Page 44 of Stealthy as a Wolf

“Who’s after you?” Grady moved to the edge of the bed, somehow seeming to bulk up, ready to face the threat.

Instead of answering, she retreated into her mind. Walls went up between us, and I felt helpless to stop it. Then I took a page out of her book, reached up, and kissed her with every ounce of the passion she evoked. She resisted, not even reacting at first, and my hopes plummeted.

I almost gave up, almost pulled away, her lack of response feeling like she had reached into my chest and tried to yank the crumbling remains of my heart out through my ribs.

When her hand came to rest over my heart, her touch felt like a benediction. The tightness in my chest gradually faded, and I was able to breathe without feeling like my soul was being torn from my body.

I pulled away from her lips and pressed my forehead against hers, unable to be near and not touch her. I’d come too close to losing her before I had a chance to even claim her. I couldn’t let that happen. “You can run if you want, but I will follow you to the ends of the earth.”

She snorted, pulled back, and rolled her eyes. “I believe the tiger twins will have something to say about that.”

Feeling like a set of claws had caught me in the gut, I scowled at the twins, daring them to say one fucking thing that would take her away from me. “If you try to force me to leave without her, I will do whatever it takes to escape.”

Even kill them if they forced my hand. As grateful as I was that they helped break me out of prison, gratitude alone wasn’t enough to save them if they tried to keep me from my mate.

I didn’t owe them or anyone else my allegiance.

My loyalty was to one woman alone—Maggie.

Boone crossed his arms, his mouth tightening, not even bothering to glance at Burke, and I barely contained my victorious smile. He wasn’t going to allow Maggie to slip away without a fight either. The twins had practically been in lockstep since the first minute they burst into my life. That didn’t mean I trusted Boone completely, but it was a step in the right direction.

Ignoring the twins, I glanced at Grady and cocked a questioning brow at him.

His gaze was steady, almost impervious, every inch the alpha. Until he looked at Maggie. I wasn’t sure if he was aware of it, but he looked at her with such awe and reverence that it almost hurt to see it. I wanted to snarl and hiss at the unfairness of the universe that would force me to share my mate. The only thing that held me back was knowing Maggie deserved more than just a broken criminal as a mate.

Whatever she was running from terrified her, and if it took a whole army to keep her safe, then I would gladly welcome the other men into her life.

Grady shifted until he came to sit next to Maggie. I could practically see awareness of him spark in her eyes.

Wariness.

Lust.

And such yearning that my heart ached.

“I’m with the kid.” Grady brushed his shoulder against hers, like he couldn’t be near and not touch her.

While I wanted to punch the asshole for it, I couldn’t, not when I felt exactly the same way. Much to my annoyance, Grady, the fucker, was a wolf, the same as Maggie. They were the perfect pair, but I didn’t give a fuck. She was mine, and I wasn’t going to give up my claim to some mangy dog.

“I’m not going anywhere, Maggie. Where you go, I go.” Grady shifted sideways, leaning back against the wall at the head of the bed, his attention focused solely on her. “Maybe it’s time for you to tell us who’s after you. Give us a choice. Let us decide what we want to do.”

Maggie’s eyes narrowed dangerously, but before she could release her snark, Grady practically leapt toward her, his eyes taking on a glow as his wolf rode him hard. “If you think you’re going to run away to protect me, know that I will only follow. You won’t get rid of me that easily.”

Maggie’s golden eyes were practically molten with outrage, and she glared at the alpha without an ounce of fear. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“Not if you tell me who’s after you.” He gave her a smug look before he resumed his seat and leaned back against the wall once more. “Be a good girl and tell me who I have to kill.”

Chapter Thirteen

MAGGIE

Imentally cursed the blush that heated my cheeks at his praise, and the fact that he was completely unfazed by the underlying threat. I wished I could say I felt only rage, but that would’ve been a lie. The tone of his voice was part alpha command and all seduction, and damned if I could keep my body from reacting to it.

But fear was a great motivator, and I shook away the distraction.

Stupid fucking alpha was going to get himself killed trying to play the hero, and it was all I could do not to reach over and smack the stupid out of him. Only when I was sure I wouldn’t put my thoughts in action was I finally able to unclench my jaw.

“I already told you most of it.” I purposely kept my answers vague to keep them from getting involved. I went down that path once—that way only led to more pain and death. “After I refused the pack’s less than kind offer, I ran.”

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