Page 28 of Planet Wolf

He approached the man, stopping in front of him to speak to him. Carl backed up to stand next to me.

“He’s safe. He does want to talk to you. Briefly. And I think the way the Union is patrolling badly, we can get away with it. Come on.” He touched the small of my back and brought me over to where Alfie waited.

“Ms. Espenson?” He spoke in a low voice. “I’ve been looking for you.”

Jadon didn’t join us, but I could feel him behind me. His eyes focused on us as if it might allow him a better means upon which to strike. “So I’ve heard. How can I help you, Mr…?” I let my voice trail off to indicate it was a word I didn’t know.

“James. My name is Edward James. I have something you want.” He held out a folder.

I stared at it then looked at Alfie. If it had explosives or something, he would be able to smell it, wouldn’t he?

He nodded, and I took it from the man. “Why are you giving this to me?”

“Because you have a history of getting the truth out there about the Union. I know you’ve heard from the woman on the Cat planet. This is from some of the Bear people. And more things. The Union is going to destroy everything. Do something with this.”

With that line delivered, he took off running.

Everything I’d tried to do up until then was futile, so I didn’t know why he thought I could do anything at all.

9

Their shuttle was much nicer than any I’d ever used. That was my first thought as I boarded it, with the folder in my hand, and looked around. My second thought was darker.Am I nuts to be doing this?They were Wolf shifters, and I’d spent a lot of time with them, but I hadn’t understood a word they said most of the time. My hand traveled to where Carl bit me. The touch hurt but also sent thrills through my body. It might as well have been him biting me again. I clenched my thighs at the memory.

Alfie walked behind me, running his finger up my spine until he touched the bare skin of my neck. “I can’t wait until you can do that to where I bit you.” He smiled before he leaned over and kissed me. “In the meantime, since we have to get into space and avoid the Union noticing, I want to just sit with you. Can’t have you naked and where I want you and then find out that they need me to help pilot.”

He kissed my cheek, and I leaned into him. How could I resist? Alfie was like bathing in light, there was just the sense that he’d take care of anyone around him, but he wanted to take care of me the most. Did I get to be happy about that? Yes, I guessed I did. I sat down at a small table but then it occurred to me that I should ask. “Is this okay?”

“Yes,” Alfie sank into the chair next to me. “Yes, this is the dining area, although we didn’t particularly gather to eat on our way here. We can eat together if you’re willing. I actually love the idea.”

That was sweet. I stared at the folder in my hand as if it were a loaded weapon. “I should look at it, right? I mean he sought me out, so whatever is in here has really scared the Union. We’re running away because of it. I just don’t want to know, if I’m being honest.”

Did that make me a coward?

Alfie shook his head as the shuttle rose into the air. Either Jadon or Carl must be piloting it. I should go look. For the moment, I was just comfortable. “We’re not running. Don’t even suggest that. We don’t run; we’re fighters, all three of us. We are protecting our mate, but we will kick them from here to the end of the universe if they threaten you. In fact, we expect to have to fight them soon, but not because of you. We were gearing up for that when we went to that meeting.”

They were, although I knew very little about that day. “Why were you there?”

“Jadon’s father sent us. He’s anti-Union. We pretended we weren’t. Jadon has his own pack, but we are still attached to his father, my uncle, for now. He asked, we complied. The more information we have, the better to fight them, and it gave us you, so we’re happy about it.”

The ship turned. We were leaving Earth. My family was still there, and I was leaving them behind. Right then, I didn’t feel sadness over the departure, just shock about the suddenness of it all. Happiness was foremost in my mind, if I was being entirely honest, because I’d wanted these guys back and they were back.

“Did you get to look at my medical records? I know you didn’t have that much time before we got signaled about the baby.” I almost didn’t want to ask. I pretty much knew what to expect most of the time. They didn’t know anything.

He sighed, and I already knew he didn’t, either. “I don’t know yet. You’re right. It’s not immediately identifiable, but I’m confident we can figure this out. You liked that meat we served you. It didn’t make you sick. That means there are things that can nourish you. While I work out the why, we’ll focus on what we can do for your comfort until we get answers.”

That was sweet. I leaned over and kissed him on the lips. Most of the time, I didn’t want to kiss my doctors. This was a big change. “We’re not going to work it out. I’m sorry. I’ll frustrate you, but I hope you don’t regret that I smell like your mate.”

“You don’t smell like my mate.” His eyes were hard when he answered. “Youaremy mate. It’s not just that I think it, and I’ll never—not until the day I die—regret anything about you.”

Alfie was on me then. My words must have spurred him. He’d said he wanted to just sit with me, and he didn’t ask for more, but he took it. Alfie stopped kissing me, but just to cup my cheek, and whisper huskily, “You make me forget myself. I’ve always had a good relationship with my Wolf. We live in balance with each other. I’m not sure that Carl can say the same. Most people battle their animal side, but with you? I almost go primal in your presence.”

I should have stopped him right then, but I didn’t. I liked when I saw just how animalistic they could be. It made me excited. What that said about me was beyond my understanding at the moment. I bit his bottom lip. For a second, his eyes went pure Wolf. As they shifted back, he was on me with a ferocity I wouldn’t have attributed to Alfie before that second.

He yanked me off my chair and onto his. I wrapped my legs around him as best I could. Who was I right then? I didn’t even know. The old Esther didn’t do things like this, didn’t even know how to do them. The fact that I wanted it so badly I didn’t care that Jadon and Carl had to be perfectly aware of what was happening was another matter.

Let them watch, if they want to. Something wanton had been born inside of me and I loved it. Alfie did, too, because he growled as he kissed down my neck, stopping only to rip my shirt away from my body. The fabric ripped, and he threw it over my head to who knew where.

He smiled against my lips. “You smell like mine.”

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