass whirlpool tub, large enough to fit four people, sat at the opposite end.

The whole cabin was a dream come true with Maggie at our side. I clenched my hands into fists, then whirled and marched out of the room before I gave into the urge to snatch Maggie up in my arms and test out that tub.

I came out of the bathroom and saw the guys arguing with a clearly exasperated Maggie.

“Let me through, you overgrown kittens,” Maggie groused as she tried to elbow her way past Matty and Boone. They only let her into the cabin when I gave them a nod that it was all clear.

I repressed a smile at her ruffled look, the storm gathering in her eyes showing that she was clearly torn between being flustered and exasperated. As long as it kept her safe, I didn’t care.

Deciding to give the guys a break from her ire, I asked a question to distract Maggie from her targets. “Who did you say owns this cabin? It’s a lot more luxurious than I expected.”

She turned away, her lips pursed, then her expression softened when her golden eyes landed on me. “That’s because it’s owned by a koala. They value their privacy and take their time off very seriously.”

Being near her and not touching her was driving me insane. I strode toward her, cupped the back of her neck, and drew her to me.

It’d been too long since I had her in my arms.

The unsettled feeling of not being at home in my own body vanished when she didn’t fight me. She cuddled against my chest, her head coming to settle right against my heart, and I leaned down to rest my lips against the top of her head.

“We’ll need to go for a supply run,” Burke interrupted, and I reluctantly released Maggie with a sigh, already missing her.

Before I could take a step away, she snagged my hand and gave me a bright smile. “Since the three of them are wanted men and their faces are plastered all over the news, that just leaves you and me to do the shopping.”

Her smile was infectious. While part of me was thrilled at the idea of having her to myself, I didn’t like the idea of her being out in public, not until this mess was settled and she was officially ours.

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