Page 47 of The Protector’s Heart

Malachi pulled the phone away, set it on the coffee table and sat down next to her, pulling her close.

“Where does he want to meet?”

“The movie theater in Dorlan. It’s abandoned now, it closed two years ago.” She didn’t want to think about how humiliating it was that Damien wanted to meet there.

She closed her eyes, leaning her head against Malachi’s strong shoulder. If this was the last time that she was going to be with him, she wanted to remember every detail. Inhaling slowly, she let the natural spicy scent of him fill her. The way he smelled to her—at the same time comforting and exciting—was something she never wanted to forget.

She opened her eyes and looked at him, drinking in his features. He was so gorgeous. Blue eyes like a summer sky, a straight nose, strong jaw, and the stubble that resided there now made her want to rub against him like a cat.

Malachi turned his head and narrowed his eyes. “Why are you staring at me like you’re never going to see me again?”

Leaning back slightly, she said, “I know you heard the conversation I had with Damien with your super-sharp hearing. You know what he asked for, what I have to do to keep Jack safe.”

His eyes flashed to the amber of his wolf and his lip curled as a growl rumbled in his chest. “I heard it.”

“Then you know I have to go alone.”

The low growl turned to a full on snarl. “No.”

“Malachi,” she started, but he cut her off.

“We’ll be there, Nila. There’s no way in hell I’m going to allow you to go there like a lamb to the slaughter. He could still hurt Jack, just to spite you. I’ll be there, and so will the pack.”

Acksel, arms folded across his chest and a defiant look in his eyes, said, “You’re Malachi’s mate and that makes you, and Jack, members of my pack. No one threatens my pack and gets away with it.”

She looked at the males behind him. Dade, Acksel’s father; Ren, the beta; Sam the leader of the protectors; and several of the protectors who had been watching over her and Jack. They all wore identical looks of fury and resolve. Acksel was speaking for them, but it was clear they felt the same way that he did. She was part of their world now, and no one messed with a mate, even if she was human.

The support was overwhelming, and she didn’t think she’d ever be able to thank them enough, even if all they were doing right now was standing with her.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank us, Nila. Jack got taken because the protectors were deceived. It’s not going to happen again,” Sam said.

“Take a couple minutes to calm down, but we need to get on the road,” Acksel said, making a gesture that seemed to snap the wolves into action. Within a few seconds, the room was empty except for her and Malachi.

“What’s going to happen?”

“The only thing I know for sure is that your son is going to be in your arms at the end of the night. Nothing else matters except for getting him home.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and when he pulled her into his lap, she snuggled as close as she could. His strong arms surrounded her, and she tucked her head under his chin and let the tears she’d been holding back fall. She could afford to be weak right now, but only for a minute. Jack needed her to be strong, and with Malachi by her side, she could do that. Her son’s life depended on it.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Malachi didn’t like anything about the situation they were walking into. Or, rather, the situation that Nila was walking into. They’d been very careful to conceal themselves before they entered Dorlan, so that it would appear as if Nila was truly alone, even though she was anything but. Malachi’s pack members were spread inconspicuously throughout the area around the abandoned movie theater.

At one time, Malachi imagined it was a decent place to go, but now it showed signs of neglect. The marquee was empty, the windows and doors boarded up, and trash littered the brick entrance. Nila stood underneath the marquee, the wind whipping her hair around her face and blowing snow in every direction. From where he, Acksel, and Ren watched her from behind a dumpster in an alley across the street, he could see that she was shivering. It was cold as hell, but she was probably scared out of her mind, too.

Acksel looked up and then rolled his neck. “It’s almost sunset.”

“She’s where he said to meet her,” Ren said. “They couldn’t have seen any of us, we were very careful.”

Malachi knew that Nila would never forgive herself if something happened to Jack. She had wanted to come alone and trade herself for Jack’s safety, but Malachi knew that nothing good would come from her running off to Dorlan by herself.

Her head whipped to the side and her body tensed up. Malachi crept forward, worry streaking through him. His wolf wanted to be right there with her, not using her as bait.

A male strode toward her, stopping a few feet away. He knew it wasn’t Damien, and alarm raced through him. He straightened from his crouch and sprinted toward her as a large, dark SUV squealed its tires down the street and paused only long enough for the male to grab Nila and toss her into the vehicle. Malachi just missed grabbing hold of the bumper as it sped away.

He snarled in rage. Ren grabbed Malachi’s arm and jerked him back to the alley where their SUV was waiting. “Let’s go!”

---