Garrett lifts his face from his hands and jumps to his feet, stalking over to me. He takes both my elbows. "I'll stand by you, whatever you decide to do."
I tug away from him, hating the close scrutiny. I appreciate what he's saying, but my mama wolf growls at the suggestion I do anything but keep my pup.
But will I be able to keep him or her?
I moisten my lips. "Wh-what do you think Carlos will do if he finds out?"
My brother's lips tighten and his chest expands and I know he'd do anything in his power to protect me or my pup from any threat. "If he even tries to take that pup from you-"
"You think he will?" I cut in.
Garrett's lips tug downward. "Every mated male wolf needs to protect his female. Multiply that need by one hundred for an alpha male. And an alpha male with a pregnant female?" Garrett shakes his head. "It would take an entire pack to keep him away."
I should have let Garrett hold onto me, because the floor tilts sideways again. My blood plummets to my feet. I can't put Garrett's or my father's packs at danger. But maybe Carlos won't find out. He hasn't come looking for me yet-hasn't made any attempt to contact me. Maybe I can keep the fact that I conceived a pup a secret from his pack.
"I'm moving you into this apartment building. It's where I wanted you from the start," Garrett declares.
I remember the argument. I'd begged him to let me stay in one of his buildings closer to campus-and further from his watchful eye. He'd relented, because even though he's an overprotective alpha, he's also a sweetheart.
"I-" I start to argue, then change my mind. Better not to tell him what I'm thinking. "Okay."
Garrett's shoulders sag. "I'll get the pack over first thing tomorrow. Don't worry-they'll do everything. You don't have to worry about a thing, okay, kiddo?"
I nod, but I'm already heading out the door. "Okay, thanks. Thank you, Amber." I turn the doorknob.
"Maybe you should stay in my place tonight," Garrett says.
I knew that was coming.
"No, I'll be fine. Tomorrow is soon enough. Good night." I leave before he can think about it any harder.
Carlos may come looking for me, and if he does, I need to be long gone from Tucson. In fact, I'm safer if no one knows where I am.
~.~
Carlos
I lurk in the shadows of Sedona's apartment building like a thief.
I guess I am a thief waiting to steal-what? Sedona's heart? Her body? Carajo, I'd settle for a few minutes of her time.
She isn't home at the moment, though. Finding her took little effort. Rather than ask around in the shifter community, which would alert her brother's pack to my presence, I searched for the word Sedona and University of Arizona art until I found a mention of an art show she participated in and discovered her last name. From there, I researched until I found an address, which I prayed was still current. Judging by her scent lingering around an upstairs apartment, it is.
Now, just being close to where she lives, close to seeing her, my flesh pricks with anticipation. I can't get the image of her swollen, freshly kissed lips out of my head. Or the way her lashes fluttered just before she came. And oh, fates, her taste. I'm dying to get between those beautiful thighs again and lick her until she screams.
My Sedona.
A Jeep pulls up and I know before I even see the figure behind the wheel that it's her. She climbs out, looking every inch the goddess of youth and fertility. Her chestnut hair is pulled back in a thick ponytail that swings when she walks. She's wearing a pair of short shorts, her long legs tan and sleek. Oh hell, the curve of her ass almost shows in the back where they're cut off. A low growl rumbles in my throat thinking of all the males who have seen her dressed this way.
I don't think she heard me, but she tosses a glance over her shoulder and picks up her pace. I slink along the side of the building as she approaches the front door.
Fuck.
There's a key card to get in. It must only be locked at night, because I'd walked right in earlier. She slips through and shuts the door, peering out into the darkness like she knows I'm here.
Dammit. I freeze, ducking back into the shadows. When she disappears, I creep closer to check out the door situation.
I'm in luck. A couple comes out, arguing about something and I move swiftly forward, walking like I own the place, and catch the door. There's an elevator, but I take the stairs, calling on a little shifter power to mount them at full speed. I come out on the third floor at the same time the elevator opens. Sedona sees me and her eyes widen.
"Carlos."
I start forward, but her next words stop me in my tracks.
"Did the council send you?"
"What?" I swallow a growl. "No. Of course not." Even if Santiago mentioned it, the idea was already in my head. "They're lucky to be alive, after the stunt they pulled. I came because I had to see you." I spread my hands. "It's just me, Sedona. I am alone."
I wish I could report to her that I avenged her kidnapping, but when I arrived at the warehouse, I found the place cordoned off with yellow police tape, and steeped in the scent of shifter blood. Santiago was probably right, her family's pack got there first.
Sedona nods slowly, but to my shock, she turns and bolts for her apartment like she thinks she can outrun me.
She should know better than to run from an alpha wolf. Stopping the impulse to chase is impossible for me. I'm on her before I can even send the impulse to my brain to hold back. I grab her at the door and band one arm around her waist, catch the wrist holding her key to the lock with the other.